Bulldogs Bite Ags 37 To 7

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Paul Pinegar threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter and later ran for another score, leading Fresno State to a 37-7 win over New Mexico State on Saturday night.

The Bulldogs (3-1, 1-0 Western Athletic) built an early 17-0 lead and coasted the rest of the way on a soggy night, keeping the Aggies (0-6, 0-2) winless under first-year coach Hal Mumme. A steady rain began 10 minutes before kickoff and continued much of the night.

A crowd of only 8,312 fans showed up, but many left at halftime when Fresno State led 20-7 and only a few hundred watched the second half. With the turf slippery, the Bulldogs relied on the legs of running backs Bryson Sumlin and Wendell Mathis, who each rushed for 105 yards, and the right foot of kicker Clint Stitser, who made three field goals.

Pinegar added a 1-yard TD run on the first play of the fourth quarter. He finished with 112 yards passing, completing 10 of 19 passes. The Aggies managed only 195 total yards, including 105 on the ground, and for another week New Mexico State struggled.

Fresno State’s Emanuel Sanchez hit NMSU’s Joey Vincent to force an early fumble that was recovered by Awan Diles, setting up the Bulldogs’ first TD. Four plays later, Pinegar threw a TD pass to Adam Jennings.

Pinegar added a 19-yard TD pass to Jaron Fairman with 13 seconds remaining in the first quarter. In between the scoring plays, Stitser made a 38-yard field goal. The Aggies trimmed the margin to 17-7 when Royal Gill threw a 3-yard TD pass to freshman A.J. Harris on a crossing pattern in the second period.

That play capped a 10-play, 70-yard drive. But the Bulldogs led 20-7 after Stitser’s 28-yard field goal just before halftime. Mathis added the final score, darting untouched into the end zone on a 6-yard run with 5:56 remaining