Fresno State Athletics
Dog Defense Dominates Spartans
10/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 20, 2007
FRESNO, Calif. - The San Jose State Spartans average just under 20 points a game.
Fresno State's defense isn't average.
In the Bulldog's third Homecoming appearance this season, Fresno State blanked long-standing conference rival San Jose State, 30-0, thanks primarily to the crucial stops of the Fresno State defense.
In a game that many analysts said would have post-season repercussions, the Bulldogs defense stepped up their game. The Fresno State defense came up with six fourth-down stops, three inside the red zone, and allowed San Jose to convert on only four of 16 third downs.
"It was a big statement," said freshman linebacker Ben Jacobs. "We knew that San Jose would be tough. So it was big for us to come out and put a goose-egg on them like that."
No kidding.
"Our defense played great," said coach Pat Hill. "Shutouts are hard to get in college football."
Hard to get? Yes. Although the Bulldogs have won 13 of the last 14 matchups, Fresno State hadn't shutout the Spartans since 1942.
Impossible? Obviously not.
Damion Owens, who grabbed Fresno State's first interception of the season Saturday, seemed pretty shocked upon hearing of the 65 year gap between the shutouts.
"1942? Wow. That's a long time. I hope some of the alumni from that time are still alive to see this."
The rivalry between the San Jose State (3-5, 2-2 WAC) and the Bulldogs (5-2, 4-0 WAC) dates back to 1921. The Spartans dominated the series from the 1950s until 2003 when Fresno State took the lead.
Saturday, Fresno State put an exclamation point on their recent series domination.
"I think we did a very good job of containing a good football team," said Hill. "To a defense, it is very big to get shutouts and they're a team that had averaged a lot of yards passing. They got a couple of long balls on us, but the bottom line is keeping them from scoring."
Preventing the Spartans from scoring is exactly what the Bulldog defense did.
"A win is a win," said defensive coordinator Randy Stewart. "You like to win impressively, but bottom line is, you want a win. You're going to get some pretty ones and some ugly wins, but a win is a win. Tonight it was definitely a pretty one."
Aside from the obvious stats, including three sacks, 73 tackles, and an interception, the Fresno State defense did something Stewart has been looking for all season.
"In the last two weeks we've been up big but haven't been finishing big," he said. "The game was not out of reach for San Jose until the fourth quarter, so that shows that we were able to play well until the end."
Stewart pointed out that in the Bulldogs' last two games, their pretty dominant lead has been chipped down to a close game.
"That quality and consistency that we showed tonight is what we needed," said Stewart. "So to get this shutout is what we needed to do as a defense."
Owens said that consistency resulted because of a determination by each member of the defense.
"My big thing was just, don't give up the play," he said. "I just kept telling myself, `Don't allow yourself to give up the touchdown or the first down,;' and once everyone starts thinking that, stops just become nothing."
Hill was quick to point out that those stops are the Bulldogs have not given up a touchdown in Bulldog Stadium this season, a statistic Fresno State looks to hold on to as it hosts Boise State Friday.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - Fresno State football continues play at Bulldog Stadium on Friday, October 26 at 6 p.m. against 2006 Fiesta Bowl Champion Boise State. It's Turn Out the Lights on Boise State night with special black game day t-shirts that can be purchased at the Bulldog Shop or Fresno area Gottschalks locations. For tickets, go to the ticket page at www.gobulldogs.com, call 559-278-DOGS or stop by the Bulldog Ticket Office.
