Red Wave relishes in 31-3 home opening win over Sacramento State

Saturday, September 10

Fresno, Calif.

7 p.m. PT

Fresno State

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Sacramento State

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2nd

3rd

4th

Sacramento State

Fresno State

Red Wave relishes in 31-3 home opening win over Sacramento State

9/11/2016 1:11:00 AM | Football

Box Score Head Coach Tim DeRuyter Postgame Interview QB Chason Virgil QB Chason Virgil Postgame Interview WR KeeSean Johnson Postgame Interview DB Tyquwan Glass Postgame Interview Postgame Quotes Page Fresno State vs. Sacramento State Statistics Photo Gallery by Kiel Maddox Photo Gallery by Keith Kountz

Bulldogs travel to Toledo next, watch live on KSEE-24 at noon PT

By: Matt Burkholder / Director of Communications

Ticket Alert: New 3-game and 4-game flex mini plans are on sale now through the Bulldog Ticket Office online only at www.GoBulldogs.com. Click here to order your tickets.

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State football team used a 21-point fourth quarter in front of an announced crowd of 31,817 at Bulldog Stadium Saturday night to separate itself from a pesky Sacramento State Hornets squad for a 31-3 win in their 2016 home opener.

The Bulldog defense highlighted the game, holding Sacramento State to 185 total yards offense, the lowest output from an opponent since 2008 when Fresno State held New Mexico State to 183.

The defensive backfield duo of Tyquwan Glass and Jamal Ellis each posted interceptions, giving the 'Dogs a win in the last nine-straight games when recording multiple interceptions in a game. The 'Dogs also recorded three sacks between Justin Green, Nathan Madsen and Nela Otukolo while James Bailey led the team with eight tackles.

With his first career touchdown, Dejonte O'Neal started the scoring Saturday with an eight-yard TD in the first quarter with 1:02 remaining. Those points were produced thanks to Ellis' interception that set the 'Dogs up in Hornets territory at the 48-yard line.

After that Ellis interception the defense forced four-straight three-and-outs, of the eight amassed on the night. In that span the 'Dogs tacked on three more points after Kody Kroening knocked home a 21-yard field goal during the second quarter. As time expired on the half, the Hornets scored three points with a 44-yard kick, which was set up by a line drive punt that bounced off a Bulldog and was recovered by Sacramento State defender on the Fresno State 27-yard line with six seconds left on the clock.

Neither team was able to put points on the board in the third. A period the 'Dogs outgained the Hornets 106 to 39.

It was the fourth when the Bulldogs broke through and put the game away, scoring on their final three possessions.

Dontel James crossed the plane on a 17-yard run for a touchdown with 14:24 left in the fourth to put the Bulldogs on top 17-3. That run put James over the 100-yard threshold on a night he posted 121 on the ground – the most by a Fresno State running back since Marteze Waller opened the 2015 season with 154 against Abilene Christian.

Back-to-back touchdown connections between Chason Virgil and KeeSean Johnson followed the James score, which put a stamp on the Bulldogs' win. Entering the game, Johnson owned two career TDs before the two scores in the fourth.

Virgil finished the game 22-of-42 for 274 yards and two scores. The redshirt freshman quarterback set career highs in completions, attempts and yards in the win.

Quotable
Head Coach Tim DeRuyter on this game being a mirror image of the Nebraska game:
"Give Sacramento State credit, they held in. That is a group with a lot of pride and a great coach. They are a young team and they came out with a lot of fire. In a lot of ways they are very similar to us, they are very young. They got punched in the nose last week at home and we knew they were going to respond. We give them credit, but eventually we were able to block a little better to wear them down a little and get some takeaways and that momentum helped us to get the running game going and be able to seal the deal."

Head Coach Tim DeRuyter on putting on a show for the Red Wave:
"Winning is the key thing. At home, we like entertaining the fans, but the bottom line is, we have got to find a way to win. If you can do both, great. I know early on, we did not execute very well and that could be frustrating for the coaches, as well as the fans, and I get that. We finally got it going late, and I am not going to apologize for a win, because we did take the win. We have a lot of things to learn from, and we have got to get a lot better in our execution."

Quarterback Chason Virgil on the game:
"We got the win, but personally I'm not happy with the way I played. I'm grateful that I had the other 10 guys on the field, our offense played a really good game. The receivers made plays late in the game to try to seal the deal for us."

Cornerback Tyquwan Glass on the defensive performance tonight:
"I feel like we prepared very well for it. I say we did a great job. Our coaches wanted more from us, they wanted a shutout, but I still think we did very well."

Key Stat
Fresno State outgained Sacramento State by 289 total yards.

Notables
• Junior running back Dontel James rushed for his first career 100-yard game, carrying the ball 27 times for 121 yards and one touchdown.
• Jamire Jordan caught 100 yards on the night, his second career 100-yard receiving game.
• Sophomore wide receiver KeeSean Johnson caught a career best two touchdowns.
• Chason Virgil passed for a career-best 274 yards and two touchdowns.
• It was the second time in Virgil's young career that he has recorded a multi-touchdown game.
• Senior defensive back Jamal Ellis collected the second interception of his career, and last since Oct. 3, 2014 vs. San Diego State.
• Senior defensive back Tyquwan Glass grabbed his fourth interception in his last six games dating back to Nov. 5, 2015.
• Glass had the second multi-pass breakup game of his career.
• Junior linebacker Justin Green earned his first career sack.
• The Bulldogs held the Hornets to 185 yards of offense, the lowest output since allowing 183 to New Mexico State on Nov. 15, 2008.

Next Up
Fresno State travels to face Toledo on Sept. 17 at 12 p.m. PT. The game will air live on KSEE-24 TV. The next home game is Sept. 24 vs. Tulsa at 1:30 p.m. PT.

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