Johnson, defense lead Fresno State past Nevada, 41-21
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — KeeSean Johnson had seven receptions for 104 yards and a career-high tying three touchdowns and the Fresno State defense forced six turnovers — including three on downs — to help the Bulldogs beat Nevada 41-21 on Saturday night.
Marcus McMaryion completed 24 of 32 passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns and Ronnie Rivers had 12 carries for 82 yards and a score for Fresno State (2-2, 1-0 Mountain West).
Jamire Jordan returned the opening kickoff 71 yards to set up a 10-yard scoring catch by Johnson on the fourth play from scrimmage. After James Bailey blocked Nevada’s 45-yard field-goal attempt, Fresno State’s Jimmy Camacho hit a 29-yard field goal at the end of the first quarter. Nevada went three-and-out on its next three drives — during that span, Josh Hokit hit Johnson on a halfback pass for a 16-yard touchdown — before Jaron Bryant’s 18-yard interception return for a touchdown made it 24-0 with 5:05 left in the first half.
Wyatt Demps had a career-high 10 receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown for Nevada (0-5, 0-1). The Wolfpack finished with 23 carries for 61 yards.
If not for George Helmuth, Fresno State doesn’t make the move with its linebackers that it did before a victory over Nevada to open Mountain West Conference play.
He was the driver, playing a strong second half in a loss at No. 6 Washington. Helmuth recovered a fumble and forced another turnover on a sack, added a tackle for loss.
FRESNO STATE COULD BE PLAYING A WEARY DEFENSE THIS WEEK AT SAN JOSE STATE. THE SPARTANS HAVE PLAYED SIX GAMES WITHOUT A BYE WEEK AND HAVE BEEN ON THE FIELD FOR 509 PLAYS, 84.8 PER GAME, THE MOST IN THE NATION.
So, the fourth-year junior, a Clovis North grad, moved into the starting lineup at Will linebacker against the Wolf Pack. That put James Bailey back at the more familiar and comfortable Sam spot and with Jeffrey Allison a fixture in the middle at Mike the Bulldogs ended up with a productive trio that has a lot of potential over the next two months of football.
“The position they’re in now are well suited for us,” coach Jeff Tedford said.
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Fresno State junior George Helmuth.
Keith/Deborah Kountz FRESNO STATE ATHLETICS
Helmuth had a career-high 10 tackles in the Bulldogs’ 41-21 victory over Nevada, one more than he had in the first three games this season combined, including another sack.
Bailey had a season-high eight tackles including four solo stops.
Allison, the Bulldogs’ leading tackler, had eight tackles including a piece of a tackle for loss, splitting a takedown of Nevada running back Jaxson Kincaide for a 7-yard loss with defensive tackle Malik Forrester.
The Bulldogs’ linebackers were one, two and tied for two in tackles.
“Great win, first conference game,” Helmuth said. “First of many, so definitely a confidence booster.”
The move worked for the Bulldogs, for Helmuth, and also for Bailey, who had played the Sam linebacker in a 3-4 his first two years in the program. It was like a trip back home, he said.
“I feel like for me it’s a better fit,” Bailey said. “I feel a little more comfortable, can play a little faster and get the reads that I need to make.
I FEEL I’M MORE PRODUCTIVE AT SAM THAN I WAS AT WILL. JUST BEING AT SAM, WHENEVER THE BALL IS TO MY SIDE, ... I TAKE IT VERY PERSONALLY. I’M LIKE, ‘THIS IS MY AREA. I’M GOING TO FIGHT FOR IT. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, I’M GOING TO OWN THE EDGE.’
Fresno State linebacker James Bailey
“Don’t get me wrong, I did like being in the box and being the Will, but being back at Sam I feel like I can make the reads faster. At Will, I feel like I needed to be perfect when I make my reads, because if I get out of the gap I mess up the run fit for everyone.”
Fresno State junior James Bailey.
Keith/Deborah Kountz FRESNO STATE ATHLETICS
It could come at just the right time for Fresno State, which is ranked third in the MW in total defense and this week matches up against a San Jose State team that is ranked 11th in the conference in total offense and 12th and last in scoring offense.
With better production from Helmuth and Bailey in the starting lineup, the Bulldogs could extend a solid defensive run that started in that third quarter at Washington.
