Fresno State Athletics
Notebook
10/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 6, 2007
Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Fresno St.-Nevada AP Photos 
Fresno State vs. Nevada Mackay Stadium Postgame Notebook October 6, 2007
Attacking the Pack
Fresno State's dominating win at Nevada was the Dogs' seventh win in the last eight games in the series. Fresno State owns a 24-13-1 lead in the series. It was the first time in three games that Chris Ault has lost to the Dogs at home. The Dogs have won four of the last five games played at Mackay Stadium and have averaged over 36 points in those games.
Mathews Explodes
Freshman Ryan Mathews ran for 81 yards in the first half, eclipsing his season-best total for a game. That included a 56 yard touchdown romp off the left side of the line that wrapped-up a one-play touchdown drive. He opened up the second half with a 67 yard touchdown on the first offensive play of the third quarter. That was the longest run from scrimmage by any Bulldog player this season until Lonyae Miller busted a 72-yard TD early in the fourth. He had another 40-plus yard run in the first quarter called back by penalty. Of his first eight touches in the game, he scored three touchdowns. The last time a Bulldog rushed for three TDs in a game was last season when Dwayne Wright ran for three against the Wolf Pack in Fresno.
Smith to the House
Clifton Smith's 67-yard touchdown punt return in the first quarter was the fourth of his career, tying him with Phil Borjas (1971-72) for the Bulldog career record. Smith finished the game with one return for 67 yards and for his career his has 36 returns for 636 yards, an average of 17.6 per return, a Bulldog and WAC record. He had another longer return which ended at the Nevada 3 yard line called back by a penalty. Smith had a 20 yard touchdown run in the game and led the Dogs in receiving with five catches for 74 yards.
Really SPECIAL Teams
A.J. Jefferson scored his first career touchdown on a 40-yard field goal block return late in the second quarter, giving the Dogs two first half special teams scores. Jefferson's return was set-up when Bear Pascoe broke through the middle of the Wolf Pack line and blocked his second kick of the season. Jefferson scooped the ball, broke a tackle, and raced the rest of the way for the touchdown. It was Fresno State's second block of the season and the 11th blocked kick returned for a touchdown in the Pat Hill era.
Bear's Paws
Junior tight end Bear Pascoe, a Mackey Award and All-America candidate, made his second blocked kick of the season, which led to a 40-yard touchdown return by A.J. Jefferson. It was his second block of the season and the fourth of his career. Pascoe dominating blocking was an important factor in Fresno State's running game that rolled up 307 yards and averaged 8.8 yards per carry in the game.
2-0, That's All that Matters
Fresno State continues to lead the WAC with a perfect 2-0 record. It's the fourth time in the last six seasons the Dogs have started the season with a 2-0 record.
Noteworthy
Sophomore Wilson Ramos made his first career start at end. It was his first action at end in his career ... The Dogs took their first kickoff of the game and scored on a 65-yard drive, the first time this season the they've scored on the opening drive ... Ryan Mathews' first quarter touchdown was his second of the season and first since the Texas A&M game ... Clifton Smith's punt return for a touchdown was the 14th of Pat Hill era and the first since Sept. 30, 2006 when Josh Sherley scored vs. Colorado State. It was the 30th special teams touchdown in Hill's 11th season ... Michael Stuart made a tackle for loss and knocked down a pass in his first action at defensive end this season. Stuart was playing tight end until after the Oregon game, when was moved back to defense ... Due to Bulldog injuries at linebacker, walkons Nick Bates and Eric Brown, got considerable playing time in the first half of the game. Bates got his first career sack in the third quarter. The Dogs were without starting linebacker Quaadir Brown and back-up Ryan Machado, both out since early in the second quarter ... Fresno State's 11-play touchdown drive midway through the third quarter was the longest of the season, matching an 11-play drive vs. Louisiana Tech.
