Bigger challenges up ahead

With 45-7 victory over San Jose State, 'Dogs can concentrate on tougher opponents Boise State and USC

By Chhun Sun
The Collegian

Now come the tougher challenges.

But before playing Boise at home in three days and then going to play at USC a week later, the Bulldogs had to take care of a simple task Saturday night, defeating San Jose State, who had a seven-game losing streak going into the game.

It was a mismatch from the start with the Bulldogs pounding their long-time rivalry San Jose State 45-7 in Western Athletic Conference play.

The win marked the 70th time the two teams met, with the Bulldogs now owning a 12-game win streak in the series, which Fresno State edges 35-32-3.

The win also moves the Bulldogs (7-1, 4-0 WAC) into the No. 20 spots in both the Associated Press and USA Today polls.

The win, which drops the Spartans to 1-7 overall and 0-6 in the WAC, was more than a victory over a struggling team.

It meant the record book for one Bulldog.

A 16-yard pass from Pinegar to Matt Rivera early in the fourth quarter gave the senior quarterback the 70th touchdown pass of his career, matching David Carr for first place in school history. This comes two days after Pinegar became a father to a baby boy.

After the game, head coach Pat Hill said the game ball was given to Pinegar to give to the newest member of the Pinegar family.

“I wouldn’t be surprised, by the time he finishes his career at Fresno State, he’ll hold every record except for total yardages,” Hill said about Pinegar, who completed 22 of 35 passes for 368 yards and three touchdowns.

Pinegar was part of an offense that scored 8 out of its 10 drives, including seven that resulted in touchdowns, and that totaled for 531 offensive yards.

A key player to the offense was receiver Paul Williams, whose first attempt at a catch in the first quarter was dropped at the 30-yard line.

“At first, it discouraged me,” Williams said about the dropped pass. “Then I went to the sidelines. I went to talk to my coach, offensive coordinator John Baxter, and from then on I pushed it out of my mind.”

He couldn’t have been more right, catching every pass from then on thrown his way. The highlight of his single-game career-high performance of six receptions for 137 yards came from the second play of scrimmage in the third quarter, when Williams leapt over cornerback Chris Owens in the end zone for a touchdown pass from Pinegar.

The catch — which coach Hill said was “one of the best catches I’ve ever seen in my coaching career” — put the lead 31-0. And the Bulldogs continued to roll.

Another key offensive player was Wendell Mathis, who ran for 105 yards and one touchdown.

Even in a dominating win, a couple of Spartan players showed some bright spots that could prove to be something greater in the years to come under first-time head coach Dick Tomey. Yonus Davis ran for a career-high 136 yards for the Spartans, and Al Guidry ran for a career-high 65 yards, including his 29-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter for San Jose State’s only score.

But the touchdown did not faze the Bulldogs, who can’t celebrate for too long, considering they will face Boise State on Thursday, a matchup that could decide the WAC championship. They will go up against a team that has won 31 straight WAC games, and has a 4-0 record over the Bulldogs.

“In order to be WAC champions, the road has to go through Boise,” Mathis said.

Williams knows the importance of Thursday’s game. “Boise has spoiled the party too many times, and there’s no reason why Boise should come here and get a win,” he said.

Hill said Thursday’s game sets up the national stage for the Bulldogs, who achieved a Bowl Championship Series ranking at No. 24 for the first time in school history last week.

“This school is on a national level, believe it or not, and I say we should just enjoy the ride,” he said.

“November is a magical month for us. Our backs are up against the wall, and we’re fighting and scratching for every inch.”

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