Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Sacramento State
Bulldog Defense Dominates Sacramento St. 24-3
9/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 1, 2007
Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery 
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) -- Tom Brandstater passed for 199 yards and Fresno State's defense limited Sacramento State to 102 total yards in a 24-3 victory Saturday night.
Brandstater completed 16 of 27 passes, including a 27-yard touchdown throw to tight end Bear Pascoe. Lonyae Miller and Clifton Smith added touchdown runs for the Bulldogs (1-0), who got 77 of their 266 yards rushing from freshman Ryan Mathews.
"I needed the first carry to get my nervousness out of me but after that I was real comfortable," Mathews said. "I have something to prove and I am going to keep doing what I know how to do."
Sacramento State (0-1) got 49 yards rushing from Travon Jones, accounting for almost half of his team's total offense in coach Marshall Sperbeck's debut. Quarterback Jason Smith finished 13-of-23 for 60 yards in his first college start.
"Except for the first drive of the second half, our defense played pretty darn good," Pat Hill said. "We put our defense in a couple of bad field positions but I thought they did a great in making sure they put the clamps down on Sacramento State's offense."
Fresno State retired former quarterback David Carr's No. 8 jersey in a halftime ceremony. Carr, now with the Carolina Panthers after playing five seasons with the Houston Texans, led the nation in yards passing and touchdowns in 2001, finishing fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Leading 14-3 at halftime, Fresno State scored the only touchdown of the second half on Smith's 30-yard scamper with 4:35 left in the third quarter. Clint Stitser added a 47-yard field goal for the Bulldogs with 8:36 remaining.
Pascoe led the Bulldogs with 91 yards receiving, including a 44-yard reception that brought Fresno State deep into Hornets territory late in the second quarter. But the Bulldogs couldn't capitalize after a fumble near the end zone.
The Hornets managed 10 first downs and converted just 3 of their 14 third-down chances. Sacramento State didn't commit a turnover, while Fresno State lost three fumbles.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - For Fresno State football ticket information, click on the link at the top of the page.
