Oct. 31, 2008
RUSTON--It will be the battle of the Bulldogs as the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (3-4, 1-2 WAC) will take on the Fresno State Bulldogs (5-2, 2-1 WAC) Saturday at Joe Aillet Stadium at 1:30 p.m. for Tech's homecoming game.
The Louisiana based Bulldogs will be looking to bounce back after suffering a 14-7 loss to Army in West Point, N.Y. last Saturday.
"It was a very disappointing loss," Tech head coach Derek Dooley said. "We had a number of opportunities to win the game and didn't take advantage of it. I thought the defense played well in holding a good rushing attack to 3.5 yards per carry average and forcing four turnovers, but we just didn't make enough plays offensively to win the game."
The difference between Louisiana Tech's performances at home and on the road so far this season has been night and day. Tech has averaged thirty more points per game at home than on the road as well as averaging over 100 more yards rushing.
"As effective as we were in the Idaho game at home we were equally as ineffective against Army, away," said Dooley. "It was a poor performance, we didn't play well at any position and I felt like we got dominated up front and got affected."
The clear strength of the Louisiana Tech offense is the running game that is averaging 176 yards per game and 235.7 yards per game at Joe Aillet Stadium, led by junior Daniel Porter who is averaging 71.6 yards per game.
The Tech defense has been stellar against the run so far this season, holding every team but one under its season average of rushing yards per game while also not allowing a single running back to rush for over 100 yards.
The Bulldog defense ranks No. 35 in the nation in rushing defense surrendering 115.3 yards per game and will face maybe their toughest matchup yet this weekend going up against a tough Fresno State trio of backs.
Fresno State ranks No. 16 in the NCAA in rushing with an average of 215.7 yards per game and is the only school in the nation with three backs ranked in the Top 90 in the NCAA in rushing yards per game.
Ryan Mathews continues to lead Fresno State in rushing at 97.5 yards per game. Lonyae Miller and Anthony Harding rank fourth and eighth in the WAC, respectively while ranking second and third in yards per carry, each more than seven yards per rush. All three backs have produced at least one 150-yard rushing game this season.
Last week Fresno State squeaked out a 30-28 victory over conference foe Utah State in Logan, Utah when redshirt freshman placekicker, Kevin Goessling, nailed a 58 yard field goal as time expired.
"To me they are the same Fresno Team as they are every year," said Dooley. They are well coached, they have a lot good players, they believe in their system and believe they are going to win."
"They're going to challenge us, they're going to pack the box and they're going to come after us," said Dooley. "They did it last year and we struggled so they're probably going to bring it again."
Fresno State leads the all-time series versus Tech 7-2 with the California Bulldogs winning last season's match-up 17-6 in Fresno.
Game Info
What: Louisiana Tech vs. Fresno State
When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Joe Aillet Stadium- Ruston, La.
TV: Comcast Sports Network
Talent: Ralph Wood, Randy Rosenbloom
Streaming: espn360.com
GameTracker: www.latechsports.com
Radio Stations: KXKZ 107.5 FM (Ruston), KLKL 95.7 FM (Shreveport)
Internet: www.z1075fm.com
Talent: Dave Nitz, Steve Davison, Benny Thornell
