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Fresno State looks to build on win over UCLA

Sep 30, 2008 - 8:55 PM Hawaii (1-3) at (21) Fresno State (3-1), 10:00 pm EDT

FRESNO, California (Ticker) -- Fresno State will take plenty of momentum into the start of conference play.

After beating UCLA at the Rose Bowl for the first time in school history, the 21st-ranked Bulldogs host Hawaii on Saturday in their Western Athletic Conference opener.

Fresno State (3-1, 0-0 WAC) survived a rugged non-conference slate, losing only to then 11th-ranked Wisconsin, 13-10, on September 13. It was a game the Bulldogs easily could have won, as Kevin Goessling missed three field goals.

The Bulldogs also played three of their first four contests on the road, including last week's 36-31 victory over UCLA. Tom Brandstater threw three touchdown passes, giving him seven in the last two games.

"I'm proud of this team," Fresno State coach Pat Hill. "We've been on the road for three games this year and coming off two emotional games coming in here. This was a good win and now we move on to the WAC schedule."

The quest for a WAC title begins with a contest against a Hawaii team that is in a rebuilding mode following the graduation of record-setting quarterback Colt Brennan.

The Warriors bear no resemblance to the team that rolled to a 12-0 regular-season record last season, dropping to 1-3 following last week's 20-17 loss to San Jose State in their conference opener. The loss snapped Hawaii's 15-game WAC winning streak.

In a stunning turnaround, Hawaii is last in the WAC in scoring, averaging only 17.5 points per game. The scoring woes come after the Warriors averaged more than 40 points in each of the last two seasons.

Quarterback Inoke Funaki was benched against San Jose State after throwing three interceptions and fumbling once. He was replaced in the fourth quarter by Tyler Graunke, who also was picked off once.

Fresno State suffered a 37-30 loss at Hawaii last season - the game in which Brennan tied Ty Detmer's NCAA record for career touchdown passes.