Fresno State Bulldogs vs. UTEP: Miners’ wideout a credible threat, plus things to watch
Texas-El Paso is an interesting matchup for Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl, specifically a big-play pass game and wideout Jacob Cowing, who has 67 receptions for 1,343 yards and seven touchdowns.
Cowing runs the majority of his routes from the slot and in the middle of the field, according to Pro Football Focus, and whether working short, intermediate or deep, has been very productive.
On throws 20 or more yards down the middle of the field he has seven receptions on 12 targets (58.3%) and is averaging 52.3 yards per catch.
Even the Bulldogs’ wideouts, with a passing game ranked second in the Mountain West Conference, don’t come close to that. None of them, not Jalen Cropper or Josh Kelly or Keric Wheatfall. Quarterback Jake Haener has hit only 7 of 24 (29.2%) passes to the deep middle of the field.
But where UTEP lines up Cowing against the Bulldogs will bear watching, because he also has been effective outside and Fresno State has had more difficulty there than covering slot receivers this season.
Cowing caught a 76-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Gavin Hardison at North Texas when lined up outside and a 59-yard touchdown reception at New Mexico State when lined up outside, among others.
Fresno State is ranked fifth in the Mountain West in passing defense, but has improved from eighth over the final three games of the regular season with DaRon Bland and freshman Cale Sanders playing a majority of the snaps at the cornerback spots. The Bulldogs did play New Mexico in that stretch – the Lobos attempted only eight passes while getting wiped out 34-7, which obviously plays into the improved stats.
But UTEP is tied for second in the nation with 10 pass plays of 50 or more yards, even throwing the football far less than some of those other teams. In that group with the Miners …
Western Kentucky – 650 pass attempts
Alabama – 486
Fresno State – 473
Miami – 464
Texas Tech – 361
UTEP – 339
And, Cowing with those 1,343 yards is the most productive wideout Fresno State will have defended this season.
Boise State wideout Khalil Shakir has 1,117 receiving yards with 10 more catches than Cowing. Nevada wideout Romeo Doubs has 1,109 receiving yards with 13 more catches than the UTEP receiver.
Cowing ranks sixth in the nation in receiving yards, ninth in yards per receptions (20.04) and seventh in receiving yards per game (111.9).
One last chance for family bragging rights
Fresno State running back Ronnie Rivers goes into the New Mexico Bowl already at the top of the Bulldogs’ all-time touchdowns scored list with 51, the rushing touchdowns list with 40, the pass receptions by a running back list with 150 and the touchdown receptions by a running back list with 11.
But he still trails his father, Ron Rivers, on the all-time rushing yards list.
Ronnie Rivers will go into the game with 3,417 yards, 57 away from holding family bragging rights.
The last time Rivers and the Bulldogs played in a bowl, he ripped through Arizona State for 212 yards and two touchdowns on just 24 plays in a 31-20 victory in the 2018 Las Vegas Bowl.
UTEP has allowed just 3.8 yards per rush this season, but it also has played an FCS team in Bethune-Cookman and four teams ranked in the 100s in rushing offense – Southern Miss (tie, 106th), Boise State (tie, 108th), New Mexico (tie, 108th) and New Mexico State (121st).
Can Bulldogs get to Hardison?
Pass rush has been a strength for Fresno State all season with tackle Kevin Atkins and end David Perales tied for seventh in the Mountain West with 7.0 sacks and Arron Mosby racking up 5.0.
But, playing into that pass defense against Cowing, the Bulldogs could be up against their toughest challenge.
The MIners don’t throw the football nearly as often as some of the teams Fresno State faced in conference play, just 28.3 times per game. But they do protect – none of their starting offensive linemen has allowed even 15 pressures (sacks, hits or hurries), according to Pro Football Focus, and the offense has allowed just 17.0 sacks.
Offense by Kirby Moore
The Fresno State offense will be an interesting study with Kirby Moore calling the shots for the first time, up against a Miners defense that is allowing just 339.0 yards per game, second in Conference USA.
That stat could be dubious, given the opponents. Whether it is or not, Moore is getting the keys to a high-scoring offense. Will he stand on the accelerator from the start? Will he play it safe?
There will be hints for what the Bulldogs’ offense might look like in 2022, considering Haener is back and the Bulldogs will return a quarterback with 18 and likely career 19 starts and 96.2% of their passing yards, Jordan Mims and 45.7% of their rushing yards from running backs and Jalen Cropper along with Josh Kelly and 76.2% of their receiving yards from wideouts.
Fresno State vs. Texas-El Paso
When: Saturday, 11:15 a.m.
Where: University Stadium, Albuquerque
TV: ESPN (John Schriffen, Rene Ingoglia, Stormy Buonantony)
Find it fast: AT&T (Channels 602, 1602), Comcast (32, 724, 1205), DirecTV (206), Dish Network (140)
Radio: Bulldog Sports Network (Paul Loeffler, Pat Hill, Cameron Worrell)
Find it fast: Fresno (AM1340), Bakersfield (AM970), Visalia (AM1130), Modesto (FM92.9), Stockton (AM1280), Bulldogs app, iHeartMedia app
The coaches: Lee Marks (0-0, interim coach), (Dana Dimel 12-32 in fourth season, 42-71 overall)
The records: Fresno State 9-3; UTEP 7-5
The series: Fresno State leads 8-3-1
Last meeting: UTEP won 24-21 in 2004
The line: Fresno State -12