Fresno State beats Ga. Tech

BOISE – Add Georgia Tech – again – to Fresno State’s list of conquests from BCS conferences.

Add Jon Tenuta to the list of winless interim coaches this postseason.

Clifton Smith rushed for a career-best 152 yards and two touchdowns, Tom Brandstater threw for a score and ran for another and the Bulldogs beat Georgia Tech 40-28 in the Humanitarian Bowl on Monday.

Fresno State’s offense was surprisingly unstoppable against a Yellow Jackets defense that was among the best in the Atlantic Coast Conference and led the country in sacks with 47.

But Fresno State’s offensive line kept Brandstater on his feet, and even when Tech got a little heat on the junior, he showed the ability to escape the pocket and keep plays alive.

After punting on its opening possession, the Bulldogs (9-4) scored on six straight drives, taking a 34-14 lead midway through the third quarter, when Brandstater used an escort from tight end Bear Pascoe for a 24-yard touchdown run.

Behind a lineup of mostly young, skill-position backups trying to make an impression on incoming coach Paul Johnson, who was in attendance, the Yellow Jackets (7-6) got within 34-28 early in the fourth quarter.

Backup quarterback Calvin Booker threw a towering jump ball that D.J. Donley wrestled away from Fresno State defensive backs Moses Harris and Damion Owens. The TD was set up by Donley’s blocked punt.

Brandstater finished with 285 yards passing and the Bulldogs had 571 yards of total offense, the most allowed this season by the Yellow Jackets.

Fresno State also beat Georgia Tech in the 2002 Silicon Valley Football Classic, 30-21.