Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Nevada
Fresno State Drops Nevada, 58-21
10/14/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 14, 2000
Postgame Audio
FRESNO, Calif. (AP)- Derrick Ward scored two touchdowns and blocked a punt as Fresno State beat Nevada 58-21 on Saturday night.
Bernard Berrian also scored twice for Fresno State (3-2 overall, 2-0 WAC), one on an 88-yard punt return and the other on a 55-yard pass reception from backup Jeff Grady.
Fresno State dominated Nevada (1-5, 0-2) from the start, taking a 27-0 lead in the first quarter. On its first possession of the game, Fresno State scored as quarterback David Carr's 1-yard scramble capped off a 73-yard drive.
On that drive, Carr completed three passes for 55 yards, including a quick swing pass to Paris Gaines that went for 22 yards to the Nevada 1.
Just four plays after Fresno s opening score, Dante Marsh intercepted David Neill's pass and sprinted 27 yards for a touchdown. Neill, under heavy pressure, tried dumping ball off to Mike Crawford, but Marsh took the ball out of Crawford's hands.
Nevada, pinned deep into its own territory most of the first quarter, gave Fresno the ball at the 33 after a short punt. Six plays later, Ward scored on a 2-yard run.
Another interception, this one by Tierre Sams, gave Fresno the ball at the 5. Ward then made it 27-0 with a 1-yard scoring run.
Nevada, limited to just 17 yards in the first quarter, got its offense going in the second quarter, driving 92 yards in nine plays with Neill hitting Scott Asai on a 4-yard scoring pass. The Wolfpack gambled with an onside kick and recovered, but were unable to capitalize on the field position.
Asen Asparuhov hit a 42-yard field goal for Fresno before Berrian's punt return gave the Bulldogs a 37-7 lead. Less than a minute later, Ward blocked a punt, giving Fresno the ball at 3. Gaines scored on a 1-yard run for a 44-7 halftime lead.
Berrian scored on the 55-yard pass play less than a minute into the second half.
Neill, who passed for 358 yards, scored on a 10-yard run, and connected with Nate Burleson on a 4-yard touchdown play.
With less than two minutes left in the game, Fresno State's s Kendall Edwards returned a fumble 10 yards for a score. Edwards sacked quarterback Bert Staninger on the play.
