HONOLULU -- Fresno State snapped a three-game losing streak against Hawaii -- and avoided an 0-2 start in conference play in the process.
Dominating what coach Pat Hill had called a "must-win game," the Bulldogs blocked kicks, ran with power and passed with efficiency to hammer the Warriors 42-17 Saturday night at Aloha Stadium.
"It's hard to win here ... I don't know if it was a monkey -- it might have been a gorilla," Hill said after the game. "It was our turn finally to get one. We made some big plays early and were able to control the game with the run game."
Ryan Colburn passed for two touchdowns and Robbie Rouse ran for two more as Fresno State (2-3, 1-1 WAC) defeated Hawaii (2-3, 1-1) for the first time since 2005. Even quarterback Derek Carr -- who had not seen action since the Bulldogs' previous victory, the opener against UC Davis -- got into the game, mopping up in the fourth quarter.
Fresno State returns to Bulldog Stadium on Saturday, hosting San Jose State.
Running back Lonyae Miller scores Fresno State's first touchdown on a 3-yard run in the first quarter of the Bulldogs' 42-17 win over Hawaii.
Fresno State's Ryan Mathews follows Devan Cunningham's block during the first quarter Saturday night in Fresno State's 42-17 win over Hawaii.
"It definitely gives us momentum for San Jose and gives us something to build off of, because we've been waiting for a victory," said Chris Carter, who had two sacks and leads the WAC with six.
The game started inauspiciously for Fresno State, as the Bulldogs gave up a 45-yard run to Leon Wright-Jackson to set up a 43-yard field-goal attempt by Scott Enos.
But Andrew Jackson crushed through the middle of the Warriors line to block the kick. Ben Jacobs scooped up the ball and rambled 48 yards before he was caught and tackled by Enos at the Hawaii 8-yard line.
Two plays later, Lonyae Miller found the end zone from 3 yards out for a 7-0 lead.
After a Hawaii three-and-out possession, Fresno State put together an eight-play, 69-yard drive culminated by Ryan Mathews' 19-yard touchdown run on a direct snap for a 14-0 lead.
"The linemen do the hard work, I just have to make the one dude miss. That was my assignment and that's what I did," said Mathews, who rushed 24 times for 149 yards.
Even the Bulldogs' miscues didn't turn out too badly.
Miller, running with blockers and open field in front of him in the first quarter, ran past fullback Reynard Camp, who knocked the ball out with a swinging arm. The turnover gave the Warriors prime field position at the Fresno State 44, but Hawaii's drive ended on first-and-goal at the 10 when Moses Harris intercepted Bryant Moniz's pass in the end zone.
Then, on the ensuing drive, Devon Wylie fumbled the ball forward at the end of a pass play and Fresno State kept possession -- good for a 12-yard gain on a third-and-8.
Two plays later, Colburn hit Wylie on a quick sideline pass -- and the speedy receiver juked past cornerback Jeramy Bryant with a nifty outside-inside move before darting to the corner of the end zone and diving across the line for a 17-yard score, 7:55 before halftime.
Wylie celebrated with a leaping bump with Hill on the sideline, a bump that sent the coach to the ground.
The air was humid at kickoff, and a heavy rain started to fall near the end of the first half after Hawaii's field goal cut the Bulldogs' lead to 21-3 -- with the kickoff slipping through Chastin West's hands and into the end zone, where he recovered it and and downed it for a touchback.
Hawaii had the same thing happen a few minutes later when Ryan Henry couldn't handle Robert Malone's punt. Bobby Shepard was on the spot to recover for the Bulldogs at the Hawaii 30.
With 11 seconds to go before halftime, Colburn pump-faked threw 17 yards to West for Fresno State's fourth touchdown. Colburn finished 12 of 14 -- to six receivers -- for 120 yards.
Rouse put the game on ice on the opening possession of the second half. Starting at their 32, the Bulldogs ran six times out of seven plays before Rouse ran past the Hawaii defense for a 34-yard touchdown and 35-3 lead.
Hawaii's Moniz, the former Fresno City College quarterback, had a tough outing in his first major-college start. He was 24 of 52 for 283 yards and two interceptions. His second, by Jacobs midway through the third quarter, led to Rouse's second touchdown, a 16-yard run that put Fresno State up 42-3.
The last time the Bulldogs blocked a field goal or conversion kick was against Boise State in 2008, also by Jackson.
Mathews tied Ron Rivers for fifth at Fresno State with his 28th career rushing touchdown.
A few rules are needed to help foster a feeling of community. We encourage a free and open exchange of ideas in a climate of mutual respect, but any post that violates someone's right to use and enjoy fresnobee.com is prohibited. Before you post, please read the terms of use and obey these simple guidelines.
Here are the ground rules:
Contents of this site are © Copyright The Fresno Bee. All rights reserved.
E-Mail
Print
@Nyx.CommentBody@