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Monday, November 9, 2015

"Bailey Sets True Freshman High", Fresno State Official Website, 11/9/15, scroll down to part in yellow


 
 
Nov. 9, 2015
Fresno State (2-7, 1-5 MW) at Hawai`i (2-8, 0-6 MW)
DateSaturday, Nov. 14, 2015
Time8 p.m. PT
LocationHawaiian Airelines Field at Aloha Stadium (41,031) - Honolulu, Hawai`i 
TVKSEE-24-NBC Fresno | Play-by-Play: Robert Kekaula; Analyst:: Rich Miano; Sideline: Scott Robbs
RadioESPN Radio (940 AM) | Gameday Live (5 p.m.), Pregame Show (7 p.m.)
Play-by-Play:Paul Loeffler; Analyst: Pat HillSideline:Cameron Worrell
 
ESPN Deportes (1600 AM) in Spanish | Play-by-Play: Jesse Beltran; Analyst:Octavio Duarte
Game NotesFresno State Notes | Hawai`i Game Notes | Mountain West Game Notes
Live StatsStat Broadcast
2015 StatsFresno State | Hawai`i | Mountain West
Social Media@FresnoStateFB Twitter | Facebook | Fresno_State_Football Instagram | Snap Chat: FSAthletics

Fresno State is set to travel for its final Mountain West road game of the season, playing at Hawai`i on Saturday ... KSEE-24 is televising the game locally in Fresno with Robert Kekaula (play-by-play), Rich Miano (analyst) and Scott Robbs (sideline) calling the action for Valley viewers ... fans can also listen to the game on the official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs, 940 AM ESPN radio, with ‘Voice of the Bulldogs’ Paul Loeffler on the play-by-play, Fresno State coaching legend Pat Hill delivering game analysis and former Bulldog and NFL safety Cameron Worrell as the sideline reporter ... having been eliminated from bowl contention, Fresno State now looks to send its 18-member senior class out with three-straight wins to end the regular season, a feat that the Bulldogs have accomplished in two of the first three seasons under head coach Tim DeRuyter ... Fresno State is seeking its fifth-straight win overall against the Rainbow Warriors and fourth in-a-row against Hawai`i when playing UH on the road ... senior running back Marteze Wallerneeds 78 yards rushing to become the fifth Bulldog in program history to go over 3,000 yards rushing for a career and in three career games against Hawai`i he has rushed 62 times for 274 yards and four touchdowns ... Fresno State has outscored Hawai`i 91-6 in the first half in the last three meetings against the Rainbow Warriors and outgained them 898 yards to 282.
The Last Meeting
Hawai'i (Oceanic/MWN)21
Fresno State28
November 29, 2014
Fresno, Calif.
`Dogs Beat Hawai`i, Win MW West Division Again
Fresno State defeated Hawai`i 28-21 Saturday evening at Bulldog Stadium on Senior Day to clinch the West Division title for a second-straight year.

