Fresno State Athletics
Red Defeats White 10-3 in Annual Spring Football Game
4/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 2, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. - Despite a lack of scoring, Fresno State's annual spring game featured hard hits, intensity and a lot of enthusiasm. The Red squad defeated the White 10-3 in front of nearly 1,000 fans at Bulldog Stadium. The Spring Game signaled the end of spring drills for the Bulldogs.
Fresno State's lone touchdown of the game came with 5 minutes and 9 seconds remaining in the first quarter on a 72-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Paul Pinegar to junior receiver Adam Jennings. The remainder of the scoring in the scrimmage came from the foot of redshirt freshman kicker Clint Stitser, who made two of three attempts and one PAT. Stitser was kicking in place of senior Brett Visintainer, a second-team All-WAC selection, who is rehabilitating an ankle injury. Stitser was impressive, making a 48 yard field goal, as the half expired to give the Red team a 10-0 lead. He added a 33- yard field goal with 2 minutes and 53 seconds remaining in the third quarter, giving the White team its only points. He missed a 55-yard attempt that fell short also in the third quarter.
"We ran 75 good plays and there was a lot of crisp hitting and intensity," said head coach Pat Hill after the scrimmage. "We got a lot of good work in this spring. A lot of thing happened that you won't see on paper, like the team chemistry, hard work and toughness that we created. I'm very pleased with the work ethic of this team and I believe it will carry over into the fall and we will have a very good football team."
Hill's enthusiasm stems from 39 players returning from the depth chart of the Bulldogs' 17-9 Silicon Valley Football Classic victory over UCLA. The Bulldogs open the 2004 season in 156 days at Washington.
Several Bulldog running backs played well in the Spring Game, led by sophomore Wendell Mathis, who was workmanlike with 90 yards on 16 carries. Fellow sophomore Robbie Dubois capped a brilliant spring with 37 yards on 11 carries.
Pinegar, who played just eight plays, with only two pass attempts, gave way to younger quarterbacks Tom Brandstater and sophomore Jordan Christensen. Christensen took every snap for the White squad, competing 8-of-19 passes for 49 yards. Brandstater finished 3-for-9 for 28 yards and one interception.
Sophomore cornerback Richard Marshall accounted for the game's only turnover, with an outstanding interception of a Brandstater pass in the first half. Marshall also added two solid tackles. Sophomore cornerback Marcus McCauley had three tackles, one for a loss of three yards, and had a pass deflection. Quarterback sacks were recorded by Brian Morris, Manuel Sanchez, Marlon Brisco and All-WAC safety James Sanders. Sanders led all defensive players with five tackles in the game.
Jennings was the leading receiver with one reception for 72 yards. He also had a 9- yard run from scrimmage. Justin Belcher and Jaron Fairman each had two receptions for 16 and 9 yards respectively. Senior tight end Duncan Reid had one reception for 21 yards.
"I'm pleased with the progress we've made," Hill added. "And I'm pleased that we didn't have any serious injuries in the spring. We hit hard and will always be a tough team, but with that you can expect some injuries. We didn't have any. We are looking forward to the fall and having the players come back and get ready for the 2004 season."
The Bulldogs, winners if six of their final seven games in 2003, the win over, return 18 starters, nine on offense and eight on defense. The Bulldogs have won 29 games over the last three seasons, sixth most of any program in the nation.
