Fresno State at Nevada: What to watch, including David Perales chasing a stationary target

By Robert Kuwada

Updated November 17, 2022 1:36 PM

Reno

Fresno State defensive end David Perales played 72 snaps in the Bulldogs’ 37-30 victory last week at UNLV and on his very last one from scrimmage he beat the Rebels’ right tackle with an outside rush and sacked quarterback Doug Brumfield.

He got there, finally, after Brumfield had put the ball up a season-high tying 33 times and hurt the Bulldogs with scramble yardage, biting off small and medium chunks and moving the chains on third downs, picking up a third-and-7 and scoring a touchdown on a third-and-goal from the 5.

Fresno State’s.David Perales, right, pressures San Jose State quarterback Chevan Cordeiro in first half action Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com

It was Perales’ third game in a row with a sack, chasing around quarterbacks with some mobility in Jalen Mayden from San Diego State, Brayden Schager from Hawaii and then Brumfield.

Perales and the Bulldogs could have an easier time getting to the quarterback on Saturday at Nevada, with a chance to clinch a berth in the Mountain West Conference football championship game. Things to watch? A good place to start is the Bulldogs’ defensive end, who is leading the conference and tied for third in the nation with 9.5 sacks and with 20.5 in his career has a chance to move into the top five on the Bulldogs’ all-time list.

Here it is:

1. Ron Cox (1987-89) 50.0

2. Jethro Franklin (1986-87) 31.5

3. Garrett McIntrye (2002-05) 25.0

3. Nick Burley (1999-2002) 25.0

5. Tyler Clutts (2004-07) 23.5

6. Ejiro Ederaine (2012-15) 21.0

6. Alan Harper (1998-2001) 21.0

8. David Perales (2000-present) 20.5

9. Chris Carter (2007-10) 19.5

9. Zack Rix (1989-92) 19.5

Perales is a COVID senior in his third season with Fresno State. Out of Merced High, he played single seasons at Merced College and Sacramento State.

Nevada obviously is struggling this season and it is averaging 31.5 pass attempts per game, which is a lot, the fourth-most in the conference, for a team that is eighth in completion percentage and passing yards per game. That’s what happens when behind, and the Wolf Pack has been there a lot. Nevada hasn’t held a lead after three quarters since it last won a game, beating Texas State in September. The Wolf Pack has lost eight games in a row.

Quarterback Shane Illingworth was dinged-up in a loss last week to Boise State but is expected to play. In his past three starts he has been sacked a total of 15 times including nine in a loss at San Jose State, which jumped from fifth to second in the conference in sacks per game after playing the Wolf Pack.

Escaping pass rush is just not part of his game. When pressured, the Nevada quarterback has been sacked 32.8% of the time, the fourth-highest percentage in the nation, according to Pro Football Focus.

JAKE HAENER RECORD WATCH

Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener has thrown at least one TD pass in 25 consecutive games and on Saturday could tie the conference record of 26 set by the Bulldogs’ Derek Carr and later tied by Nevada’s Carson Strong.

But, beyond that, Haener has been on a different plane since returning from an ankle injury.

“I just feel this year in general, I feel like just a much more controlled approach to everything,” Haener said. “I think you might have said I seem much more calm and I don’t know if it’s that. I just feel like I’m confident with what I’m doing and I’m confident with the preparation I’m putting in and confident in my teammates and their ability to make plays for me. I just feel like the game has really slowed down a lot this year.”

Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener throws to receiver Nikko Remigio in the first half of their game against Hawaii at Valley Children’s Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com

He has hit 79.6% of his passes (86 of 108) in the past three games, and looking just at the top five in the conference record book only one other quarterback has had a better three-game stretch.

That would be Kellen Moore, who set the conference record of 74.3% at Boise State in 2011 and is the older brother of Fresno State offensive coordinator Kirby Moore.

Moore that season in his best three-game stretch hit 72 of 90 passes (80%), had another stretch at 83 of 105 (79.0%) and hit his younger brother (a wide receiver) with 22 passes for 247 yards and one touchdown.

But, to the point, Haener has three and likely four games remaining in his Fresno State career with Nevada, Senior Day against Wyoming next week, a bowl game and if they beat the Wolf Pack on Saturday the Mountain West Conference championship game. They’ll be worth watching.

ROAD TO MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHUP

The Bulldogs can clinch a spot in the Mountain West championship game with a win, which would be a fitting end to the title game era for them. Fresno State played Utah State in the first one in 2013, a 24-17 victory. It has a chance to play in the last one before the conference drops its divisional format.

The teams with the highest conference winning percentage will play for the championship starting next season, putting the Mountain West in a best position for a place in the College Football Playoff.

Fresno State could know, or have a good idea, who and where it would play when it takes the field with Boise State playing at Wyoming with a 4 p.m. kickoff. The Broncos will clinch the Mountain Division with a victory, or if they were to lose to the Cowboys with a win against Utah State and a Wyoming loss next week at Fresno State.

Wyoming would need to win its two remaining games to win the Mountain Division, or if it were to beat Boise State and lose to Fresno State but get a Broncos loss to Utah State.

Fresno State, which has played in four of the nine Mountain West championship games, would play a title game at home only if it wins its final two games and Boise State loses its final two games.

The game is played on the home field of the team with the best conference record.

THE GAME