Bulldogs freshman QB Chason Virgil exits first start hurt, ineffective

Fresno State freshman quarterback Chason Virgil, nearing the end of what was a struggle in his first career start, came out of the game in the fourth quarter against Utah on Saturday night after suffering a sprained right (throwing) shoulder.

“He had a shoulder injury,” coach Tim DeRuyter said. “He fell onto his shoulder while he was being tackled.”

Sources said late Saturday that the injury was not thought to be serious, but Virgil is to meet with team medical personnel Sunday.

The Bulldogs (1-2), who open Mountain West Conference play next Saturday at San Jose State (1-2), won’t know how the quarterback position will shake out going forward until Virgil is re-examined.

Virgil was hurt at the end of a 9-yard run to the Utes 10. Zack Greenlee, the redshirt sophomore whom Virgil replaced as the starter after the two alternated series in the first two games, completed the drive with a touchdown throw five plays later.

Greenlee’s 6-yard TD pass to Josiah Blandin pulled the Bulldogs to within 24-10.

The Utes’ Cory Butler-Byrd returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards to extend the Utah lead, and they added a 77-yard punt return less than 2 minutes later by Britain Covey.

That offset two more fourth-quarter touchdown passes by Greenlee, who in a quarter of work went 6 for 10 for 144 yards. Virgil was 11 of 25 for 97 yards. Neither player threw an interception, but a Virgil fumble on a first-quarter sack was returned for a Utes touchdown.

The coach found plenty of fault to spread around for the offense’s first three quarters’ worth of inefficiency.

“We had some opportunities,” DeRuyter said. “We had some third-down catches that were just short. We’ve got to do a better job of knowing where the sticks are.”

This story was originally published September 20, 2015 at 2:53 AM with the headline "Bulldogs freshman QB Chason Virgil exits first start hurt, ineffective."