Bulldogs strong at the finish

Special teams and defense pave way until offense arrives in 2nd half.

Published online on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - It was an ugly start and a pretty finish for Fresno State on Saturday night.

Fresno State's offense stalled frequently in the first half, but the Bulldogs picked it up in other phases of the game -- scoring on defense and special teams to accelerate and beat New Mexico State for the 16th straight time, 34-3, in front of 18,893.

"Our special teams were awesome, our defense played awesome and our offense sort of sputtered in the first half," Fresno State coach Pat Hill said. "But we came on big in the second half and moved the ball very well. It was a great team effort."

Fresno State (4-3, 3-1 Western Athletic Conference) has yet to lose to the Aggies (3-5, 1-3) in football and has won three straight games, reversing the three-game losing streak it had earlier this season.

The Bulldogs got out to a rough start and led 13-3 at halftime because of their defense and special teams.

Quarterback Ryan Colburn looked especially rusty.

After two games in which he was incredibly efficient (19 of 26 for 237 yards, four scores and no interceptions against San Jose State and Hawaii), Colburn was 4 of 10 with an interception, fumble and another near interception in the first half. He finished 7 of 14 for 164 yards.

"We knew they were going to play a lot of press coverage, but structurally some of things they were doing was even more than we expected," Colburn said. "There were a couple throws early I thought I was going to get that would have kind of got me started, but they were taking away any type of free access. Every throw was going to be contested."

And every run was, too.

The Bulldogs, who came into the game with the third-ranked running game in the country, ran for just 75 first-half yards as the Aggies loaded up against the run. The Aggies came into the game ranked 104th in run defense.

"They said they were going to challenge us, and for a while it worked out really well for them," Colburn said. "The problem [for them] was our defense and special teams played so well. They put us in really good positions."

The offense even faltered to start the second half as Ryan Mathews -- who finished with 157 yards and two scores -- fumbled for the second time in his career and the first time since 2007.

The nation's leading rusher with 1,131 yards, Mathews coughed it up at the New Mexico State 16-yard line.

The Bulldogs offense finally began to click on the next drive, as Colburn hit Jamel Hamler for a 51-yard completion to the Aggies 29. Two plays later, Colburn found Chastin West open at the 10, and he took it to the 1. Mathews then hopped over the pile to make it 20-3.

After the defense held on the next drive, West took a punt back 88 yards for a touchdown to make it 27-3.

Asked what he saw on the punt return, West replied: "Grass."

"Even when I had a person to beat, Darren [Newborn] was right there. It was the kicker and he better not tackle me. That was all she wrote."

Mathews finally broke loose in the fourth quarter -- running for a 68-yard touchdown for the Bulldogs' final score of the night.

As for the special teams, West returned punts along with Marlon Moore in place of the injured Devon Wylie, and didn't miss a beat.

Moore had two punt returns for 59 yards in the first half.

The Bulldogs also got a blocked field goal from Ben Jacobs (the fourth of his career). He also credited teammate Kenny Wiggins for the block.

The defense came up with several stands. They forced three field goals, never allowed a touchdown and even scored a touchdown of their own.

Safety Lorne Bell intercepted Aggies quarterback Trevor Walls in the second quarter and returned it 17 yards for the Bulldogs' first points of the game. It was also Bell's first career interception.

"We were coming off [Colburn's] interception, that was a big play and a big momentum swinger. Then Bell came out, read it, and took it to the house," said Jacobs. "That was huge for us. That's what really kicked the game open."

The Bulldogs went on to score 34 straight points and seal the win.

Next they host Utah State at home before travelling to Idaho and Nevada.