Warszawski’s postgame thoughts: Fresno State QB carousel keeps spinning in loss

The Chason Virgil era at Fresno State began with a thud. By the time the night was over, nothing about that designation felt certain.

Making his first college start, Virgil committed a costly fumble after being sacked (upheld following a lengthy replay review) and struggled to sustain drives as the Bulldogs were overpowered 45-24 by No. 21 Utah on Saturday night at Bulldog Stadium.

But after Zack Greenlee entered in the fourth quarter and threw three straight touchdown passes, including an 82-yarder to Jamire Jordan, perhaps the quarterback carousel has yet to stop spinning.

Fresno State faced long fields most of the night. Even when the Bulldogs enjoyed good field position, starting their first drive on the 17-yard line after Utah fumbled the opening kickoff, it didn’t matter.

The Bulldogs didn’t reach the end zone until the outcome was settled, with Virgil on the sideline having his right arm looked at by trainers. Coach Tim DeRuyter was vague on the freshman’s status during his postgame press conference.

Even after Greenlee threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Josiah Blandin, the receiver’s third in three games, Fresno State fans didn’t get to enjoy it for long. That’s because Cory Butler-Bird returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards up the sideline and into the end zone.

After a Bulldogs three-and-out, Utah got its next touchdown on a 77-yard punt return.

Yup, it was that kind of night.

If there was any bright spot for Fresno State (besides Greenlee’s fourth quarter), it was the defense. Yes, the Bulldogs struggled on third and fourth down. Yes, tailback Devontae Booker bulldozed them for 156 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

But let the record show that Utah scored on a fumble return that took the officiating crew 10 minutes to decide if it was a turnover or incomplete pass. Not to mention those two late scores on special teams. So the defense really allowed 24 points.

Yes, a cynic could point out Utah played without starting quarterback Travis Wilson. But, heck, I’m trying to provide some positivity here. Another: Mississippi hung 43 points on mighty Alabama, “just” 30 fewer than they scored against the Bulldogs a week ago.

Greenlee’s trio of touchdown passes came when the game was already out of hand. But let’s not forget it was Virgil’s play during garbage time against Mississippi that earned him this start.

Who’s Fresno State’s starting quarterback heading into Mountain West Conference play? Not sure anyone really knows.

Halftime

Utah led 17-3 at halftime. The biggest difference, aside from Chason Virgil’s fumble that was scooped up by 320-pound tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu and returned for a 37-yard touchdown, was the Utes’ ability to sustain drives.

At one point late in the second quarter Utah had a 19-play drive and a 16-play drive while Fresno State had run 14 plays – total.

The Utes converted 7 of 11 first downs and 2 of 2 fourth downs, including a 30-yard touchdown run by ex-Bulldog signee Devontae Booker with 3:42 left before halftime that put Utah ahead by two touchdowns.

Booker finished the first half with 95 rushing yards on 17 attempts. That’s 5.6 yards a pop.

Virgil completed just 4 of 11 passes for 34 yards, which equates to a 62.3 passer rating. Marteze Waller wasn’t a big factor, gaining 41 yards on nine carries.

The Bulldogs had a chance for an early field goal after Da’Mari Scott forced a fumble on the opening kickoff. Fresno State began at the Utah 17 but gained 1 yard and settled for a field goal. It turned out to be their only points of the first half.

Utah enjoyed a huge time of possession edge: 21 minutes, 5 seconds to Fresno State’s 8:55.

Pregame

Saturday against No. 21 Utah at Bulldog Stadium, Fresno State has a chance to halt an 11-year losing streak against ranked teams.

There’s also a chance the Bulldogs could get blown out again, or lose by a respectable margin.

For senior right tackle Justin Northern, it’s more personal than that. Fresno State’s offensive line surrendered seven sacks last season during Utah’s 59-27 trouncing in Salt Lake City.

The guy who allowed most of them hasn’t forgotten.

“When we played out in Utah I played the worst game in my life,” Northern said this week. “I gave up probably five sacks and 11 hurries. It was the worst game ever.

“There’s definitely a chip on my shoulder from that game. I want to prove to myself I can compete on that level. And I think that’s the way a lot of guys who played them last year feel.”

Northern had a tough time handling Utes defensive end Hunter Dimick, who recorded two of his 10 sacks last season against the Bulldogs. Dimick sustained a knee injury in last week’s victory over Utah State. His status for for the game is unknown.

“They’re one of the most physical defensive lines out there,” Northern said. “That No. 49 (Dimick), he plays his ass off. Just a non-stop motor on him and all those guys.”

Can Northern and the offensive line hold up better, both in pass protection and clearing lanes for Marteze Waller? That’s one of the main keys I’ll be watching for at Bulldog Stadium.

Another, of course, is Fresno State’s quarterback play. I fully expect true freshman Chason Virgil to get the starting nod ahead of sophomore Zack Greenlee, even though coach Tim DeRuyter isn’t saying.

Virgil needs to clean up the youthful mistakes, something he readily acknowledges, but has clearly been the Bulldogs’ most dynamic option during the first two games.

“He definitely doesn’t act like a freshman – he’s very assertive,” Northern said of Virgil. “Him not just showing up for fall camp, him being around the entire (spring) semester, makes it feel like he’s been around the whole year. When he’s in the game I don’t go, ‘Uh oh, a true freshman’s back there.’ You can’t tell.”

The third key is the Bulldogs secondary. Has this unit gotten any better? We all thought so, until Mississippi took everyone for a spin on a 12-month time machine.

Of course, that was Mississippi. The Rebels might have the best collection of receivers and tight ends in the country. Utah does not. In fact, the Utes’ longest pass play in their first two games (22 yards) came from bruising tailback Devontae Booker.

With starting quarterback Travis Wilson (shoulder) possibly sidelined and backup Kendal Thompson known more for his legs, Fresno State’s secondary has to prove last week was an aberration and not a return to the old status quo.

This story was originally published September 19, 2015 at 5:07 PM with the headline "Warszawski’s postgame thoughts: Fresno State QB carousel keeps spinning in loss."