FRESNO, California -- Billy Volek threw for two scores
and ran for another as Fresno State nearly blew a 17-point lead
before holding on for a 31-21 victory over Brigham Young in a
Western Athletic Conference matchup.
Volek connected with Rodney Wright on a 20-yard touchdown just
38 seconds before halftime, giving the Bulldogs (1-3, 1-0 WAC
Pacific) a 24-7 lead. But the Cougars (2-3, 0-1) scored the
only points of the third quarter to get back in it.
On the first play of the second half, Drew Miller hit tight end
Carlos Nuno with a 58-yard scoring strike. Defensive back
Heshimu Robertson returned a blocked field goal 72 yards for a
score with 2:48 left in the third, pulling Brigham Young within
24-21.
Volek answered with 8:52 to go, hooking up with Wright on a
39-yard touchdown to push the lead back to double digits. The
Bulldogs defense controlled the rest of the game, holding BYU to
just 12 total yards.
Volek, who scored on the game's opening possession with a
three-yard scamper, completed 14-of-22 passes for 189 yards and
rushed for 48 yards on 12 carries. Jamie Kimbrough contributed
78 yards on the ground for Fresno State, which scored 10
first-half points off two of the Cougars' four fumbles.
The Bulldogs notched their first win of the season after losing
their first three contests by an average of 5.7 points.
Ronney Jenkins provided BYU with its only scoring in the first
half with an eight-yard touchdown run to open the second
quarter. He finished with 126 yards on 26 carries and caught
four passes for 38 yards.
Miller completed just 6-of-15 for 141 yards and Kevin Feterik
was 9-of-12 for 78 yards as the Cougars fell to 0-3 on the road.
Individual Statistics:
RUSHING: Byu-Jenkins 26-126, Mahe 1-8, Sitake 1-1, Miller
3-minus 19, Feterik 4-minus 32. Fresno St-Kimbrough 22-66,
Holmes 10-55, Wright 1-22, Volek 12-20, P Gaines 3-5.
PASSING: Byu-Miller 6-15-0-141, Feterik 9-12-0-78. Fresno
St-Volek 14-22-0-189.
RECEIVING: Byu-Hooks 5-77, Jenkins 4-38, Nuno 3-80, Roderick
1-12, Mahe 1-9, Horton 1-3. Fresno St-Smith 6-67, Wright 3-68,
Mahdi 2-23, P Gaines 1-19, Kimbrough 1-9, Thompson 1-3.
Att: 38,326
1st Quarter:
Fresno State gets on the board quickly, taking their opening drive
80-yards for a touchdown. Quarterback Billy Volek keeps the ball
from 3-yards out and runs into the endzone to put the Bulldogs up
early. KEY PLAYS: Volek to Charles Smith for 27-yards; Carl
Holmes 18-yard run; personal foul penalty on BYU.
BYU's Mike Rigell fumbles the ensuing kickoff, but the Bulldogs
can't capitalize and punt to the Cougars. BYU gets to midfield, but
fumbles there to give the ball back to Fresno State. The Bulldogs,
however, go three-and-out to give the football back to the Cougars.
On BYU's next play, Kevin Feterik fumbles into the arms of Fresno's
Justin Johnson, who rumbles 20-yards for the touchdown to put the
Bulldogs up by two TD's.
BYU punts near midfield on their next possession. The Bulldogs
return the favor with a punt of their own. Drew Miller comes at QB for
the Cougars and promptly throws a 44-yard bomb to Margin Hooks
that puts BYU at the Bulldog 8-yard line to end the quarter.
2nd Quarter:
On the first play of the quarter, BYU's Ronney Jenkins finds the
endzone from 8-yards out to put the Cougars on the scoreboard with
a two-play drive.
A great kickoff return by Charles Smith sets Fresno State up at the
BYU 33. A 21-yard reverse from Rodney Wright gets the Bulldogs
even closer. But, with a first down and goal from the 2-yard line,
Fresno State is stopped four straight times by the Cougars to give
the ball over on downs. BYU fumbles again out near midfield,
however.
Fresno State takes advantage by adding to their lead with a 31-yard
Jeff Hanna field goal. KEY PLAYS: Volek 11 run; personal foul on
BYU. The Cougars punt again on their next possession.
The Bulldogs add to BYU's pain with a 10-play, 72-yard drive to
extend their lead. Rodney Wright scores on a 20-yard pass from
Volek for the score. KEY PLAYS: Jamie Kimbrough 23-yard run;
Volek to Smith for 11-yards.
3rd Quarter:
BYU begins the second half with a bang, scoring on their first play
from scrimmage. After Mike Rigell returned the Bulldog kickoff to the
BYU 42, Drew Miller find Carlos Nuno for the 58-yard touchdown
strike. Fresno State tries to answer but is forced to punt. BYU
answers with their own punt.
The Bulldogs then take the ball down to the BYU 26 after a big run
by Valek and a pass to Paris Gaines. Hanna comes in to attempt a
44-yard field goal, but the Cougars' Brian Gray blocks the try. BYU's
Heshimu Robertson picks the ball up and sprints 72-yards to bring
BYU within 3 points.
On the final play of the quarter, BYU's Rob Morris hits Kimbrough
and forces a fumble. The Cougars get a hand on the ball but can't
recover before it rolls out of bounds and Fresno keeps possession.
4th Quarter:
The Bulldogs punt on the second play of the quarter. BYU drives to
midfield, but is forced to punt there and give Fresno the ball back.
Fresno State answers quickly with a touchdown strike from Volek to
Wright for 39-yards. The play capped a 3-play, 70-yard drive for the
Bulldogs to put them back up by ten points. BYU cannot do
anything offensively and punts once again. Fresno State, however,
goes three-and-out to keep the Cougars slim hopes alive.
Kevin Feterik reenters the game at QB for the Cougars, but all hope
is dashed when he goes down after another sack near midfield and
the Bulldogs take over on downs. Fresno State gets a first down and
runs the clock out from there for the victory.
(Source: Blue & White Sports Network)
