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Fresno State hosts Dec. 6 Toys for Tots run

The Craig School of Business will co-sponsor the Pelco Toys for Tots Holiday Fun Run on campus Saturday, Dec. 6.

Three runs begin at the Satellite Student Union. The first, at 8 a.m., is the 5K run, followed at 8:30 by a 2-mile noncompetitive walk/run and at 9 a.m. by a quarter-mile noncompetitive kids run.

The longer courses wind around the Fresno State farm and finish at the Satellite Student Union.

In addition to the runs, there will be a costume contest and activity booths.

Toys for Tots is a nonprofit organization that collects new, unwrapped toys during the holiday season for distribution to needy children. The company matches one-for-one each toy donated by its employees.

The Fun Run helps generate funds matched by Pelco to purchase additional toys. Toy donations will be accepted.

For more information, contact Jennifer McClure at Pelco, 559.292.1981, extension 2030 or Sal Ranaphone at the Craig School, 559.278.2352.

The Collegian’s REDWAVE podcast: Boise State preview

The Battle for the Milk Can, Fresno State and Boise State. On this episode of the podcast, Jim and Logan break down the Broncos and get you ready for Friday’s game. The guys have Pat Hill’s press conference and predict the outcome – and make some history in the process.

Play-by-play

Story lines: 00:02:00

Pat Hill: 00:10:05

Bowl time with Jim G: 00:15:15

Injuries and Vitals: 00:20:35

Players and predictions: 00:29:15

Fans of the Week: 00:37:20

Running down a ‘bowl’ dream

FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS 24, SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS 10

Second half surge over intrastate rival leads to seventh victory for Bulldogs

SAN JOSE – With hopes of a bowl game and postseason aspirations hanging in the balance, the Fresno State Bulldogs needed to make a statement Friday night.

It may have taken until the fourth quarter for the Bulldogs to make that statement, but with 183 yards rushing in the second half and three scores, Fresno State pulled away with a 24-10 come-from-behind victory at Spartan Stadium over San Jose State.

The Bulldogs (7-4, 4-3 WAC) have now almost definitely secured a bowl spot and will head to Boise State this Friday for the season finale against the conference champion Broncos.

Fresno State was held to minus-13 yards rushing in the first half of play and trailed 10-3, committing three turnovers, including two by quarterback Tom Brandstater.

But thanks to a three-tight end set that coach Pat Hill implemented in the second half, the Bulldogs were able to gain 183 yards on the ground and score two rushing touchdowns.

“We had three different running plays that we repeated over and over again,” Hill said. “For us to come back and win it in the fourth quarter with so much on the line for both teams really showed a lot.”

Fresno State put two drives together in the fourth quarter that basically epitomized Hill’s philosophy of Bulldog football.

The Bulldogs executed an 11-play, 69-yard drive in the fourth quarter that took 5:34 off the clock and they ran the ball on every single play of the drive.

Junior tailback Anthony Harding capped off the march downfield with an 8-yard run into the end zone to put Fresno State up 17-10.

On the Bulldogs’ next possession, the offense drove 90 yards on eight plays and only threw the ball once, milking 4:17 off the clock.

Harding scored on that drive as well with a nifty double move on a 21-yard run and sealed the victory for the Bulldogs.

He finished the night with 99 yards rushing and said he loved the fact that the offense focused on just running the ball in the second half.

“That’s probably the best feeling ever,” Harding said. “Just knowing that we’re going to pound the ball and say ‘no passing, just run the ball downhill.’ That’s Bulldog football.”

What really woke up the Bulldogs from their first-half slumber was a punt return from junior Chastin West in the third quarter.

West weaved his way through the entire San Jose State coverage team and got some help along the way en route to a 49-yard touchdown return.

After West’s return the entire Fresno State sideline erupted and many players said that was the spark the Bulldogs needed.

“It was just all reaction,” West said. “I just did what I had to do and did what I was supposed to do – take it to the end zone.”

Defensively, the Bulldogs held an opponent to negative rushing yards for the second straight week, holding the Spartans to measly minus-5 yards on the ground.

San Jose State’s lone touchdown came on a double-pass trick play in the first quarter, but besides that and a field goal, the Bulldogs’ defense didn’t allow much.

Middle linebacker Ben Jacobs said everybody on the defense has started to learn their roles better and make proper adjustments.

“If you fill your gap, that guy next to you is going to fill his,” Jacobs said. “Our coaches have really emphasized team defense.”

Jacobs said the Bulldogs haven’t even thought about what bowl game they’re going to, but they are focusing on only one thing – beating Boise State.

“We want to knock them off bad,” Jacobs said.

Kickoff at Bronco Stadium is set for this Friday at 3 p.m. on ESPN2.

Bowl situation

With their seventh win of the season, the Fresno State Bulldogs have almost certainly clinched a bowl game spot, but things are still up in the air.

With its win over Idaho, Hawaii clinched a spot in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, leaving only three more spots in WAC bowl games.

Spots in the Poinsettia Bowl, New Mexico Bowl and Humanitarian Bowl are still open for four bowl-eligible WAC teams.

Boise State will most likely take one of those spots as they are undefeated and Utah will be going to the BCS.

Fresno State and Louisiana Tech both have seven wins and Nevada has won six games.

The Wolf Pack will play Louisiana Tech this Saturday.

A tale of two halves for Bulldogs

SAN JOSE – The difference was obvious. Fresno State played two different games Friday night at Spartan Stadium.

And the Bulldogs got it right the second time around.

No, there aren’t any doubleheaders in football and no one asked for a do-over.

The Bulldogs were an entirely different team in the second half and forced San Jose State to play their brand of football.

