On the sideline, the Bulldogs were ready.
“We’re locking arms right there, saying a few prayers, and seeing what happens,” said quarterback Zach Kline, who started ahead of Chason Virgil and played the entire game.
Snap, hold, kick, block ... loss; 14-13 Rainbow Warriors.
Interim coach Eric Kiesau dissected the play on Sunday morning, watching it on video.
Fresno State is averaging only 3.3 yards per rushing play this season and has only nine rushing touchdowns, tied with Miami (Ohio) for 124th of 128 in the nation.
How that happens with a chance to break the longest losing streak in school history is mystifying, but Hawaii defensive end Viane Moala got one earlier this season in a victory over San Jose State. He also is 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds, all of that playing into why and how he was able to knife his way four yards past the line of scrimmage and right into the Bulldogs’ hearts.
The reality is, it is not that field goal block that crushed the Bulldogs but the field goal that came before it, a 27-yarder that Kroening knocked through without incident.
The good, the bad – The Bulldogs had a field goal attempt to win blocked at the end, but the game really was lost on the drive just before that when getting to the Hawaii 10-yard line only to settle for a field goal. They went 78 yards in 15 plays and took 5:58 off the clock only to stall once in the red zone, which has been a problem all season.
On first-and-10 from the 12, Dontel James rushed for two yards. Kline then missed Delvon Hardaway on second down and Treyvon Green on third down.
Rather than a touchdown and a two-score lead with 3:41 to play, the lead was only 13-7 after the Kroening field goal and Hawaii had the opening it needed to drive for a winning score.
But Fresno State has this season scored a touchdown on only 50 percent of its 32 trips into the red zone, the worst percentage in the Mountain West Conference.
It also has the lowest scoring percentage in the league, getting a touchdown (16) or a field goal (9) on 25 of its 32 trips into the red zone, 78.1 percent.
The Bulldogs have run the ball 54 times inside an opponent’s 20-yard line, gaining just 2.3 yards per play. They have thrown the ball 39 times down there, completing just 43.6 percent and averaging 2.5 yards per attempt.
One plays into the other.
“We just have to make plays down there,” Kiesau said. “Last night was the first night we actually ran the ball. But, collectively, the entire season, when you’re able to run the ball you’re able to set everything else up so it’s not so pass-oriented.
▪ Fresno State rushed for 214 yards against the Rainbow Warriors, but inside the red zone four rushing plays netted just seven yards including the lateral to left tackle Christian Cronk for the Bulldogs’ only touchdown.
Freshman Josh Hokit rushed for 97 yards on 18 plays, though he still could line at a position other than running back next season, having started the year at inside (Mike) linebacker and playing both outside linebacker positions in the Bulldogs’ 3-4.
Last night was the first night we actually ran the ball. But, collectively, the entire season, when you’re able to run the ball you’re able to set everything else up so it’s not so pass-oriented.
The key in there is the next year.
▪ Senior safety Stratton Brown had 10 tackles against the Rainbow Warriors, giving him 100 on the season.
He is the first Fresno State player with 100 tackles in a season since linebacker Ben Jacobs had 106 in 2009.
13 First-time starters this season for the Bulldogs.
Inside linebacker Jeff Camilli will very likely be the second – he had seven against Hawaii and has 96 this season.
Records are incomplete before 2005, but over the past 12 seasons the Bulldogs have not had two players with 100 or more tackles in the same season.
The closest the Bulldogs have come is 2008 when Jacobs had 113 tackles and linebacker Chris Carter had 88.
▪ The Bulldogs’ defense forced Hawaii to punt eight times – the most Fresno State had forced in a game and matching the most the Rainbow Warriors had punted in a game.
Hawaii threw an interception and punted three times on its first four possessions in the second half, then went on that 12-play, 76-yard touchdown drive to win the game.
It had run 17 plays and gained only 45 yards in the second half before that drive.
▪ Midway through the fourth quarter, Fresno State had a 10-7 lead despite averaging only 3.7 yards per play.
The Bulldogs have not won a game when averaging less than 4.0 yards per play – they are 0-11 – since beating UCLA 17-9 in the 2003 Silicon Valley Classic when they were at only 3.9 yards per play.