Fresno, CA (Sports Network) - Derek Carr threw for a career-high 536 and five
touchdowns as the Fresno State Bulldogs defeated the San Diego State Aztecs,
52-40, in Mountain West Conference action at Bulldog Stadium.
Carr completed 42-of-56 passes for the Bulldogs (3-2, 1-0 MWC) as they won
their conference opener and the second time in the last three outings
overall. Rashad Evans accounted for 10 catches for 100 yards and three
touchdowns and Josh Harper nine receptions for 120 and a score, giving FSU a
pair of receivers with at least 100 yards in the same game for the 14th time
in program history. Robbie Rouse, who entered the contest averaging 129.3 ypg
rushing, put up 70 yards and two touchdowns on 21 attempts.
The Aztecs (2-3, 0-1) were led by Adam Muema who ran for 64 yards and two
touchdowns as the team bowed for the second time in as many games. Quarterback
Ryan Katz converted 13-of-23 passes for 160 yards and two scores, but he was
also picked off three times and sacked five by the FSU defense.
San Diego State moved out to a 14-0 lead in the first six minutes thanks to a
five-yard TD run by Muema and an interception by Eric Pinkins that was
returned 32 yards for a score.
On the ensuing possession the Bulldogs cut their deficit in half as Rouse
crossed the goal line from one yard out.
A 27-yard touchdown run by Muema with under one minute remaining in the first
quarter boosted the SDSU lead to 21-7.
The Bulldogs owned the second quarter however, ripping off 27 straight points
beginning with another one-yard TD run by Rouse. Carr then threw a 37-yard TD
pass to Harper and scoring strikes of nine and eight yards to Evans to give
the hosts a 34-21 edge.
The Aztecs stopped the bleeding when Katz found D.J. Shields with a five-yard
TD pass, but the PAT was not only blocked, it was returned by Charles
Washington the length of the field to give the Bulldogs another two points.
Coming out of the half and trailing by a 36-27 score, Katz combined with Brice
Butler on an eight-yard TD pass play. Just over two minutes later Leon
McFadden put the Aztecs back on top, 40-36, when he raced 96 yards with an
interception, but a two-point conversion attempt kept the difference at just
four points.
Midway through the third quarter Carr found Isaiah Burse with a 31-yard TD
pass to give the lead back to FSU at 43-40. Quentin Breshears knocked through
a 27-yard field goal later in the period and Carr finished off the night's
scoring with a five-yard TD toss to Evans at the 6:50 mark of the fourth
quarter.
San Diego State allowed 655 yards to the Bulldogs, a far cry from the 386.5
ypg the team was giving up coming into the weekend.
Phillip Thomas, who had three interceptions against Colorado a few weeks back,
picked off a pair of passes versus San Diego State tonight and now the
Bulldogs have a total of 11 INTs in the first five games.
Carr became the fourth Bulldog quarterback in school history to reach the 500-
yard passing plateau and is the first since his brother, David, generated 531
yards against Michigan State in 2001. It was also the sixth time in MWC
history that a quarterback has thrown for at least 500 yards.
GAME NOTES:
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