'Dogs need a win

Season could turn on outcome in Hawaii.

Published online on Friday, Oct. 09, 2009

HONOLULU - A loss Saturday might dash any hope Fresno State holds of catching No. 6 Boise State in the Western Athletic Conference football race.

A loss also would give Fresno State its worst start since it went 4-8 in 2006.

Therefore, in the Bulldogs' minds, a loss is not an option as Fresno State (1-3, 0-1 WAC) plays Hawaii (2-2, 0-1) at 8 p.m. PDT at Aloha Stadium.

"It's a must-win game," coach Pat Hill said this week. "We can't come out of that 0-2 in conference."

Heading into this season, Hill regarded his team's opening games as the most challenging start he's had in 13 years leading the Bulldogs.

It lived up to its billing, with the Bulldogs traveling to three time zones and losing three straight, all close, including two to top-10 opponents.

Now, the Bulldogs face another challenge: Center Joe Bernardi will not start because of a shoulder injury.

Bernardi hurt the AC joint against Cincinnati on Sept. 26. He took snaps with the first team during a walk-through Wednesday. He will be available tonight, but senior Richard Pacheco will start his first game since the 2008 opener.

Bernardi has started 22 games for the Bulldogs and has outstanding overall knowledge of the game, Hill said. But the coach also said he has 100% faith in Pacheco.

"We can win with both," he said this week. "If Joe can't go, Richard will step in and pick up the flag. He's well-prepared. He understands the game plan and the people he's playing with. It's not like we're shoving him into a position he's never played in."

Though Bernardi, a junior who has gone through multiple knee surgeries, likely will lead mostly from the sideline, senior running back Jamaal Rashad said the veteran's presence is important.

"Joe is maybe the heartbeat of this team," Rashad said. "The guy's a machine, man. He's the backbone of this team because he gets everyone going. It doesn't matter how hurt you are, when you've seen what he's gone through, it's nothing."

Even without Bernardi, the Bulldogs are expected to hold the advantage in the run game.

Hawaii allowed 352 yards rushing last week in a 27-6 loss to Louisiana Tech and is ranked 102nd (out of 120 teams) nationally in run defense. The Bulldogs rank third in rushing (274.8 yards per game) and are eager to unleash star running back Ryan Mathews, who is second-best in the country with 148 yards per game.

The Warriors' usually potent pass offense was limp last week, too. Hawaii failed to produce a touchdown for the first time in 62 games.

Starting quarterback Greg Alexander took a big hit from Tech linebacker Adrien Cole in the third quarter while scrambling down the sideline and is out for the season.

In comes Bryant Moniz, a former quarterback at Fresno City College. He began the season as the Warriors' No. 3 quarterback but became the starter with second-stringer Brent Rausch still out with a fractured pinkie finger.

Hill described Moniz as competitive, nimble and accurate, but questioned whether Moniz's arm will prove as strong as Alexander's.

"He put it right on [the receivers] while they were running, never had to break stride or turn back," Hill said. "We need to prepare for Hawaii as if it's going to be their offensive system, but there will be some new things. There will be some new wrinkles we won't know about until the game gets going."

Even those without psychic powers can see the stars are aligned in the Bulldogs' favor. But Hill sang a cautious tune this week.

He said the Warriors will be a different team than the one that failed to show up against Tech last week.

"They'll put a sword into the ground on this one," Hill said.

Hawaii rallied together with a player-only practice last Saturday after being embarrassed on national television.

Linebacker Blaze Soares said his team got back to the basics and defensively focused on gap assignments and tackling.

"We needed it because we sure didn't want Fresno pounding the ball down our throats again," he said.

Soares added that a win would be a major morale boost.

"Right now we're in the bottom of the pits," he said. "Everyone's hating on us. It would be a much-deserved win and needed win for us."

Bulldogs running back Anthony Harding echoed Soares' statements for his own team, saying Fresno State needed a win and deserved a win.

Harding, however, stopped short of calling the Bulldogs desperate.

"We've been working hard, we've had some heartbreak losses, but I think with hard work we will get a win," Harding said. "It's just a matter of time until we get one."

The Bulldogs hope that time is now. Because a loss would be devastating.