Football | 9/4/2015 1:10:00 AM
Box Score FRESNO, Calif. – Marteze Waller ran for 154 yards and two touchdowns and Chad Olsen caught two scoring passes as Mountain West Conference power Fresno State University defeated FCS member Abilene Christian University 34-13 Thursday night in in a season-opening game for both in Bulldog Stadium before 34,257 fans.
The two teams had not played each other since 1963 when the Wildcats edged the Bulldogs 32-29 in a game rescheduled following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Fresno State converted eight of 11 third-down plays in opening a two-touchdown lead at the half, with the mistake-prone Wildcats unable to capitalize on interceptions of Bulldog passes by ACU freshman defensive back
Junior Henderson and junior defensive back
D.J. Arnold.
A year ago, ACU spotted FBS-member Troy University an identical 21-7 halftime lead before rallying to claim an upset win. But the Wildcats couldn't replicate that feat in California against the best FBS team ACU has played since moving to NCAA Division I two seasons ago: FSU has played in bowl games 13 of the past 15 seasons.
Waller ran 36 yards on the Bulldogs' second play from scrimmage of the season and two plays later, wide receiver Jamire Jordan caught a 25-yard pass from Zack Greenlee – the quarterback's first throw of the season after escaping a near-sack in the backfield – at 11:29 of the first quarter.
After the Wildcats' second drive stalled, junior
Austin Kilcullen pinned FSU on its 8-yard-line with a punt. Junior defensive tackle
Josh Bloom tackled Waller for a loss at the 5-yard line and after a tipped and incomplete pass, ACU forced Fresno State to punt, with the Wildcats taking over at midfield.
ACU pulled into a 7-7 tie with 5:31 left in the quarter when Abilene native
Herschel Sims scored on a 1-yard run, a play set up by an 11-yard pass from McKenzie to redshirt freshman tight end
Liam Flowers that fell just short of the end zone.
With the Wildcats struggling to mount a consistent offensive threat and playing three quarterbacks – McKenzie, Dallas Sealy and
Cody Ennis – in various situations but with little success, Fresno State scored on two consecutive possessions to open a 14-point halftime lead.
Greenlee threaded a pass to Jordan down the left sideline for a 25-yard scoring play with 1:58 remaining in the first quarter, putting the Bulldogs back on top, 14-7. FSU then began the second quarter with a 10-play, 52-yard drive, capped by a 4-yard pass from quarterback Chason Virgil to tight end Chad Wilson at the 11:53 mark to put the Bulldogs up 21-7.
The Wildcats forced Fresno State to punt on its first possession of the second half but turned the ball over on downs after driving to the Bulldog 26-yard line. The ACU defense gave up a big 38-yard run to Waller on third-and-7 of the ensuing drive but FSU couldn't get back on the scoreboard when Jimmy Camacho's 50-yard field goal fell short. The Wildcats gave the ball right back to the Bulldogs as McKenzie's first-down pass was intercepted by Jeff Camilli at the 48-yard line.
ACU forced another Bulldog field goal attempt at the 6:27 mark of the third quarter but Kody Koening made good on the 40-yarder to open a 24-7 advantage. Fresno State padded its lead to 31-7 on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Greenlee to Olsen with 2:38 left in the quarter.
Camacho's 36-yard field goal moved the Bulldog lead to 34-7 with 7:02 remaining in the game.
A.J. Tolbert recovered a muffed Fresno State punt return with 3:59 on the clock and the Wildcats scored on the game's final play, a 6-yard pass from Sealey to freshman wide receiver
Byron Proctor.
Sophomore running back
De'Andre Brown led ACU in rushing with 32 yards on nine carries. McKenzie completed 18 of 29 passes for 168 yards and was intercepted twice. Wide receiver
Jonathan Epps caught eight passes for 52 yards.
Greenlee completed 14 of 32 passes for 156 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Keyan Williams caught seven passes for 34 yards and Blaindin caught four for 71 yards.
Fresno State had 442 yards of total offense while holding ACU to 240, its lowest output since a loss to West Texas A&M University in 2012. The Bulldogs outgained the Wildcats on the ground (225 yards to 34). ACU cornerback
Cedric Dale and linebacker
Sam Denmark recorded eight tackles each.
ACU's next game is Sept. 19 in its home opener against Southland Conference rival Houston Baptist University in Shotwell Stadium at 6 p.m. Fresno State travels to Oxford, Miss., to take on Ole Miss next Saturday.