Bulldog Headlines
• Senior outside linebacker Ejiro Ederaine, with 41.5 career tackles for a loss, needs 5.5 more stops behind the line of scrimmage to set a new Mountain West career record for most TFLs. Ederaine is also on pace to record the first 100-tackle season since Ben Jacobs posted 109 tackles in 2009.
• Wide receiver Josiah Blandin caught his fourth touchdown pass of the season last week to tie with Jamire Jordan for the team lead in TD receptions. 
Series History vs. Hawai`i  
Fresno State leads the all-time series with Hawai`i 25-21-1 entering Saturday’s contest that will be the 48th meeting between the two schools. The Bulldogs will be going after their fifth straight win in the series with three of the past four games being decided by one score. Both programs have been in the same conference since 1992 when Fresno State joined the WAC and in conference matchups the `Dogs own a 12-11 advantage, thanks to its 3-0 record against UH since both schools joined the Mountain West. After losing 11-of-12 when playing at Hawai`i from 1967-2003, Fresno State has won four of its last five against the Rainbow Warriors on the Islands, including three-straight. The last time the Bulldogs won four consecutive games at Hawai`i was from 1955-65. Fresno State is 11-14 all-time when playing at Hawai`i. 
→ Fresno State is making a trip Honolulu for the fifth year in a row. The `Dogs played at Hawai`i in 2011 and 2013 while also traveling there for a bowl game in 2012 and 2014.
Scouting The Hawai`i Rainbow Warriors  
Hawai`i enters its second game this season under interim head coach Chris Naeole and sits at 2-8 overall on the year and 0-6 in Mountain West play. After rushing for just 32 total yards in its two previous games combined, Hawai`i came out last week and ran for 191 yards in a loss to UNLV. It was the Rainbow Warriors’ third-highest rushing total of the season and their 378 total yards was also the third-most it has gained on the year. Hawai`i is averaging 290.4 yards per game while giving up 449.8. Opponents are putting up 35.3 points on Hawai`i this year while UH has averaged just 16.4 points per game. At minus-17 in the turnover department, Hawai`i is tied for last in the nation in turnover margin. 
Ederaine Has Mountain West Record In Arms Reach
With three games to go, junior outside linebacker Ejiro Ederaine needs 5.5 tackles for a loss to tie Miles Burris from San Diego State for the most stops behind the line of scrimmage in a career in Mountain West history. Burris had 47.0 tackles for a loss for the Aztecs from 2008-11 and Ederaine, who currently sits in a tie for fourth on the league record list, has recorded 41.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. Ederaine also ranks No. 3 among all active FBS players in career tackles for a loss, behind Ohio State’s Joey Bosa (46.5) and Baylor’s Shawn Oakman (43.0). Ederaine has posted a tackle for a loss in 8-of-9 games this season and has recorded multiple tackles for a loss 12 times in his career, so with three games remaining he stands a chance to hit the league-best mark. Ederaine’s career-high for tackles for a loss in a game is 4.5 and he also has four career games posting three stops behind the line of scrimmage.
→ His 19.0 career sacks ranks No. 9 in school history. There has only been six Bulldogs in program history with 20 sacks in a career, the last being Tyler Clutts (2004-07 - 23.5).
→ Ederaine ranks No. 10 among active FBS defenders in career sacks.
→ With 10 tackles last week against Nevada, Ederaine has posted 10 or more tackles in 4-of-9 games this season. The last Bulldog to have five games in a season with 10 or more tackles was 2009 when Ben Jacobs did so. He finished that season with 106 tackles, which was the last time a Bulldog had over 100 tackles in a season. Ederaine, who ranks No. 6 in the Mountain West in tackles with 76, is on pace for a 101 tackle season. 
Glass Steps Up For Bulldogs  
Junior college transfer and first-year Bulldog Tyquwan Glass entered the starting lineup five games ago against San Diego State and in his time starting at corner he has recorded 27 tackles in the last five games. That ranks as the fourth most from any Bulldog in that time frame and he also has a half tackle for a loss, two pass breakups and one interception that he had in the last outing against Nevada. It was Glass’ second interception on the season, which leads the team and was Fresno State’s first pick since his first one of the season on Sept. 19 against Utah. It ended a five-game streak for the Bulldogs without an interception - the longest team streak since going seven games without a pick in 2011.
Glass recorded a season-high 12 tackles in his last outing against Nevada. His previous season-high was the eight tackles he posted in his first career start at San Diego State. Glass is the fifth different Bulldog to record 10 or more tackles in a game this year and the second cornerback, joining Jamal Ellis who had 10 tackles at Ole Miss in the second week of the season. The last time prior to this season that a Bulldog corner posted double-digit tackles was on Sept. 20, 2013 when L.J. Jones had 11 tackles against Boise State.
→ With Hawai`i ranking No. 124 out of 127 FBS teams in interceptions thrown with 17 on the season, the Bulldogs look for more plays out of its secondary. It has been two seasons since a Bulldog recorded more than two interceptions in a season, as the 2014 high was two picks done by Karl MickelsenCharles Washington and Kyrie Wilson. In 2013, Derron Smith led the team with seven interceptions, which tied for the second-most in the FBS.
→ In the five previous seasons before Tim DeRuyter became Fresno State’s head coach, the Bulldogs averaged 6.0 interceptions per year. In the first three seasons under DeRuyter, the `Dogs averaged 15.0 picks per season, but this season in year four the `Dogs have just five interceptions through nine games.
Waller Closes In On 3,000  
Senior running back Marteze Waller needs 78 yards to become the fifth Bulldog in program history to rush for over 3,000 yards in a career. If his past history against Hawai`i suggest so, Waller stands a good chance at hitting that milestone this weekend.
In last seasons meeting with Hawai`i, Waller got off to a hot start. He had 19 carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. With 10 career 100-yard rushing games, Waller looks for this third 100-yard game this year against the Rainbow Warrior defense that is allowing 261.5 yards per game on the ground.
→ Did you know that in Waller’s career he has only lost two fumbles in his 625 total touches (560 rushing attempts, 65 receptions).
→ No Fresno State running back this season has fumbled the ball. The Bulldogs are one of only nine FBS programs in the nation that have not lost a fumble from any running back on its roster. Also on that list from the Mountain West is UNLV.
Swanson Posting Impressive Numbers in the Punting Game  
Senior punter Garrett Swanson matched his career-high with three punts of over 50 yards in last week’s game against Nevada. He averaged 48.2 yards on five punts - his third game this season averaging over 48 yards per punt. This season, Swanson is averaging 42.8 yards per punt with 12 of over 50 yards. That has already beat his season high for punts of over 50 yards, as he recorded nine of them in both 2013 and 2014. His 2013 average of 43.1 yards per punt still ranks as his season high. He was an honorable mention All-Mountain West pick that year. 
Blandin Catches Another TD  
Josiah Blandin, the junior college transfer and first-year Bulldog, moved back into a tie for the team lead in touchdown receptions with four on the year. Blandin caught a two-yard TD pass right before halftime last week against Nevada. He recorded four receptions for 37 yards against the Wolf Pack, matching his season-high for receptions and posting his best game since the month of September. Blandin also caught four passes in the Abilene Christian and Utah games, but after catching one touchdown pass in each of the first three games of the season he had just five total receptions for 41 yards in the five games prior to last week. For the season, Blandin is third on the team with 18 receptions that has gone for 192 yards and his four TDs is tied with Jamire Jordan for the team lead.
Northern and Vazquez Named Academic All-District  
Offensive linemen Justin Northern and Jacob Vazquez were both named to the 2015 CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 first-team. Northern and Vazquez both now advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Team ballot, where first-, second- and third-team All-America honorees will be selected later this month. The duo mark the fifth and sixth selections under head coach Tim DeRuyter to be named Academic All-District over the last four seasons.
Northern joins Andrew Jackson (2008-10) and Vince Pascoe (2008-10) as recent Bulldogs to be named first-team Academic All-District three times in a career. Northern, who was also a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, Wuerffel Trophy and candidate for the Senior CLASS Award, holds a 3.79 GPA in mechanical engineering. He has made 36 consecutive starts for the Bulldogs, which is the most from any player on the team. For Vazquez, a 4.0 agricultural business major from Cottonwood, Calif., this is his first selection to the Academic All-District team. He has started 7-of-9 games this season.
Scott Helping `Dogs Improve in Return Game  
With a 41-yard kickoff return last week against Nevada, junior wide receiver Da’Mari Scott has become the first Bulldog since Isaiah Burse in 2011 to have three kickoff returns of over 40 yards in the same season. Burse had returns of 47, 46 and 42 yards that season while averaging 21.4 yards per kickoff return. Scott this year is averaging 22.4 yards per return on 21 chances with a long of 66 yards in the San Jose State game, which is the longest return since A.J. Jefferson brought back a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown on Nov. 7, 2008 - Fresno State’s last kickoff return for a touchdown.
Looking for Third-Quarter Improvement  
The third quarter has been a tough one for the Bulldogs this season. They have been outscored 97-33 in the 15 minutes coming out of halftime and out-gained by opponents 125.7 yards to 66.2 on average. Over the last five games, Fresno State has just three total points in the third quarter while averaging just 37.2 yards. In the last two games alone, where Fresno State has been outscored 20-0 in the third quarter, the Bulldogs have gained just a total of 13 yards on 13 plays. 
