Boise State is one of the nation’s elite, and Fresno State just happened to be in the way of the Broncos’ run at BCS madness. Not a lot can be taken away from losing by a half-hundred, but a lot will be learned in how the ‘Dogs react the next two weeks. Fresno State can still finish the regular season 8-4 if it takes care of business at home against Idaho and Illinois. A lone bright spot for the Bulldogs in Boise was their run defense. Hill’s defense gave opponents a little bit of a blueprint of how to slow down Boise State’s one-two punch of Jeremy Avery and Doug Martin. The Broncos rushed for just 125 yards, a season-low.

Fresno State did not lose the game due to effort, far from it. Entering the game undermanned, especially along the offensive line, the ‘Dogs hung with one of the premier offenses in the country. With that being said, the Bulldogs left far too many opportunities on the field. If Kevin Goessling knocks through his 55-yard attempt in the first quarter, the ‘Dogs win. If Fresno State moves the chains just once after Nevada turned the ball over on downs in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs win. But head coach Pat Hill will be the first to say that “ifs” don’t win games. On a positive note, Robbie Rouse looked sensational and it’s becoming obvious Fresno State has depth along the offensive line.

The image of Ryan Mathews in Bulldog red shredding opposing defenses has become a little bit more vague with a seemingly new-and-improved Robbie Rouse. Mathews never carried the ball 43 times like Rouse did Saturday, but the tiny back from San Diego put the offense on his back in the Bulldogs’ third straight conference win. The defense, however, is going to need to tighten some things up if it has any hope to slow down a Nevada squad this weekend that posted an astonishing 844 total yards on Idaho. The unit had its moments, and surrendered just 308 yards, but looked sloppy early on in Rustin. The defense is starting to create some turnovers, a promising sign for a team that ranks in the bottom-half of the WAC in turnovers.

Game-changing moment: Jermaine Thomas’ interception Heading into the third quarter, the Fresno State offense couldn’t generate anything offensively after being shut down on their first drive to start the second half. After a Bulldogs punt, the Spartan offense marched into Fresno State State territory in a prime position to score until Thomas stepped in front of a Jordan La Secla pass. The interception led to a touchdown just four plays later on an Isaiah Burse touchdown toss to Rashad Evans. The interception was Thomas’ first of the year.

Already up 7-0 early in the contest, New Mexico State shot itself in the foot deep in its own territory. Aggie starting quarterback Andrew Manley couldn’t field an errant shotgun snap and was forced to fall on the ball in his own end zone for a safety. The defensive unit put Fresno State up by two scores 9-0, and the ‘Dogs didn’t look back.

What we learned: With Fresno State’s top three receivers out because of injuries for the Cal Poly game, the young and talented receivers proved that it was more than capable of picking up the slack....

Saturday’s Standouts Game-changing moment: Brandon Bolden’s 71-yard touchdown With the ‘Dogs down, but not out, at halftime 27-10 Bolden delivered the backbreaker on the first play of the second...