In the first half, Fresno State had two first downs, three turnovers and minus-13 yards on the ground. The Bulldogs’ offense had 28 plays and 29 yards.

Needless to say, coach Pat Hill’s team did not play like they were hungry for the bowl game and San Jose State played like the side of the rivalry that has won 10 of the last 11 meetings.

But the next game, the second half, is when it changed for the ’Dogs. It all started with Hill’s spirited halftime speech.

“You wouldn’t respect me in the morning if I told you what I talk to them about at halftime,” Hill said.
Whatever it was he said, it worked.

The Bulldog defense allowed only 68 yards in the second half, but it was the offense that made the two halves look as opposite as Cheese Wiz and gourmet.

The offense was sparked by Chastin West’s third-quarter punt return for a touchdown to tie the game at 10-10. From that point on, the Bulldogs called only one pass play for the final 23 minutes.

Tailback Jamaal Rashad, who has been waiting for his chance to get playing time behind the Bulldogs’ main three tailbacks, had a career-high 41 yards on five carries Friday – all in the fourth quarter.

“I think it started to break their will,” Rashad said. “As the game went on, we started to wear them down.”

That is Hill’s brand of Bulldog football.

And Bulldog football may not be popular at the moment, but it won the game for Fresno State. The Bulldogs ran for 184 yards in the second half and controlled the ball for 10 minutes of the fourth quarter.

The Spartan defense had no answer for the Bulldogs’ three-tight end, two-running back formation.
Or their will power.

“They loaded the box and we loaded the line of scrimmage,” Hill said. “We just kept hats on hats and we were able to outplay them. We physically won the fourth quarter.”

Early in that fourth quarter, with the game tied 10-10, the Bulldogs drove to the Spartan 15-yard line and San Jose State defensive coordinator Keith Burns had one last chance to regain composure for his squad.

Burns called timeout to slow Fresno State’s momentum, but it only ignited the Bulldog sideline. Hill came out onto the field to rally his troops and Burns did the same.

Burns signaled with both hands toward Hill and the Bulldog sideline, “Bring it.”

Hill responded and his team brought whatever it was Burns was asking for.

Two plays later, the Bulldogs scored on an 8-yard Harding run. The play capped an 11-play drive that sealed the game for the Bulldogs and erased any hope San Jose State had.

The Bulldogs only needed three play calls to win the game in the fourth quarter: crease, power and blast – three basic running plays that sixth graders run, but it broke the Spartans.

“We ran right at them. They got tired and I don’t think they wanted it anymore,” Harding said.

San Jose State wanted it in the first half, but Fresno State wanted it when it counts. The Bulldogs came out in the second half and played a completely different game.

Maybe you don’t agree with the offensive play calling or the strategy, but it was Hill’s Bulldog football that won the game.

Collegian Players of the Game

The Collegian hands out its game balls following every Fresno State football game:

• Offense: Tailback Anthony Harding - The junior had to carry the load for the second straight week and delivered a 99-yard, two-score performance.

• Defense: Strong safety Moses Harris - Harris totaled seven tackles for the Bulldogs and recovered a fumble.

• Special Teams: Punt returner Chastin West – He ran back punt for a touchdown from 49 yards out and sparked the Bulldogs’ comeback.

Volleyball loses in tourney, women’s basketball beats Sacramento State

Volleyball

After defeating Louisiana Tech in the play-in game of the WAC Tournament in Hawaii, the Fresno State Bulldogs lost in the first round against No. 1 New Mexico State Aggies.

The Bulldogs fell in three straight sets by scores of 25-17, 25-17 and 25-22.

Fresno State ended the season with a 7-20 record and eighth place regular season finish.

Freshman sensation Baylee Platt continued to produce for the Bulldogs, amassing 14 kills.

Platt finished the season with 318 kills, placing third on the all-time Fresno State list for freshman.

Platt and Brianna Clarke made the All-WAC Freshmen Team.

Allanah Munson totaled a double-double for the Bulldogs with 22 assists and 10 digs.

The final “Fighting Spirit Award” of the season went to the Fresno State coaching staff.

Women’s Basketball

The Bulldogs improved to 3-0 on the season Sunday afternoon, beating the Sacramento State Hornets 74-68 in Sacramento.

For the third time in the past five years, the Fresno State women’s basketball team started the season with a 3-0 record.

Jaleesa Ross led the Bulldogs with 19 points and four assists against the Hornets. Bailey Amundsen led the team with nine rebounds and added 12 points.

The Bulldogs controlled the boards, outrebounding the Hornets 44-33.

Fresno State also forced 16 turnovers and capitalized, shooting 40 percent from the floor.

The game started with a basket by the Hornets, giving Sacramento State a 2-0 lead. After that point in the opening moments, the Buldogs did not trail for the remainder of the game.

Next up for the Bulldogs is a trip to Texas to play in the Southern Methodist Tournament this Friday. Fresno State will play at 3 p.m. against Charlotte of the Atlantic 10 conference. Win or lose, the Bulldogs will play again on Saturday against either SMU or Sam Houston State.

The Collegian’s REDWAVE podcast: San Jose State post-game

The Bulldogs second half surge pushed them past intrastate rival San Jose State. Fresno State run the ball effectively in the second half and broke the Spartans’ will. On this episode of the podcast, you’ll hear from Pat Hill, Anthony Harding, Chastin West, Lorne Bell and Jamaal Rashad. Jimmy and Logan break down the game and hand out games balls and talk bowl scenarios.

Play-by-play

Story lines: 00:02:00

Pat Hill: 00:09:00

Bowl games: 00:12:20

Player interviews: 00:19:00

Breakdown Spartans: 00:26:00

Fans of the Week: 00:33:00

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