→ The Bulldogs have scored points on their first drive of a second half just once this year, which came at San Jose State when the `Dogs drove 51 yards and scored on a 29-yard Ford Childress to KeeSean Johnson touchdown pass. Opponents have five touchdowns in nine games this year on their first drive of the second half, including TDs in each of the past three games.
→ Fresno State has not scored in the second half in each of its last two games.
Defensive Ends Producing for Bulldogs  
Senior defensive end Claudell Louis posted seven tackles last week against Nevada, which was his second-straight game with seven tackles. He also had 1.5 tackles for a loss and a half sack in the game. With five sacks on the year, Louis is tied for sixth in the conference for the most sacks. His 40 total tackles on the season are tied for the fourth most of any defensive linemen in the conference.
Also tied for fourth in tackles among defensive linemen is fellow Bulldog senior Todd Hunt. Hunt, like Louis, has been posting strong numbers recently. His eight tackles against UNLV back on Oct. 16 is the most by a defensive linemen this year and he has had five or more tackles in four-straight games and in five of the last six. Hunt has 2.0 sacks this year and 4.0 tackles for a loss. 
→ Between the two senior defensive ends, they have combined for 80 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss of 47 yards, 7.0 sacks, two pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery.
Bailey Sets True Freshman High  
True freshman outside linebacker James Bailey has posted 39 tackles through nine games this year and three starts. That tackle figure is already the most tackles by any true freshman to play under head coach Tim DeRuyterMalcolm Washington last season in his true freshman year posted 37 tackles in 14 games with seven starts. Xavier Ulutu had 20 stops as a true freshman last season, Michael Lazarus had seven stops, Tobenna Okeke had five tackles and Justin Greenhad one as well in 2014 as a true freshman. The only other Bulldogs to play as a true freshman under this coaching staff were Shannon Edwards (11 tackles in 2012), Ejiro Ederaine (three tackles in 2012) and Jeff Camilli (four tackles in 2013). 
This-N-That  
• Sophomore outside linebacker Tobenna Okeke had six tackles and one tackle for a loss in the Nevada game on Nov. 5. It was a new career-high for Okeke in total tackles and his stop behind the line of scrimmage was his first since posting a half TFL against No. 21 Utah on Sept. 19.
• Fresno State seeks its first road win of the season and with two road games remaining looks to avoid becoming the first Bulldog team since 1976 to not win a game on the road. That 1976 team was 5-6 overall, going 5-1 at home and 0-5 on the road.
• Fresno State has allowed opponents to have two 100-yard rushers in each of the past two games. Hawai`i enters this game with three total 100-yard rushing games on the season, all of which have come at the feet of junior running back Paul Harris who has averaged 5.7 yards per carry this year. Harris is coming off a 190-yard rushing game last week against UNLV.
• Malique Micenheimer caught four passes for 21 yards against Nevada last week. It matched his career-high for receptions, as he also had four catches against No. 15 USC in 2014 (which went for 38 yards).
• Inside linebacker Jeff Camilli’s 70 tackles this season are already 24 more than he had combining his freshman and sophomore seasons. Camilli ranks in a tie for eighth for the most tackles in the conference and he has four games with 10 or more tackles, including two with 14 that is the single-game high for any Bulldog this season.
•After averaging only 60.7 rushing yards in three-straight games from Sept. 26-Oct. 10, the Bulldogs have come out in their last three games and averaged 159.0 yards on the ground with seven total touchdowns. In the first six games this year, Fresno State only had two rushing touchdowns.
• Fresno State has just nine rushing touchdowns on the season. There has only been one season in the last 20 years that the Bulldogs had under 15 rushing touchdowns on a year and that came in 2000 when the `Dogs only scored 11 touchdowns running the ball.
• Redshirt freshman quarterback Kilton Anderson has three rushing touchdowns on the season in just five games, which already ties for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in the last six seasons. Tom Brandstater had four rushing touchdowns in 2008 and the most rushing TDs by a Bulldog quarterback this century was five, done by David Carr in 2001. The season-high rushing total by a Bulldog QB this century was the 360 yards Brian Burrell totaled last year. Anderson has 117 net rushing yards this season.
• Opponents have averaged just 20.4 yards per kickoff return and 7.3 yards on punts on the Bulldogs this season. Take out the 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from Utah’s Cory Butler-Byrd and the 77-yard punt return for a TD by Utah’s Britain Covey and the Bulldogs would be holding opponents to just 15.3 yards on kickoff returns (229 yards on 15 returns) and just 0.3 yards per punt return (10 returns for a total of three yards).
• Fresno State had a season-high nine penalties for 58 yards last week against Nevada. Prior to that the Bulldogs had been flagged just an average of 4.375 times per game, ranking No. 8 in the FBS. Now after last game the `Dogs dropped down to No. 19 in the FBS for fewest penalties per game at 4.89. 

