Fresno State Athletics
Louisiana State-Fresno State Game Notes
10/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 21, 2006
Baton Rouge, La. - The `Dogs travel to Boise to play Boise State in their next game on November 1. Combined with tonight's game, that will be the first time the team has played back-to-back top 25 opponents since the 2001 season, when the Bulldogs played Oregon State and Wisconsin on consecutive weeks.
With an attendance of 91,833, the LSU game was the third largest crowd to watch a Fresno State game, behind road games at Tennessee (103,860) and Ohio State (96,583) in 2000.
The game started after a four-minute weather delay (lightning), reduced by a shortened warm-up time of 10 minutes for each team. The last time that a game was delayed in Tiger Stadium was this year against Mississippi State, when the second half was started following a 2 minute weather delay.
The last time a LSU game at Tiger Stadium was delayed to begin the game was in 2004, when the start was held off for 47 minutes against Oregon State. That game was the season opener for the Tigers, played on September 4.
Senior wide receiver Paul Williams made his fifth start of the season, and his first since the Colorado State game, returning from a knee injury.
Tyler Clutts recorded his second solo sack of the year in the first quarter, and added a second sack in the third quarter, making his season total 3.5 sacks on the year.
John Monga made his second sack of the year in the second quarter, dropping LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell for six yards.
Senior kicker Clint Stitser connected on two field goals from 35 and 29 yards in the game. That was the first multi-field goal game for Stitser since October 15, 2005 when he hit three field goals against Utah State.
Fullback Nate Adams' three-yard run in the third quarter was the first rush since the 2004 season.
Fullback Isaac Kinter's 19-yard reception was the longest of his career. His previous long was a 12-yard catch against Oregon this year.
Punter Kyle Zimmerman set a career-best in punting, booting two 54-yard punts in the game.
For the second time this season, neither team had a turnover, which also occurred at Utah State. That marks the third game in a row that a Fresno State opponent has not turned the over the ball, and the second of the last three games for the Bulldogs.
Fresno State Head Coach Pat Hill
"It's a shame that LSU has two losses and are out of the national championship picture because they are a heck of a football team and I believe in a playoff system they would be able to make a run. I watch a lot of film and they are as good a defensive football team as I've seen. It was tough sledding in there against them all night."
"There were some times in the game where we stood toe to toe and battled, but there's no question their big plays were the difference. They had four plays over 50 yards. Give them credit; they made the big plays."
"I was proud of the way we battled. We like challenges and playing in venues like this against good teams. We will continue to schedule that way. Our guys played hard, we just gave up some big plays and that was the difference."
"I thought we could make a run early in the second half and had a chance with first and goal, but we missed an open man and had a penalty which hurt. We need to make those plays."
"There were some positives and things we can use to build on. We have Boise State coming up, another top 20 program, and that will be a challenge. We won't quit and we will be ready to go."
