How Fresno State overcame key problem vs. Spartans. ‘A big game for the big boys’

San Jose State had one constant in its up-and-down football season. That was the pass rush, with defensive ends Cade Hall and Viliami Fehoko powering their way off the edges and into opposing quarterbacks.

The Spartans had at least one sack in every game, with as many as 5.0 against UNLV and 2.0 or more eight times in their first 11 games. Fehoko had 7.0 sacks, tied for fifth in the Mountain West. Hall had 4.0, and is the reigning defensive player of the year in the conference.

That was a problem for Fresno State in the must-win Thanksgiving day matchup to remain in contention for a West Division title in the Mountain West and a spot in the conference championship game.

But the Bulldogs pounded it flat with an offensive line that was playing with a different starting lineup for a third game in a row and a first-time starter at left tackle, and also had to adjust after right guard Mose Vavao went out with an injury in the first half of what became a 40-9 victory at CEFCU Stadium.

“It was,” offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said, “a big game for the big boys.”

It was, for all of them starting with Dante Adkins Jr., who has battled a back injury all season and made his first career start at left tackle after making four last year at left guard.

“Dante made a big impact being back,” said Grubb, who has called plays for an offense that has put up 30 or more points eight times this season. “Regardless of where he plays, we are better as a unit when he is out there.”

But freshman Braylen Nelson started at left guard on his birthday and Bula Schmidt was back at center after playing left guard due to a laceration on his snapping hand suffered in a loss to Boise State.

Vavao was solid, until his injury. And right tackle Alex Akingbulu has been a fixture since the opener against UConn, the only offensive lineman to start every game at the same position on the line.

A big day for the big boys

That line kept quarterback Jake Haener clean throughout the game, providing plenty of time for him to hit 27 of 36 passes for 343 yards and four touchdowns.

The Spartans had only one quarterback hurry and did not record a sack against the Bulldogs, marking the first time the San Jose State defense failed to get to a quarterback since the first day of the 2020 season, a streak of 18 games.

The Bulldogs ran it 14 times in 19 plays in the final quarter, churning out a solid 4.1 yards per play and holding possession for a monstrous 10:47. The Spartans were not getting much done against the Bulldogs defense, but it’s tough to come back in a game without the football.

“We knew coming in we were going to face a good defense and we tried our best to run the ball hard,” said running back Jordan Mims, who caught one of the four touchdowns from Haener when left wide open down the left sideline on a 45-yard pass play in the second quarter.

“It wasn’t the big flashy runs that we’ve had a few times this year. We knew it was going to be chippy yards and for the most part, we did that. In getting the win, that was a big thing.”

Before grinding out the fourth quarter the Bulldogs had six explosive plays from scrimmage of 20 or more yards, and the Spartans had allowed just 36 in their first 11 games, tied for second-fewest in the conference.

“Impressive day, and we did it with, of course, a lineup change during the game,” Grubb said. “But they played really well and gave Jake some really clean pockets.”

This story was originally published November 26, 2021 at 5:00 AM.