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Pictures from Air Force, Nevada & Hawaii games, 2015


























Fresno State Football website, "Dogs Set for Thursday Night Tilt v Nevada", 11/1/15, scroll down to "True Freshman Impact" in yellow


'Dogs Set For Thursday Night Tilt vs. Nevada

 

 
 

Nevada (4-4, 2-2 MW) at Fresno State (2-6, 1-4 MW)
DateThursday, Nov. 5, 2015
Time7:30 p.m. PT
LocationBulldog Stadium (41,041) - Fresno, Calif. 
TVESPN2 | Play-by-Play: Mike Couzens; Analyst:: Tom Ramsey
RadioESPN Radio (940 AM) | Gameday Live (4:30 p.m.), Pregame Show (6:30 p.m.)
Play-by-Play:Paul Loeffler; Analyst: Pat HillSideline:Cameron Worrell
 
ESPN Deportes (1600 AM) in Spanish | Play-by-Play: Jesse Beltran; Analyst:Octavio Duarte
Game NotesFresno State Game Notes | Nevada Game Notes | Mountain West Game Notes
Live StatsStat Broadcast
2015 StatsFresno State | Nevada | Mountain West
Social Media@FresnoStateFB Twitter | Facebook | Fresno_State_Football Instagram | Snap Chat: FSAthletics 

