Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Nevada
Football Keeps Bowl Hopes Alive With 38-30 Victory Over Nevada
11/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 16, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State's defense scored two touchdowns as the Bulldogs built a 31-10 lead and hung on for a 38-30 victory over Nevada at Bulldog Stadium to keep their bowl hopes alive.
Fresno State improved to 6-5 (4-2 WAC) with its second victory in a row. The Bulldogs have played in bowl games the past three seasons and could clinch another postseason trip with a win next week at San Jose State (6-6, 4-3 WAC). Nevada fell to 5-6 (4-3 WAC).
"Jim Sweeney used to say 'The games on November are the ones you remember,'" head coach Pat Hill said. "And this is a memorable game for us. This was a big football game, and a big win for us. We have a playoff mentality, and right now we are 2-0 heading to San Jose."
While the Bulldogs had 332 yards on offense, it was their defense in the third quarter that turned the game. With Fresno State ahead 17-10, Zach Threadgill's pass intended for star wide receiver Nate Burleson was intercepted by Cameron Worrell and returned 62 yards for a touchdown.
On the Wolf Pack's next possession, lightning struck again as Sam Williams intercepted a Threadgill pass, pitched it to Dee Meza, who broke free for a 60-yard return for a touchdown. The pick gave Fresno State a 31-10 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Behind an excellent night from Burleson, who had 14 catches for 207 yards and two scores, Nevada made a run to get back into the contest. The nation's receiving leader took a reverse four yards for a touchdown with 8:30 left, making it 31-17. With 3:04 to go, Burleson caught an 18-yard TD pass, cutting the Bulldogs' lead to 31-24.
But on Fresno State's next possession, the Bulldogs salted it away with an 11-play, 72-yard drive that resulted in James Cummings' 12-yard touchdown run.
"I thought we played our hearts out tonight," Nevada head coach Chris Tormey said. "I thought our guys laid it on the line all four quarters. We didn't quit, and it would have been easy to quit after we had those two interceptions for touchdowns in the third quarter. You can't make mistakes like that against a team of this quality."
Burleson caught a 45-yard touchdown pass with 2:06 remaining, but Nevada's ensuing onside kick was recovered by Fresno State.
"I thought the drive in the fourth quarter was very important for our team," Hill said. "I really liked the way we iced the game. That drive was big. We were able to get a first down at the end of the game when we needed it, and that was big.
"We only had seven [offensive] plays in the third quarter, so we couldn't get much of anything going. But our defense played well and made some really big plays. We were able to take control of the game in the fourth quarter."
