Utah Utes vs Fresno State Bulldogs Match Player Stats On Sep 19, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Sep 20, 2015

Senior running back Devontae Booker had a big game to lead No. 21 Utah to a 45-24 victory over Fresno State on Saturday night at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, Calif.

Booker carried 31 times for 156 yards and two touchdowns to help Utah (3-0) remain unbeaten. He also had five receptions for 56 yards.

Senior quarterback Kendal Thompson completed 19 of 25 passes for 159 yards and one touchdown for the Utes, who dominated time of possession.

Freshman quarterback Chason Virgil struggled for Fresno State (1-2), completing 11 of 25 passes for 97 yards. Sophomore quarterback Zach Greenlee came on to rally the Bulldogs for 21 fourth-quarter points, completing 6 of 10 passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns, but by then it was too late.

Senior running back Marteze Waller led the Bulldogs in rushing with 62 yards on 16 carries.

Fresno State scored first when Kodi Kroening kicked a 35-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead early in the opening quarter. The Utes responded with a lengthy drive, going 60 yards on 19 plays in 9:51 without huddling to set up a 33-yard field goal by Andy Phillips.

Moments later, Utah took a 10-3 lead when 320-pound defensive tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu scooped up a fumble and rumbled 37 yards to the end zone with 2:31 left in the first quarter.

That score held until late in the first half when Booker scored on a 30-yard run to put the Utes up 17-3 with 3:42 to play in the half.

Booker went back to work in the second half. He scored on a 7-yard run with six minutes remaining in the third quarter to give Utah a 24-3 lead.

Fresno State began to cut into the deficit when Greenlee threw a 6-yard touchdown passes to junior wide receiver Josiah Blandin with 11:21 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Utes responded quickly, though, stretching their lead to 31-10 when junior Cory Butler-Byrd returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and went up 38-10 on a 77-yard punt return by freshman Britain Covey with 9:12 to go.

Greenlee connected with freshman wide receiver Jamire Jordan on an 82-yard touchdown pass with 8:07 left in the game. Just over a minute later, Greenlee threw a 32-yard scoring strike to junior wide receiver Da'Mari Scott, cutting Utah's lead to 38-24 with 7:02 to go.

The game's final score came on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Thompson to sophomore tight end Harrison Handley with 14 seconds remaining.

Utah had 380 yards of total offense. Fresno State finished with 365.

NOTES: Fresno State faced a ranked opponent for the second week in a row after suffering a 73-21 loss to Ole Miss. ... Bulldogs offensive coordinator Dave Schramm spent seven seasons at Utah on Kyle Whittingham's staff before coming to Fresno State in 2012. ... Utah WR Tyrone Smith is a Fresno, Calif., native who returned to his hometown for the first time in more than a year. ... Senior RB Devontae Booker went into the game ranked 18th on Utah’s career rushing list.