Fresno State, coming off its lone bye weekend, hosts Nevada for the 47th meeting between the two schools on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Bulldog Stadium ... ESPN2 is televising the game nationally with Mike Couzens (play-by-play) and Tom Ramsey (analyst) calling the action ... fans can also listen to the game on the official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs, 940 AM ESPN radio, with `Voice of the Bulldogs' Paul Loeffler on the play-by-play, Fresno State coaching legend Pat Hilldelivering game analysis and former Bulldog and NFL safety Cameron Worrell as the sideline reporter ... the Bulldogs are going after their fourth-straight win over the Wolf Pack and in the last three victories have scored 40 or more points in each win ... Fresno State has forced the Wolf Pack into nine turnovers in its last three meetings and turned those take-aways directly into 48 points (six touchdowns and two field goals), as the Bulldogs have outscored Nevada by 54 points in the last three wins ... prior to the bye week, Fresno State scored two early touchdowns via runs of 60 (Dustin Garrison) and 64 (Marteze Waller) yards to become the first school to take a lead against Air Force at Falcon Field this season ... Air Force countered the Bulldogs outburst with its own by scoring the games next 42 points to hand Fresno State its sixth loss of the season ... Michael Martens (WR) and Kyle Hendrickson (DE) made their first career starts at Air Force and became the 18th and 19th Bulldogs who have started for the first time in their careers this season, which ties for the fourth-most among all FBS team.
The Last Meeting
Fresno State40
Nevada [ESPNU]20
November 22, 2014
Reno, Nev.
Bulldogs Come Through, Win 40-20 at Nevada
Brian Burrell accounted for 5 TDs and Fresno State took over control of the West Division of the MW with a 40-20 victory over Nevada.

