Bulldogs stern test for Idaho
MOSCOW, Idaho – Fresno State ranks first in nine of 14 football team statistical categories charted by the Western Athletic Conference. Senior Paul Pinegar is the conference’s most efficient passer. The Bulldogs are fifth nationally in scoring, tops in the WAC in scoring defense, and their special teams can be found throughout the national rankings.
Those lustrous statistics might not be Idaho’s biggest problem when it hosts the 24th-ranked Bulldogs (4-1, 2-0 WAC) today at 2 p.m. in the Kibbie Dome, the first ranked team to visit Moscow since 1960.
Everything seemingly points to a mismatch, but also to a possible letdown for the Bulldogs, who have upcoming games against Hawaii, Boise State and USC.
Don’t count on it.
“This team is very mature, even though we’re young,” Fresno State coach Pat Hill said. “They’ve won 17 of 22 games (actually 19 of 24), 10 of their last 11, and I think they really understand it and have a great maturity about it.”
In the last six years, Hill’s teams have averaged 8.8 wins and gone bowling every season. The current Bulldogs have a chance to surpass all of those clubs.
“At the start of the year I said this team has the potential to be the best, and I think they can fulfill that,” he said. “The 2001 team was a good team. Last year we played very well in spurts, but we had a couple of letdowns. This team has played at a very good level each week.
“We haven’t had a letdown game yet,” Hill added. “We’ve played well at home and on the road. The one signature they’ve had is they’ve played hard every snap.”
It adds up to one of the biggest challenges Idaho has faced since moving up to I-A in 1996. The Vandals, coming off a bye week, are four-touchdown underdogs.
“About 70 percent of the time they’re running the ball,” Idaho coach Nick Holt said. “The thing is if you stop the run they’ve got one-on-ones with talented receivers and they go deep on you.”
Idaho has shown flashes on offense but hasn’t sustained drives. Quarterback Steven Wichman is averaging 224.2 yards passing per game, but the running game checks in at 60.3, second-worst in the nation. Idaho gains just 1.9 yards per attempt.
Meanwhile, Pinegar has been sacked just four times. The Bulldogs didn’t punt in last week’s 53-21 rout over Utah State. They’ve allowed only 3 yards on punt returns this season while averaging 25.5 yards. They lead the nation in third-down conversions (54 percent).
Pinegar is 28-9 as a starter. He’s on a 10-game roll, completing an average of 66.4 percent with 26 touchdowns and five interceptions. The key stat in those 10 games: He only attempted more than 14 passes twice. Fresno State has held big leads in most of those games, but it also reflects the contribution of the running game. Bryson Sumlin averages 5 yards per carry and has gained 343 yards. Wendell Mathis has 376 yards rushing and seven touchdowns.
Fresno State cornerback Richard Marshall leads the WAC in interceptions and fumble recoveries. Tackle Garrett McIntyre, the preseason WAC defensive player of the year, has a broken hand but still might play today. He missed two games earlier this season with a sprained ankle.
“Schematically, it’s nothing too confusing,” Holt said of Fresno’s defense. “It’s very similar to a lot of things we do, but they just do it at a high level and they control the ball on offense so that their defense really isn’t out there much.”
Notes
Three UI players – including starting offensive linemen Jade Tadvick and Hank Therien – have been charged with misdemeanors in the wake of a campus altercation last weekend, and Tadvick has been suspended from the team indefinitely, according to sports information director Becky Paull. Also suspended is tight end Luke Smith-Anderson, who hasn’t played since rupturing a spleen in the preseason. Therien is expected to play against Fresno State. All three entered not guilty pleas to misdemeanor charges resulting from an incident at Alpha Tau Omega fraternity last Saturday. … Idaho coach Nick Holt has received a one-year contract extension through the 2008 season. The second-year coach has a 4-14 record. … Marcis Fennell is still bothered by a shoulder injury and running back Antwaun Sherman (ankle) probably isn’t 100 percent. … Twelve Bulldogs have been credited with at least a partial sack and 22 have posted tackles-for-loss.