Today
UND at Fresno State
When: 9 p.m.
Where: Bulldog Field, Fresno, Calif.
Records: UND 1-1; Fresno 0-2.
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Just the facts
Team website: www.fightingsioux.com
On the radio: The Fox (96.1 FM), Jack Michaels play-by-play; Mike Berg analyst; Sean Johnson sideline.
TV coaches show: Sioux Sports Extra, Sundays, 10:35 p.m., WDAY (Channel 8, GF).
Coaches show: The Fan (1440 AM), WDAY (970 AM), Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Schedule
UND
UND 16..................................................Drake 0
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Idaho 44................................................UND 14
Today...............................at Fresno State, 9 p.m.
Sept. 24............................Black Hills State, 6 p.m.
Oct. 1..............................at Southern Utah, 2 p.m.
Oct. 8.............................Montana Western, 1 p.m.
Oct. 22........................................Cal Poly, 1 p.m.
Oct. 29..................at Northern Colorado, 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 5.....................................Sioux Falls, 1 p.m.
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Nov. 12..................................at UC Davis, 4 p.m.
Nov. 19................................South Dakota, 1 p.m.
Fresno
Cal 36.................................................Fresno 21
Nebraska 42.........................................Fresno 29
Today..............................................UND, 9 p.m.
Sept. 24.......................................at Idaho, 4 p.m.
Oct. 1..........................................Ole Miss, 9 p.m.
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Oct. 7......................................Boise State, 8 p.m.
Oct. 15......................................Utah State, 9 p.m.
Oct. 22.......................................at Nevada, 3 p.m.
Nov. 5..................................Louisiana Tech, 7 p.m.
Nov. 12........................... New Mexico State, 7 p.m.
Nov. 19.......................................at Hawaii, 10 p.m.
Nov. 26................................San Jose State, 7 p.m.
Dec. 3............................at San Diego State, 7 p.m.
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By the numbers
23
Former Fresno State players that are on NFL rosters this season, including Bernard Berrian of the Vikings; David Carr of the New York Giants and Ryan Mathews of the San Diego Chargers.
28
Average number of points a Pat Hill-coached Fresno team has defeated Division I FCS programs. Under Hill, Fresno is 8-0 against FCS opponents.
42
Percentage of third-down plays UND has converted this season. Fresno is converting 32 percent of its third-down plays.
59
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Blocked kicks by Fresno since the 2002 season, the most in the country. Against Cal in the season opener, Fresno blocked two kicks. Since UND joined the Division I FCS ranks in 2008, the Sioux have blocked 19 kicks.
444
Yards of offense Fresno racked up against No. 11 Nebraska last week in a 42-29 loss.
The edge
Offense (the check goes to Fresno)
A no-brainer here after Fresno State racked up 444 yards against No. 11 Nebraska last week. Fresno running back Robbie Rouse rushed for 169 yards on 39 carries against the Cornhuskers. He may be the best running back UND has faced in the program's Division I era.
Defense (the check goes to Fresno)
Fresno has forced four turnovers in two games this season; including a fumble recovery that went for a touchdown against Cal. Sophomore cornerback L.J. Jones has two interceptions.
Special teams (the check goes to Fresno)
UND's strength through two games has been the play of its special teams. But Fresno has blocked more kicks (59) than any other Division I program since 2002. Also, senior kicker Kevin Goessling has scored more than 300 points in his career.
Stats
2011 leaders
Rushing Att Yds Lg Td
Mitch Sutton 33 127 11 0
Jake Miller 11 56 13 1
R.J. McGill 1 16 16 0
Passing Cmp Att Int Yds TD
Joey Bradley 33 57 1 303 1
Receiving No Yds Lg TD
Greg Hardin 7 113 54 1
Chris Anderson 6 47 13 0
R.J. McGill 5 66 27 0
Seth Nichols 4 22 9 0
Jake Miller 4 19 11 0
Mitch Sutton 3 18 8 0
Total tackles
Mitch Goertz 17, Dan Hendrickson 14, Kenny Watkins 9, Dominique Hawkins 8, Johnnie Daniels 8, Justin Belotti 7, Crhis Hall 7, Erik Mersereau 6, Ross Brenneman 6, Devin Benjamin 5, Jay Nelson 5, Broc Bellmore 5
Sacks
Brenneman 2, Goertz 1.5, Daniels 1, Nelson 1, Myles Jablonski 0.5, Cordero Finley 0.5, Damon Andrews 0.5
3 questions for Chris Hall
Q. After playing high school football in Jacksonville, Fla., how surprising was it that you wound up at UND?
A. I didn't know anything about North Dakota football. But my high school coach always told me that if you have to go anywhere to play football, go, even if it's in North Dakota. He really did say that. So, low and behold . . . I had a lot of schools looking at me, Duke, Vanderbilt, Central Arkansas, Charleston Southern. But I'm happy where I'm at. I really like it up here. One thing about this program is that we have coaches who played here and take a lot of pride in the program. That's a big selling point.
Q. Your performance against Idaho was perhaps the best of your career. How did you rate it?
A. I feel like I did pretty well but we didn't come out with the win and that's all that matters. But I probably earned a little bit of respect from my teammates.
Q. Fresno State may be the best FBS program UND has played. What do you expect tonight?
A. It'll be a hostile environment; their first home game and they're something like 30-4 at home the last few years. It's going to be rocking. They're pretty impressive. We just have to find a way to go out there and play like we did in the first half (at Idaho). The second half was less than outstanding.
Wayne's call
Fresno State 45, UND 17: UND's biggest objectives tonight? Eliminate mistakes; win a few battles here and there; stay healthy.
Gophers 24, Miami, Ohio, 15: Many, many distractions for the Gophers during the week. But not enough to help Miami.
Miami 30, Ohio State 20: Wonder how many NCAA personnel will be on hand for this game?
Packers 35, Carolina 14: Cam Newton was impressive in his NFL debut. But he'll know how the quarterback position is played after watching Aaron Rodgers.
Vikings 17, Tampa Bay 16: After Donovan McNabb's 39 yards of passing at San Diego, it's AP all day, all the way.
Last week: 3-2
Season: 6-3
