'Dogs Set For Thursday Night Tilt vs. Nevada
 |
| Nevada (4-4, 2-2 MW) at Fresno State (2-6, 1-4 MW) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015 | |||||
| Time | 7:30 p.m. PT | |||||
| Location | Bulldog Stadium (41,041) - Fresno, Calif. | |||||
| TV | ESPN2 | Play-by-Play: Mike Couzens; Analyst:: Tom Ramsey | |||||
| Radio | ESPN Radio (940 AM) | Gameday Live (4:30 p.m.), Pregame Show (6:30 p.m.) Play-by-Play:Paul Loeffler; Analyst: Pat Hill; Sideline:Cameron Worrell ESPN Deportes (1600 AM) in Spanish | Play-by-Play: Jesse Beltran; Analyst:Octavio Duarte | |||||
| Game Notes | Fresno State Game Notes | Nevada Game Notes | Mountain West Game Notes | |||||
| Live Stats | Stat Broadcast | |||||
| 2015 Stats | Fresno 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 State | 40 |
| Nevada [ESPNU] | 20 |
November 22, 2014
Reno, Nev.
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.
• 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
• 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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
• 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.
• 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment