Fresno State vs. Nevada Football 2009
WAC Game Features Nation's Top Rusher, No. 1 Running Team
Nevada will seek its seventh consecutive victory when it plays host to Fresno State in a 1 p.m. PST game at Mackay Stadium. The Wolf Pack, which has won six straight after an 0-3 start, is unbeaten in the WAC at 5-0 and is looking to eventually set up a conference title showdown vs. sixth-ranked Boise State.
But Fresno State (6-3 overall, 5-1 WAC) wants to keep its own championship hopes alive, and the Bulldogs are also on a roll. Last week's 31-21 victory over Idaho was Fresno's fifth straight.
Coach Pat Hill's Bulldogs feature Ryan Mathews, who leads the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing with an average of 162.1 yards per game. The junior has run for 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 7.1 yards per carry.
Nevada, though, boasts the top rushing attack in the FBS. Coach Chris Ault's Wolf Pack averages 341.1 yards on the ground, and rolled up 517 in a 62-7 rout of San Jose State last week. Nevada also ranks second in total offense, at 522.2 yards per contest.
Fresno State leads the series 25-15-1, but Nevada defeated the Bulldogs 41-18 at Fresno last season. Saturday's game will be telecast by the Bulldog Sports Network (KAIL Channel 53).
Pistol Offense Clicking for Nevada
Nevada utilizes the pistol offense — a modified shotgun attack devised by Ault — and has used it to great effect in conference play. The Wolf Pack is averaging 47 points against WAC competition. Overall, Nevada is tallying 37.7 points per game, sixth-best in the FBS.
The rushing attack, led by quarterback Colin Kaepernick, has done most of the damage. Against defense-starved San Jose State, Nevada tied an NCAA record by having four rushers — Kaepernick, and running backs Vai Taua, Lampford Mark and Luke Lippincott — gain 100 yards or more.
The 6-foot-6 Kaepernick has rushed for 920 yards and 12 TDs in 2009, picking up 8.3 yards per carry. Taua has added 880 yards and six TDs on 7.5 yards per rush, and Lippincott has 717 yards and four touchdowns on a 6.9 average.
Nevada can pass out of the pistol, too. Kaepernick has connected on 61.5 percent of his passes for 1,593 yards and 14 TDs. The 6-foot-6 junior, who's thrown just five interceptions and been sacked only seven times, throws most frequently tto freshman Brandon Wimberly (38 catches, 565 yards, 4 TDs).
Nevada Pass Defense Ranks Next to Last
The Wolf Pack is giving up 27.6 points and 406 yards per game, and ranks 119th of 120 FBÍ teams in pass defense with an average of 301.1 yards.
But Nevada does frequently catch opposing ballcarriers behind the line of scrimmage, averaging 7.5 tackles for loss per game. Wolf Pack defensive end Dontay Moch has made 18.5 of them, and his average of 2.06 per game is tied for second in the FBS.
Moch has posted a team-high 6.5 sacks, and lineman Kevin Basped has six. But Basped, who has nine tackles for loss on the season, has been hampered by a knee injury.
Defensive back Jonathn Amaya leads Nevada with 59 tackles and five pass breakups. Other key players include linebacker Mike Bethea (49 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks), linebacker Brandon Marshall (46 tackles, 6.5 for losses), DB Mo Harvey (43 tackles) and linebacker James-MIchael Johnson (43 tackles, 7.5 for losses).
Mathews, Fresno Rushing Game Will Test Wolf Pack
Thanks largely to Mathews, Fresno State's rushing offense ranks fifth in the FBS at 250.9 yards per game. Fresno State is averaging 442.6 yards of total offense and 35.0 points. The Bulldogs are tied for 11th in the FBS in scoring offense.
Mathews is compiling the big yardage, having topped 100 yards in every game this season. But the FSU ground game also features talented runners in Robbie Rouse (362 yards, 4 TDs) and Lonyae Miller (221 yards, 3 TDs).
Quarterback Ryan Colburn has been highly effective at times, completing 62.6 percent of his passes for 1,606 yards and 13 TDs, with nine interceptions. Seyi Ajirotutu continues to lead the team in receiving ,with 35 catches for 525 yards and four TDs.
Bulldogs Defense Inconsistent
Fresno State's defense has put together some solid games, but the Bulldogs gave up 503 yards in a 31-27 over Utah State, then surrendered 470 to Idaho. Overall, FSU is allowing 383.3 yards and 22.4 points per contest.
The Bulldogs have been especially susceptible against the run, ranking 92nd in the FBS at 169.7 yards a game. Opposing runners are gaining 5.53 yards per carry – not a good sign entering a game vs. Nevada.
Fresno State's most feared defensive player has been end Chris Carter, who leads the squad with 10.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. But the Bulldogs have only eight sacks overall.
Middle linebacker Ben Jacobs paces Fresno State with 63 tackles The next four on the tackles list are defensive backs — Moses Harris with 42, Desia Dunn and Lorne Bell with 40 apiece, and A.J. Jefferson with 33. Carter is fifth with 29.
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