Bye-bye BCS; Bulldogs' dream gone

The Collegian Staff Reports

Fresno State’s run toward a berth in a Bowl Championship Series game ended after the Bulldogs let their early lead slip into a 28-21 loss.

After starting the season 3-0, the then-No. 17 Bulldogs fell in their Western Athletic Conference opener at Louisiana Tech on Saturday, ending any hope of crashing the BCS party.

The Bulldogs needed to win every game on the schedule to have a shot at one of the four major bowls but failed to do so for the second time in four years.

In 2001, Fresno State started 6-0 and climbed to No. 8 in the nation before Boise State pulled off a comeback win at Bulldog Stadium to end BCS chatter in that season.

In Saturday’s loss to Louisiana Tech, Fresno State used its running game to jump out to a 13-0 lead but faltered in the second half.

Louisiana Tech’s Ryan Moats rushed 34 times for 236 yards and four touchdowns, overshadowing the standout performance of Fresno State’s Wendell Mathis, who had 28 carries for 191 yards and a touchdown in his first start.

After a dominant first touchdown drive, the Bulldogs had to settle for field goal attempts on their next three possessions.

Kicker Brett Visintainer connected on a 36-yard field goal to make it 10-0.

On the Bulldogs’ next drive, Mathis had a 76-yard touchdown run called back because of a holding penalty.

Fresno State still managed to drive down to the Lousiana Tech 8-yard line, but had to settle for a field goal attempt. This time, Visintainer’s kick was blocked.

The lead was increased to 13-0 on the team’s fourth possession of the game when Visintainer made a 35-yarder.

Fresno State led 13-7 at halftime after a six-yard touchdown run by Moats.

The shifty Louisiana Tech running back broke an 83-yard touchdown run with 1 minute, 18 seconds left in the third quarter to give his team its first lead of the game at 14-13.

Fresno State reclaimed the lead early in the fourth quarter on Mathis’ three-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion pass from quarterback Paul Pinegar to Jermaine Jamison.

Pinegar then threw an interception at the Fresno State 32-yard line that resulted in Moats’ fourth score of the night, and a two-point conversion put Louisiana Tech ahead 28-21.

Pinegar was 13 for 28 with 104 yards, two interceptions and a touchdown on the day.