Moats and Louisiana Tech prepare for Fresno State

By Sylas Wright

Louisiana Tech running back Ryan Moats is a safe bet to be a sharp thorn in the side of any opposing defender.

Entering Saturday’s contest in Ruston, Louisiana—Fresno State’s opening Western Athletic Conference game—Bulldogs coach Pat Hill is well aware of the junior running back’s potential to wreak havoc.

“Once again, Ryan Moats,” Hill said in Monday’s press conference, “it doesn’t matter who he plays, he’s going to run the ball with great success.

I think he’s a first-class running back in this country. That will be a big challenge for us.”

The 3-0 Bulldogs, like previous years under Hill’s tutelage, are known for rising to challenges.

Moats played down the challenge of Saturday’s matchup against Fresno State, who is ranked 17th in the nation after wins against Washington, Kansas State and Portland State.

“We’re not doing anything different than any other game,” Moats said of Louisiana Tech’s pre-game preparation. “They [the Bulldogs] are nothing special, nothing new. We’ve already played some big games.”

Louisiana Tech over the last two games lost 48-0 to No. 4 Miami, then 42-17 to No. 8 Tennessee.

Moats managed only 81 and 97 yards respectively after consecutive 257-yard performances to begin the season against Nevada and Louisiana Lafayette.

Limiting Moats will require a stellar performance by the stingy Bulldogs defense—much like the effort in Manhattan, Kansas, when it held Heisman hopeful Darren Sproles to just 37 yards on 11 carries.

Despite the lack of yards against Fresno State, Sproles’ 183.3 yards per game average this season is third best in the country. Moats’ average of 173 yards is fifth best. Hill drew comparisons between Sproles, who has 550 yards on the season, and Moats, who has compiled 692 while averaging 6.8 yards per carry.

“I think he (Moats) is a lot like Sproles,” Hill said. “Very strong in the legs, great balance like Sproles.

“You really have to wrap up on him. You can’t just block tackle him, or not wrap up, because he’s going to break through those lower body tackles. He does a great job of bouncing plays to the perimeter, and making guys miss one on one or just running through tacklers.”

Last season Fresno State contained Moats, allowing the sophomore second stringer just 14 yards on five carries.

But that was early in the season, before Moats’ breakout game Oct. 18 against Hawaii when he ran for 267 yards. In 10 games since, the 5-foot-8, 201-pound running back has started and averaged 163.9 yards per game.

Moats also earned the respect of his coach, Jack Bricknell.

“We’ve had some pretty decent running backs,” Bricknell said, referring to Joe Smith, a 2003 Louisiana Tech graduate now playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and John Simon, a 2001 graduate, who plays for the Washington Redskins. “And Ryan Moats is one of the best all-around running backs I’ve been around. He’s even better than he was last year.”

Bricknell did not hide the fact that Moats will be the primary weapon against Fresno State.

“He’s a big part of the offensive scheme against everybody we play because he’s our best player,” Bricknell said. “We try to put the ball in his hands as much as possible.”

Bricknell said Moats has great character and is one of the hardest workers on the team. The six-year coach also tried to explain why his star running back is so effective with the ball.

“He (Moats) has a combination of speed and power, and he’s tough to take down,” Bricknell said.

“He’s a low-to-the-ground runner, a fast guy, not huge, but he has that burst of speed when he needs it. And he changes direction exceptionally quickly. Those are really his best assets.”

Moats credited his offensive line for his success.

“I’m fortunate to have a good line in front of me,” Moats said. “I don’t think I could do it all by myself.”

If Fresno State’s defensive squad plays with the fervor it did against Washington and Kansas State, Moats and 2-2 Louisiana Tech will need every block they can get.