Fresno State gave up a 73-yard touchdown pass on its first defensive series in the second half in that game, but allowed only 15 yards and forced two turnovers on its next three.
The Huskies, at that point, still had their No. 1 line on the field. But Fresno State allowed only 138 yards in the second half at Washington, including the long touchdown pass. It held Nevada to 314 total yards, just 61 on the ground. It also has forced five turnovers in its past three halves of football – the Bulldogs had nine turnovers gained all last season.
“I think we can be pretty productive,” Bailey said. “When we’re out there, we know each other’s assignments so we know we can get lined up fast and get the d-line lined up fast. It just feels comfortable. It feels like the right fit for everyone.”
Bull rush – Freshman Dontae Bull has been with the Bulldogs almost a month now after enrolling in school on Sept. 4. At 6-foot-7 and 305 pounds, he has made an impression.
BAILEY IS A LITTLE MORE ACCUSTOMED TO PLAYING IN SPACE, BUT IT ALL HAD TO DO WITH GEORGE (HELMUTH) AND HIS MATURATION. SEEING HOW HE’S PLAYING ALLOWED US TO MAKE THAT MOVE.
Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford
“We signed him knowing that he is incredibly raw, but he has probably more twitch and athleticism than a lot of 6-7 guys,” offensive line coach Ryan Grubb said.
“I’m just as fired up as when we signed him. I think he’s going to be a really good one. I think with him and (freshman tackle Syrus Tuitele) on the outside, those are a couple of future big-time tackles. When you just see him move a little bit, even just running around throwing the football, messing around, he’s really athletic.”
So much for experience – The Bulldogs play at San Jose State on Saturday and Allison, Helmuth, Bailey and their defense will go up against an offensive line that has accumulated 151 career starts tackle to tackle, the most of any line group in the nation.
Even with that experience the Spartans this season have averaged only 3.21 yards per rush, the lowest mark in the conference and tied for 113th in the nation.
San Jose State also has allowed 12 sacks, 2.0 per game, tied for sixth in the MW.
Fresno State’s defense is entering this season with a fresh mindset and new direction under defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer.
The defense ranked 68th in the country in yards per game allowed and sixth in the Mountain West Conference. The coaching staff has been working hard since it arrived to transform the defense from the middle of the pack into one of the best in the conference.
“We just had to build a strong foundation,” Steinauer said. “We had to let [the players] know what our standards were and what our expectations were, because just holding them accountable to stuff that they don’t know makes it tough and frustrating for any individual.”
The defense looks different from recent years, transitioning to a 4-3 base defense from a 3-4 scheme. New players will fight for playing time with the new game plan.
Johnny Johnson and Kesomi Mafi, two transfers who could be key players at the cornerback and safety positions, offer promise that the ship can be turned around.
However, the goal is to have at least two quality players in each position defensively, head coach Jeff Tedford said.
“Every position on defense is competitive and up for replacement,” Tedford said. “It’s important to have depth, so we’ll trade guys in-and-out to have at least two deep in every position that’s quality. Very few guys have a lock on a position.”
While some players look to gain a spot on the depth chart, others look to lead.
“James Bailey has been a consistent leader,” Tedford said. “Through spring football, summer program and through camp, he’s been very consistent and does a great job motivating the defense.”
As a freshman in 2015, Bailey played in all 12 games with three starts. He accumulated 47 tackles that season, which tied the record for most tackles by a Bulldog freshman. Kevin Adams accomplished the same feat in 1995.
Bailey ranked No. 5 among true freshmen in the Mountain West in tackles that season.
His numbers only improved his sophomore year in 2016, and now in 2017, the leash to the defense is his for the taking.
“I think [Bailey] has taken another step,” Steinauer said. “He’s been more vocal but most of all he comes to work every day and works hard.”
Steinauer said that Bailey has something called “a care factor,” which is hard to evaluate on tape.
“He really cares, and the good thing is he’s not alone. I would echo what coach Tedford said, he’s got a bright future ahead of him if he keeps his head on straight.”
Bailey agreed with Tedford and Steinauer’s assessment.
“I consider myself the leader of the defense,” Bailey said. “I’ve been here since my freshman year, and now I’m coming up on my junior year. Just growing up and being here, I had to sit back and learn from other guys and learn from their mistakes so I could become a leader.”
