Carr, Fresno State routs New Mexico
Senior quarterback Derek Carr moved No. 15 Fresno State one step closer to a long-awaited BCS bowl bid, leading the unbeaten Bulldogs to a 69-28 victory over New Mexico on Saturday before a sellout crowd at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, Calif.
The Bulldogs clinched the Mountain West Conference West Division title and secured their place in the first Mountain West championship game, setting up a likely rematch with Boise State on Dec. 7 in Fresno.
The Bulldogs (10-0, 7-0 MWC) have won 15 consecutive regular-season games, 12 in a row at home and 12 straight against Mountain West competition.
The Lobos (3-7, 1-5) have lost five of six since beating rival New Mexico State on Oct. 5. They started slowly on offense without injured quarterback Cole Gautsche and running back Kasey Carrier and could do nothing defensively to stop the Bulldogs' assault on the record books.
Carr, a three-year starter and projected first-round NFL draft pick who was recently named a finalist for the Walter Camp Award, was sensational in his final regular-season home game for Fresno State.
In three quarters, he completed 27 of 37 passes for a season-high 527 yards with a school-record seven touchdowns and no interceptions, nearly eclipsing his career high of 536 yards against San Diego State in 2012. He has attempted 266 passes over the past five games without throwing an interception.
The Bulldogs amassed a school-record 820 yards total offense and led 35-0 after accumulating 418 yards in the first half. Carr was 17 of 21 passing for 309 yards and three touchdowns in the opening half.
The Bulldogs punted only once, and Carr took care of that, too, booting a 45-yarder on a pooch punt that was downed at New Mexico's 1-yard line.
Carr connected with Davante Adams on touchdown passes of 57 and 44 yards in the first half. They hooked up again on a 59-yard pass in the third quarter. Carr added another 59-yard scoring strike to Josh Harper later in the third, the 100th touchdown pass of his career.
Carr, a Heisman Trophy candidate, ranks among the national leaders in passing yards and touchdowns. He became the 18th player in FBS history to surpass 10,000 yards passing and 100 touchdowns in his career.
"He's as good as there is in the country," Fresno State coach Tim DeRuyter said. "That's why I think it's very well deserved that he should be in the Heisman discussion. He's led us to a 10-0 record, which is the most important thing for a quarterback. Statistically, he's got to be up there with anybody in the country."
Adams had nine catches for 246 yards and four touchdowns. Harper finished with 10 receptions for 161 yards and three touchdowns. Burse caught six passes for 112 yards and scored on a 26-yard "fumble rooskie" play in the fourth quarter.
"When you have a quarterback like Derek, it's not hard to get in the end zone," Harper said. "He puts it right on you."
The Bulldogs rushed for 287 yards and three touchdowns. Junior running back John Quezada was the leading rusher with 90 yards on 11 carries, including a 33-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs were 9 of 15 on third-down conversions. They also converted twice on fourth down.
New Mexico quarterback Clayton Mitchem completed 8 of 11 passes for 157 yards. Running back Jhurell Pressley gained 87 yards on four carries, including an 80-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Fresno State achieved its first 10-win season since 2001, when Carr's big brother, former No. 1 draft pick David Carr, led the Bulldogs into the Top 10 before their BCS hopes were dashed with a midseason loss to Boise State. Twelve years later, Derek has a chance to do something David couldn't.
The Bulldogs will conclude the regular season at San Jose State on Nov. 29 and will likely host the Mountain West title game a week later. If they remain unbeaten, projections indicate they could earn their first-ever BCS bid to the Fiesta Bowl, which will be played Jan. 3 in Glendale, Ariz.
"We are proud to win the West," DeRuyter said. "We know we have one more game this season to clinch things, but I am just really happy with the way we played."
