Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Louisiana Tech
Brandstater Threw Four TDs Against La Tech
11/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 1, 2008
RUSTON, La. -- Tom Brandstater, who was 23 of 38 for 296 yards and four touchdowns for Fresno State (5-3, 2-2 Western Athletic Conference), threw two touchdown passes to Seyi Ajirotutu and Bear Pascoe. But Daniel Porter rushed for 189 yards and two touchdowns to help Louisiana Tech hold off Fresno State 38-35 on Saturday.
Tom Brandstater, who was 23 of 38 for 296 yards and four touchdowns for Fresno State (5-3, 2-2 Western Athletic Conference), hit Seyi Ajirotutu on a 13-yard pass that tied the score at 7-7 going into the second after Porter's 1-yard rushing touchdown.
Both teams traded punt returns for scores in the second as Fresno State's Rashad Evans took one 56 yards for a score, and Phillip Livas ran one back for 81 yards for Louisiana Tech (4-4, 2-2). Brandstater hit Bear Pascoe on a 3-yard score just before the halftime to give Fresno State a 21-14 lead.
After Louisiana Tech's Ross Jenkins hooked up with Patrick Jackson on a 27-yard score, Brandstater found Ajirotutu from 33 yards out to put Fresno State ahead 28-24 going into the final quarter.
But Jackson's 1-yard rushing score and Porter's second touchdown, a 43-yard run, put Louisiana Tech ahead for good in the fourth.
Pascoe and Brandstater connected again to pull the Dogs to within three points at 38-35, but the Fresno State on-sides kick attempt was recovered by La Tech.Fresno State has suffered three losses this season, each coming by three points. The Bulldog return home for two games starting Friday against WAC rival Nevada on Friday at 6 p.m.
Fresno State vs. Louisiana Tech
Joe Aillet Stadium/Ruston, La.
Postgame Notes and Quotes
Nov. 1, 2008
Ajirotutu Again, and Again
Junior receiver Seyi Ajirotutu continues to be Tom Brandstater's top target in recent games. He had two big catches for 36 yards in Fresno State's first scoring drive, including the Dog's first touchdown, a 13-yard leaping grab in the back of the end zone. That tied the game 7-7. He added his second touchdown of the game on a beautifully executed 33-yard "Flea Flicker" in the third quarter that gave Fresno State a 28-24 lead. Ajirototu had a career-high seven receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns.
Evans' Turn
True freshman Rashad Evans took his turn at scoring a touchdown as a return man. He was the only return specialist on the team who had yet to score. Evans showed his magic with a 56-yard punt return for the touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 14-7 lead. He was the first opponent to with a return against La Tech since Devon Hester from Miami (Fla.) in 2003. La Tech had only allowed 46 total punt return yards coming into today's game, fourth-fewest in the nation. After his first two returns in the game, Evans was averaging 45.5 yards per return. It was Fresno State's second punt return for a touchdown this season. Marlon Moore had a 63 yard touchdown against UCLA. It was Fresno State's 17th punt return for a touchdown in the Pat Hill era.
The Bear is Back in a Big Way
Senior tight end Bear Pascoe, who missed the last two games with an injury, had three receptions, two for touchdowns. He leads the Dogs in touchdown receptions this season and has the most of any tight end in school history. His second quarter 3-yard touchdown gave the Bulldogs a 21-14 lead. He made his third catch of the game count for a touchdown, the fourth of the year and 10th of his career.
Dunn In
Walk-on Desia Dunn earned his second consecutive start at cornerback and got his first career interception with a second quarter pick of La Tech quarterback Taylor Bennett. It was Fresno State's third interception of the season and first since the season opener against Rutgers when Marvin Haynes had two.
Sudden Changes in the Third
Fresno State was victimized by two big third quarter sudden change plays in the third quarter that resulted in 10 points for La Tech, giving it a 24-21 lead. The first was a Tom Brandstater interception that La Tech converted for a touchdown. The second was a blocked punt, the first allowed by Fresno State since the Oregon game of 2002, which La Tech converted for a field goal. Coming into the game, the Dogs had outscored their opponents 87-28 in the third quarter.
Notables
The Dogs played the entire second half without their top two running backs. Sophomore Ryan Mathews played in the first half and re-aggravated an injury. Junior Lonyae Miller didn't play in the game due to an injury ... the loss to La Tech was the first on the road this season, where the Dogs are 4-1 ... senior Jon Monga returned to play for the Bulldogs, starting at defensive tackle. He has been out if the line-up since being injured against Wisconsin in the second game of the season ... A.J. Jefferson, who missed the Utah State game, returned to this week and took the opening kickoff 53 yards. Jefferson is the NCAA active leader in kick return average at more than 33 yards per return ... Ikenna Ike's second quarter sack of Ross Jenkins was his second of the season and the first by the Dogs since the Hawaii game. He teamed with Monga in the third quarter for a second sack ... Phillip Livas' second quarter punt return for a touchdown was the first Fresno State has allowed since the Colorado State game Sept. 30, 2006 ... Fresno State fans may remember Bennett as Georgia Tech's starting quarterback in the 2007 Roady's Humanitarian Bowl. Bennett transferred to La Tech and was granted an academic waiver so he didn't have to sit out this season, which is normally required of college football transfers. He graduated from Georgia Tech and is pursuing a unique Master's degree at La Tech, not offered by Georgia Tech. Therefore he was granted permission to play in the 2008 season for the La Tech.
QUOTES
Fresno State Head Coach Pat Hill: "We got beat today and there's not much else you can say about that. We got out played on both sides of the ball. We couldn't run it and we weren't able to stop their run. It's my responsibility as the head coach to get them ready to play and that didn't happen today. It's my responsibility."
"We have been a good running team all season and we just didn't do it today. We had some guys hurt but that's no excuse, we need other guys to step up. We just got beat at the point of attack."
"We have four games left and a lot to play for. We have a progression in the season and now we play for the postseason. That would be our ninth bowl game in 10 years which would be a great accomplishment for this program."
"Nevada will be coming to Bulldog Stadium next Friday. We have a short week and Nevada has had two weeks to prepare. We have a tough game coming up."
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - It's Friday Night Football in Fresno as the `Dogs return home to Bulldog Stadium on Friday, November 7 as they host Nevada at 6 pm in a game televised nationally on ESPN2. To purchase tickets, click on the tickets icon at the top of this page, call the Bulldog Ticket Office at (559) 278-DOGS, or stop by the Bulldog Ticket Office.
