GameDay Breakdown

Published online on Friday, Oct. 09, 2009

FRESNO STATE ON OFFENSE
No Joe Bernardi, no problem? Bernardi has started 22 times for the Bulldogs, but won't Saturday because of a shoulder injury, coach Pat Hill said. His replacement is no freshman. Richard Pacheco is a senior who started the 2008 season opener at Rutgers. He's been in the system and has been under pressure before.

Fresno State (third-ranked rushing team in the nation) will still pound it against Hawaii (102nd-ranked run defense). Ryan Mathews should get the majority of carries again. He is, after all, the nation's No. 2 running back with 148 yards per game.

FRESNO STATE ON DEFENSE

The Bulldogs have to get after the quarterback, guard against screens and reroute receivers. Pass-heavy Hawaii will have a first-time starter under center, which means they could be able to rattle him.

The defense has once again failed to cause an abundance of turnovers this season, intercepting one pass and recovering one fumble. Their minus-1.5 turnover margin ranks 112th out of 120 teams.

The Bulldogs' pass defense ranks 74th.

EXTRA POINTS

Fresno State missed three kicks in its 32-29 overtime loss to Hawaii last season. Kicker Kevin Goessling had a 36-yarder blocked in the fourth quarter. In overtime, he missed a 40-yarder, but a penalty was called and he was allowed to rekick. That one missed, too. The Bulldogs also allowed a 90-yard kick return for a score in that game. Needless to say, things need to be better.

HAWAII ON OFFENSE

Former Fresno City College quarterback Bryant Moniz leads the Warriors' spread passing attack in his first Football Bowl Subdivision start Saturday.

Running back Inoke Funaki was named the "emergency quarterback" for the game, but last season he helped Hawaii to a 32-29 win in Fresno at quarterback. He ran for 79 yards as an option threat.

No Hawaii rusher ranks in the top 100 nationally this season. The team is 118th in rush offense and third in pass offense.

Junior Greg Salas, the team's leading receiver last season with 14 starts and 831 yards, is the nation's top receiver in yards per game with 150.3.

HAWAII ON DEFENSE

The Hawaii defense returned two starters from last season, but only one is healthy right now. That inexperience is partly to blame for its 92nd ranking.

Senior linebacker Blaze Soares, who missed last season because of injury, has 37 tackles this season to lead the team.

He said that in the beginning of the season the defense didn't know its identity.

"It was a bunch of what ifs," he said. "Now we're all veterans. We've all started. We know how to play. We just have to show up."

EXTRA POINTS

Junior college transfer Scott Enos is 6 of 7 on field goals this season with a long of 47. He has hit all 10 of his PAT attempts.

The Warriors are 38th in the country in kickoff returns and 76th in punt returns.

KEY MATCHUPS

Hawaii center John Estes and Fresno State center Richard Pacheco vs. defensive lines

Estes is on the watch list for the Rimington Trophy (given to the nation's top center) and Lombardi Award (top lineman) and will help direct the offensive line against Fresno State's pass-rush schemes. Pacheco is starting for the first time this season and will help guide Fresno State's offensive line in its run-blocking schemes.

Edge: Estes

Fresno State cornerbacks vs. Hawaii outside receivers

The Bulldogs are facing another spread passing team, which means it is going to be important for the Bulldogs to press receivers on the outside and throw off the timing of the routes. The Warriors' No. 1 quarterback may be injured, but the system should still stand. The Bulldogs are facing the No. 3 passing team in the country, so they'll have their work cut out for them.

Edge: Hawaii