(KMJ) The Bulldogs kicked off the 2015 football season with a solid performance and victory over visiting Abilene Christian Thursday night.
Marteze Waller ran for 154 yards, Chad Olsen caught two touchdown passes as Fresno State downed the Wildcats 34-13 in the opener for both teams at Bulldog Stadium.
Waller had runs of 36 and 38 yards on his way to a ninth career 100-yard game. Olsen scored on both of his catches, finishing with 35 yards receiving. He has 15 career receptions, six for touchdowns.
The Bulldogs scored 27 straight for a 34-7 lead.
Abilene Christian tied it after Fresno State’s opening-drive touchdown with an eight-play, 49-yard drive capped by Herschel Sims’ 1-yard touchdown run. But the Bulldogs retook the lead on the ensuing possession and held the Wildcats scoreless until an ACU touchdown on the final play of the game.
“Defensively, I was really impressed with how physical our defense played,” DeRuyter added. “We limited them. We basically took the run away from them. I thought our defensive backs did a terrific job being physical. It helped because we had a good rush up front. Their quarterback is a good player. He threw for 3,000 yards a year ago. He came back this year with a lot of confidence. I’m really pleased with our overall effort,” Coach Tim DeRuyter said in the postgame press conference.
Fresno State visits No. 17 Ole Miss for its next game on Sept. 12.