Bulldog Headlines
• Fresno State moves into the month of November where over the previous three seasons it has posted a 9-2 record in November games.
• Head coach Tim DeRuyter owns a 3-0 record against the Wolf Pack, and won the turnover battle in each game.
• Senior running back Marteze Waller is 152 yards shy of becoming the fifth Bulldog to reach 3,000 career rushing yards in school history.
Scouting the Wolf Pack
Nevada, like the Bulldogs, are coming off a bye weekend. In their last outing against Hawai`i the Wolf Pack came back from a 17-0 deficit by outscoring UH 30-3 in the final 35 minutes of the game. Senior DE Ian Seau tallied 4.0 sacks -- the second-most in a single game in program history -- and recovered his own forced fumble late in the fourth quarter to clinch Nevada's victory. Seau, now tied for the league lead with 7.0 sacks, was named the MW Defensive Player of the Week after the victory. He has helped lead a strong defensive unit this year, as Nevada is only giving up 26.8 points per game. Offensively, the Wolf Pack ranks No. 5 in the league in total offense (387.2 ypg) behind running back James Butler who is averaging 94.5 yards per game (No. 5 in MW) and receiver Jerico Richardson who ranks second in the Mountain West averaging 5.62 receptions per game.
Series History vs. Nevada
Fresno State has won the last three meetings against Nevada and owns a 27-18-1 record against the Wolf Pack in its first 46 meetings between the two schools. The teams first met in 1923 and Nevada took the first four games in the series. There was a 27-year break in the series from 1955-82 and another 11-year gap from 1983-94, but this season marks the 18th-straight year the two teams have squared off going back to 1998. In recent history, Nevada took four-straight from 2008-11 over the Bulldogs before Fresno State has come back to win the last three. The `Dogs are 15-8 all-time against Nevada at home.
Turnovers Key In Series
Over the last three years Fresno State has forced Nevada into a total of nine turnovers. The `Dogs forced four turnovers (three INT's, 1 fumble recovery) in 2014 at Nevada, had one take-away (an INT) at home in 2013 and had four more at Nevada in 2012 (two picks, two fumble recoveries). Looking at turnovers in the series, winning the turnover margin has been a key to victory. You have to go back 16 matchups ago to find the last time one of these teams won the game while losing the turnover battle. That came in 1999 when Fresno State overcame three lost fumbles and only generated one take-away on an interception during its 49-24 win over the Wolf Pack.
November 'Dogs
When it comes to the home-stretch of the season, head coach Tim DeRuyter's Bulldogs own a 9-2 record in the month of November since his first year at the helm in 2012 - including a perfect 3-0 mark against Nevada in that span. Furthermore, Fresno State has dropped just one game at home (5-1) in the final month of the regular season under DeRuyter, which came against Wyoming on Nov. 1, 2014. The `Dogs reeled off seven-straight wins during years one and two under DeRuyter in November, which was snapped at San Jose State on Nov. 29, 2013.
The 'Dogs 1-2 Punch on Defense
Fresno State's two leading tacklers this season, junior Jeff Camilli (66) and senior Ejiro Ederaine (64), have both set career highs for single season tackles just eight games into the season. Ederaine exceeded his career high last time out vs. Air Force, breaking an old high of 64 posted his sophomore season in 2013, while Camilli broke his personal best of 42 set his sophomore season vs. UNLV (Oct. 16). Camilli has led the team in tackles three times, and set a career-high of 14 at San Diego State (Oct. 3) and matched that career-high again against Air Force (Oct. 24). Ederaine has led Fresno State in tackles twice this season (Utah/UNLV) and posted double-digit tackles four times. The duo has ranked 1-2 for single game highs in tackles in four of eight games and are both on pace to challenge to hit the century mark. The last Bulldog to reach triple digits in a single season was Ben Jacobs (106) in 2009.
Streak Snapped
Senior defensive back Charles Washington had his streak of 34 consecutive games started snapped when he missed the Oct. 24 game against Air Force due to an internal injury. He had started every game for the Bulldogs since the 2012 seasons. Of this 34 career starts, 20 have been at strong safety, 13 at cornerback and one as the nickle back. The player with the most starts on the team is now right tackle Justin Northern, who has made 35 consecutive starts.
More First-Time Starters
Junior wide receiver Michael Martens and redshirt freshman defensive end Kyle Hendrickson both made their first career starts in Fresno State's last game at Air Force. Martens, who has been a standout on special teams for the Bulldogs this year, did not record a catch in the game. Hendrickson had a season-high four tackles.
Fresno State now has 19 players who have started for the first time in their careers this season. That figure ties for the fourth-most of any FBS team in the country.
Waller Nearing 3,000 Career Rushing Yards
With 660 yards netted through eight games, starting running back Marteze Waller is just 152 yards shy of becoming the fifth Fresno State football player to reach the 3,000-yard rushing mark in school history. The senior is also making history, running up the all-time rushing record list. Waller started his senior campaign with the 13th most yards in school history with 2,188 after his junior year, he now ranks No. 5 on that list with 2,848 career yards and can rise above Michael Pittman (1993-97) to No. 4 with 170 more yards before the season concludes.
• Waller owns two 100-yard rushing games this season, and 10 career 100-yards rushing games - the ninth-most in school history. 
