Fresno State Athletics
Season Finale: Dogs vs. Broncos
11/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 25, 2008
Fresno State (7-4, 4-3 WAC) vs No. 8 Boise State (11-0, 7-0 WAC)
Date: Friday, Nov. 28, 2008
Kickoff: 3 p.m. PT
Site: Bronco Stadium (41,031); Boise, Idaho
Radio: KMJ (AM 580); Dog Talk (5 p.m.) Countdown to Kickoff (6 p.m.)
Play-by-Play: Bill Woodward; Analyst: Jordan Christensen; Sideline: Ralph Wood
ESPN Deportes (1600 AM) in Spanish
Play-by-Play: Jess Gonzalez; Analysts: Sam Sosa and Doug Kessler
Television: ESPN2
Play-by-Play: Joe Tessitore; Analyst: Rod Gilmore
Fresno State concludes the regular season with its seventh road game of the season. The Dogs head to No. 8 Boise State to face the undefeated Broncos who have already clinched the WAC title. Fresno State is 5-1 in road games this season, the lone loss coming at Louisiana Tech on Nov. 1. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2.
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Bulldog Award Banquet Set/Time Changed
Fresno State will hold its annual awards banquet on Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. at the Fresno Convention Center downtown. For ticket information contact the Bulldog football office at (559) 278-3015.
About Boise State
Winners of their first 11 games of the season, Boise State looks for its second undefeated season in three years. The key to Boise State success has been an explosive offense that averages 37.5 points per game and a smothering defense that ranks No. 5 in the nation, allowing 12.5 points per game. Freshman quarterback Kellen Moore leads the WAC and ranks 13th in the NCAA in passing efficiency (160.3). He's thrown 23 touchdowns against nine interceptions this season and completing nearly 70 percent of his passes. Running back Ian Johnson, coming off a 66-yard touchdown run against Nevada last week, ranks third in the WAC in rushing touchdowns with 10.
Against the Broncos
Fresno State's 2005 win over Boise State in Bulldog Stadium was a rare feat by a WAC team. In fact, that's one of only two WAC loss for the Broncos in the last 50 games. The Dogs and Broncos have met 10 times, with Boise State holding a slight 6-4 edge. Boise State has won three of the four games played in Boise in the series. The Dogs to have two wins on the Blue turf since 2004, beating No. 18 Virginia in the 2004 MPC Computers Bowl and a win over Georgia Tech, 40-28, in the 2007 Roady's Humanitarian Bowl played at Bronco Stadium.
ESPN Loves the Dogs
Fresno State will make its 61st national television appearance this decade when the Dogs play at Boise State on ESPN2. ESPN/ABC televised eight consecutive Fresno State games on its network, the last four of the 2007 season and the first four games of the 2008 season. Fresno State was scheduled for seven nationally televised games on the ESPN networks in 2008, including three of the final four this month. In all, Fresno State will have played 12 of the last 16 games on ESPN's networks by the end of the 2008 season.
A Word from the Defense
After giving up some big numbers in the middle part of the season, Fresno State's defense is coming of back-to-back record-setting performances. By holding the last two opponents to negative 14 rushing yards combined, the Dogs have done something never before in school history. Fresno State set a school record by holding New Mexico State to -9 rushing yards, the first time in school history they've held an opponent to under zero rushing yards. In last Friday's game vs. San Jose State, the Dogs held the Spartans to minus five rushing yards. Fresno State had a combined nine sack in the two games. Prior to that, the Dogs had just eight in the first nine games of the season. The Dogs have pitched consecutive second-half shutouts in their last two games while allowing a 383 total yards in the two games combined.
Pick Your Poison
Fresno State has four players on the roster who have returned balls for touchdowns this season. When Chastin West scored against San Jose State on a 49-yard punt return for a touchdown, he became the third different Bulldog to score on a punt return for the Dogs this season, joining Marlon Moore and Rashad Evans. To put that into perspective, 72 of the 119 NCAA FBS teams don't have any punt returns for touchdowns this season. Only Kansas State (5) has more punt returns for scores this year. Bulldog A.J. Jefferson has a kickoff return for a touchdown this season as well.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The `Dogs close out the 2008 regular season as they head to Boise to take on WAC rival Boise State on Friday, November 28 at 3 pm. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
