Fresno State at Louisiana Tech
Game Preview by Eddie Hughes
Fresno State BULLDOGS
Quarterbacks
Paul Pinegar has thrown for 511 yards in Fresno State’s first three
games this season, an average of 170 yards per game. The junior has tossed
six interceptions, compared to three touchdowns—a ratio that needs
to improve. Louisiana Tech will have a tough time winning if Pinegar has
the passing game going Saturday.
Running Backs
The absence of Dwayne Wright, who is lost for the season with a knee injury,
didn’t stop the Bulldogs’ running game against Portland State.
Bryson Sumlin had 127 yards on 26 carries, and Wendell Mathis rumbled
for 123 yards on 15 carries—an average of 8.2 per carry. Mathis
also scored two touchdowns. Both backs, along with Matt Rivera, will have
to play key roles against Louisiana Tech.
Receivers
Fresno State is still waiting for a receiver to emerge as the team’s
top target. Three games into the season, no single player has hit the
100-yard mark yet. Junior Jermaine Jamison leads the corps with 79 yards.
Sophomore Joe Fernandez has the most receptions with eight for 76 yards,
and he’s the only wide receiver to score a touchdown this season.
Offensive Line
At least one thing can be counted on every game from this group: It’s
going to play physical and try to dominate opponents. Senior left tackle
Logan Mankins leads the way with 20 pancake blocks this season—including
10 against Portland State. Freshman left guard Cole Popovich will miss
the rest of the season with a bicep injury and is being replaced in the
starting lineup by senior Manoa Pouono.
Defensive Line
Against Portland State, the Bulldogs were forced to throw some of the
younger players into action with three key injuries. But senior ends Brian
Morris and Claude Sanders and sophomore tackle Louis Leonard are all expected
back after the bye week. Junior Garrett McIntyre leads the team with two
sacks and 4.5 tackles for a loss.
Linebackers
Both the defensive line and linebackers have a tough task on Saturday—slowing
Louisiana Tech running back Ryan Moats. The linebackers already came up
big once this year against one of the nation’s top running backs
in Kansas State’s Darren Sproles. Sophomore Dwayne Andrews leads
the group with 14 tackles.
Defensive Backs
An already-deep unit gets a boost this week with the return of cornerback
Raymond Washington, who missed the home opener with a thumb injury. Junior
strong safety James Sanders leads the team with 17 tackles and three interceptions.
Tech will be challenged to move the football through the air against this
unit.
Special Teams
Senior kicker Brett Visintainer is 3 of 5 on field goals this season with
a long of 45 yards. His services might factor into the outcome if Tech
is in position to win late in the game. Sophomore punter Mike Lingua averages
34.2 yards per punt and has placed 5 of 14 inside the 20-yard line.
Coaching
The games against Bowl Championship Series teams are over for now, but
the Western Athletic Conference schedule offers enough of a challenge.
Pat Hill has to have the team ready to go full-force every week now that
Fresno State is the targeted team.
Intangibles
Fresno State is 5-0 all-time against Louisiana Tech and 8-1 following
bye weeks during Hill’s tenure. Fresno State won 45-13 in its only
previous meeting in Ruston, La.
LA Tech BULLDOGS
Quarterbacks
Junior Matt Kubik is set to get the majority of the snaps as junior Donald
Allen is out with an injury for the second straight week. Kubik is more
of a pocket passer than Allen. Both have completed 25 passes this season,
but Kubik has thrown for 422 yards while Allen has 299. Kubik has one
touchdown pass and three interceptions.
Edge: Fresno State
Running Backs
Fresno State shut down one of the nation’s top backs earlier this
season in Kansas State’s Darren Sproles. Now, Louisiana Tech junior
Ryan Moats is the opponent. Moats is the nation’s fifth-leading
rusher with 692 yards on 102 carries. He averages 173 yards per game.
Last season, Moats had 14 yards on five carries at Bulldog Stadium.
Edge: Louisiana Tech
Receivers
While Fresno State has no receiver with more than 100 yards, Louisiana
Tech boasts four. Senior Tramissian Davis is the leader with 168 yards
and averages 24 per catch. Sophomore Johnathan Holland (137), junior Eric
Newman (110) and senior Julius Cosby (105) are the others.
Edge: Louisiana Tech
Offensive Line
One thing this group doesn’t lack is size. One thing it does is
starting right tackle Adrian Gonzalez, who is injured. The line has come
up big this season, paving the way for Moats with the help of 6-foot-5,
309-pound left guard Aaron Lips. But Fresno State’s defensive front
will be one of its toughest tests all season.
Edge: Fresno State
Defensive Line
Three seniors anchor the front line of Tech’s 3-4 defense. End Jemelle
Cage, who is probable for Saturday’s game, leads the team with five
sacks. Tackle Travon Brown has three sacks, and both have 21 tackles.
Chris Van Hoy rounds out the starting group that has plenty of experience
but will have its hands full with Fresno State’s Logan Mankins,
Dartangon Shack and Kyle Young.
Edge: Fresno State
Linebackers
The only starting underclassman on the defense is a part of this group
in junior Jeremy Hamilton, who is second on the team with 24 tackles.
Byron Santiago, T.J. Jackson and John Nash round out a group that will
be a little different than what Fresno State’s offense is used to
facing in that it’s a 3-4 formation.
Edge: Even
Defensive Backs
Free safety Lee Johnson leads the squad with 25 tackles. Strong safety
Michael Johnson and cornerback Corey Brazil both are experienced starters.
If Louisiana Tech successfully slows the Fresno State running game, these
guys will have to step up against a versatile passing game that can incorporate
the running backs and tight ends in big roles.
Edge: Fresno State
Special Teams
Two freshmen have split time at kicker in Brad Ostreicher, who is 2 of
5 on field goals, and Danny Horwedel, who is 1 of 2. Freshman punter Matt
Butler averages 39.1 yards per attempt. Louisiana Tech has allowed two
punts to be returned for touchdowns this season.
Edge: Fresno State
Coaching
Jack Bicknell is 29-34 in his sixth season with the program. He has never
beaten Fresno State but has his team playing a tough string of games with
four straight ranked teams—Miami, Tennessee, Fresno State and Auburn.
Edge: Fresno State
Intangibles
This is the first time a ranked team—No. 17 Fresno State—has
ever played at Joe Aillet Stadium since Louisiana Tech moved to Division
IA.
Edge: Even
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