• With three more touchdowns, Waller will break into the Top 10 for career rushing TDs - Aaron Carver (1989-90) and Kelly Skipper (1985-88) share No. 10 with 26 career TDs a piece. 
• Waller surpassed Ryan Mathews (2007-09) for No. 3 on the all-time career rushing attempts list - now having 543 career attempts following the Air Force contest. Michael Pittman is No. 2 (647) and Robbie Rouse (2009-12) is No. 1 (898) on the all-time list for attempts.
Time of Possession Deficiency
Last time out, Air Force possessed the ball 25:16 longer than the Bulldogs did. For the season, Fresno State has trailed in the TOP category every game but one this year, and in those games (7-of-8), the `Dogs have been 10-plus minutes behind in time of possession four times. Fresno State ranks 123rd among FBS teams in TOP, holding the ball for an average of 25:12 minutes per game. The Bulldogs longest drive this season was 5:28 in its win vs. UNLV - which resulted in a touchdown. The longest drive against the `Dogs was 9:51, surrendered to a Utah touchdown drive.
Thursday Night Lights
Since the year 2000, Fresno State has played six Thursday night regular season games and own a 6-0 record in those contests. This week's game will be the second of the season for Fresno State, having opened the 2015 season on a Thursday with a 34-13 victory against Abilene Christian on Sept. 3, led by Marteze Waller's rushing attack - 154 yards on 22 carries. Prior to that, Fresno State also opened the 2013 season on a Thursday, an overtime thriller the `Dogs won 52-51 behind Derek Carr (52-for-71, 456 yards, 5 TDs) against Rutgers. In that same game vs. the Scarlett Knights, then-sophomore Marteze Waller carried the ball a team-high eight times for 30 yards. Preceding 2013, the `Dogs had not played a game on a Thursday since 2005.
True Freshman Impact
Fresno State has utilized four true freshman during the 2015 season, and have seen the most impact on defense with outside linebacker James Bailey and inside linebacker Nela Otukolo. Bailey and Otukolo have played in all eight games and recorded at least one tackle in each contest. Bailey became the sixth true freshman to start under head coach Tim DeRuyter in the `Dogs matchup against UNLV and kept that starting role vs. Air Force. He rewarded DeRuyter with 13 tackles and 0.5 tackles for a loss in those two starts - Bailey has 36 tackles and 2.0 TFLs for the season.
As for Otukolo, he has chipped in 25 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks through eight games. Offensively, quarterback Chason Virgil (now out for the season with an injury) was the fifth true freshman to start for DeRuyter (Sept. 19 vs. Utah), and running back Dejonte O'Neal has drawn playing time in games against Abilene Christian and Utah State.
Mountain West TFL Record in Reach
Despite being held to his first game all season without recording a tackle for a loss - breaking a streak of nine-straight games dating back to the 2014 season - senior outside linebacker Ejiro Ederaine is 7.0 tackles for a loss shy of the all-time Mountain West leader Miles Burris (2008-11) of San Diego State. Ederaine owns 40.0 career TFLs, which ranks No. 6 in MW history. On the FBS level, he currently ranks No. 3 in the FBS among active players for career TFLs and his 17.5 career sacks is the 13th most among active players.
• Ederaine is tied for second in the Mountain West in 2015 for tackles for a loss with 11.0 and is tied for second in sacks with 5.5. 
• His single-game season-high for TFLs is 3.0 (twice) and career-best for single game TFLs is 4.5 (vs. SDSU in 2013).
This-N-That
• With 4.5 sacks, defensive end Claudell Louis owns the fourth-most sacks among d-lineman in the Mountain West. The senior has the seventh-most sacks overall in the conference. 
• Todd Hunt started at nose guard for the first time in his career in place of the injured Nate Madsen, prior to that game Hunt had started 21 consecutive games at defensive end. His now 22-straight starts ranks as the second longest run among players on the defensive side of the ball for Fresno State. 
• Kyrie Wilson leads Fresno State with 240 career tackles and is 32 tackles shy of breaking into the Fresno State all-time career tackles Top 10. If Wilson can average eight tackles per game over the final four regular season games, he will catch No. 10 Brad Bell (1990-93) at 272. 
• Of the Bulldogs 16 turnovers this season, opponents have scored a touchdown 12 times of those (zero FG)- 75 points. 
• The Bulldogs five-game drought without a defensive interception is the longest such streak without a pick since the 2011 season when the `Dogs went without an INT for seven-straight games - Fresno State was 3-4 in that stretch. 
• Did you know that Bulldog opponents have missed their last four field goal attempts against the `Dogs? Those were a 37-yard attempt by Air Force that was wide right, a 50- and 42-yard attempts by San Diego State that were both wide left and a 47-yarder that was wide left by San Jose State. Opponents for the season are 2-of-7 on field goal attempts against the `Dogs with the average distance per attempt being 39.8 yards. Fresno State is 5-for-8 on its field goal tries this year with Jimmy Camacho going 2-for-4 with a long of 44 and Kody Kroening going 3-for-4 with a long of 40 yards. 
• Fresno State is averaging 25.8 points per game at home vs. 16.2 points per game on the road. 
• Kilton Anderson, now a three-game starter, has completed the most passes to Jamire Jordan (11) in that stretch. Although, the redshirt freshman has been distributing the ball widely - to 10 different receivers of his 43 completions this season. Over the three games, Anderson has completed a pass to an average of over six different receivers each game.