1987_10 The Daily Collegian October 1987

              Collegian Sports
CaWornta State University, Fresno
Thursday, October 1,1987
•r%^
Dogs host 49ers in PC A A opener
By Lee PoMtmore
Sports Writer
Fresno State's Bulldogs will open their
1987 Pacific Coast Athletic Association
football campaign at 6:00p.m. tonight in
Bulldog Stadium versus the Long Beach
State 49ere.
The game will end a 12-day break'
from competition for FSU and will be
the third road game in 13 days for the
visiting 49ers. The two teams will not
only battle in front of a sizable crowd at
the stadium, the game will be televised
nationally on the cable sports network
ESPN.
Fresno State and Long Beach State do
have something in common going into
tonight's game — they are both coming
off shutout losses to nationally ranked
two interceptions to lead the 49ers in
that category.
The Dogs have a couple of streaks on
the line tonight when they take the field.
FSU has won 13 straight games at
Bulldog Stadium and are unbeaten in
its last 16 home games.
Fresno State also has a six-game
conference winning streak and a six-
game winning streak ever 'Long Beach.
The Dogs beat the 49ers 25-12 in Bull¬
dog Stadium last season with Barry Belli
kicking
The 49ers suffered the more hum¬
bling of the two defeats, get-ting crushed
at No. 14 Michigan 49-0.
That loss dropped the 49ers record to
2-2. Long Beach started the season 2-0
with victories over Montana State and
Weber State.
FSU, meanwhile, is well-rested after
its 17-0 loss at UCLA two Saturdays ago
as the Dogs coming into the game'with,
a 1-2 mark. The 12-day layoff has given
them a chance to make adjustments in
the lineup. Aj
On offense, Craig Jones has bean'
given the call to slart at tight end over
Rich Bertiewski. At right offensive
tackle, sophomore Jeff Skidmore has
gained the nod over Jeff Truschel.
Defensively, all three of the linebacker
positions will be different when the
'Dogs line up. Tracy Rogers has been
moved to the starting strongside line¬
backer spot Jay Wilkerson, who had
been the starting strongside linebacker,
will now start at middle, linebacker.
At weakside linebacker, Garnett Foun¬
tain has been named the starter over
Chris Rinehart The other change is at
left cornerback, where Keith McCoy will
start instead of Darryl James.
The revitalized Bulldog defense will
face a Long Beach offense led by junior
quarterback Jeff Graham, who was
seventh in the nation in passing ef¬
ficiency before the Michigan game.
Against Michigan, Graham had the
worst day of his college career, com¬
pleting only 5 of 17 passes for 48 yards
and two interceptions. Despite that
performance, Bulldog coach Jim Swee¬
ney isn't* underestimating Graham.
"Jeff Graham is an outstanding
quarterback," said Sweeney. "I'm not
sure if he's quite up to the level of the
great quarterbacks who have been in
our conference like Doug Gaynor, Kevin
Sweeney or Mike Perez, but there's no
doubt he's very good."
The 49ers have shown more of a mix
on offense.this year under new head
coach Larry Raising as opposed to last
season when Graham threw 426 passes.
"Long Beaxh has changed appreci¬
ably since last season," said Sweeney.
Terry Reisbig is a fighter and they're
showing more of a mix the run and the
pass. They are not an overcomplicated
football team."
The 49ers have a young defense
which has given up 80 points over the
last two games. It is led by junior middle
Unebacker  Tom   Caines  who had 14
Caines is helped out in the middle by
sophomore inside linebacker Mauricio
Guiterrez, who is second on the team to
Caines with 26 tackles this season.
Junior cornerback Keith Jenkins has
The last time Long Beach defeated
Fresno State was in 1980 when' they
won 34-9. That was the last game the
Dogs ever played in Ratcliffe Stadium
on Blcckstone Avenue.
Two reserves in the 'Dogs' offensive
line will be lost for the game due to ankle
injuries. Sophomore offensive guard
Paul Vial is out for the season after
undergoing surgery for torn ligaments
in his right ankle, and junior center Dave
Ewing is scheduled to undergo surgery
on his left ankle. *
Tonight's game j^ the second PCAA
contest of the season for Long Beach,
who lost its first conference game to
Fullerton 31-12. Fullertonls already 2-0
in conference play.
Coach Sweeney believes that the
chase for the conference championship
is up for grabs now, even though San
Jose State has been tabbed as the heavy
favorite to win it all.
"The quest for the title is wide open as
far as I'm concerned," said Sweeney.
"San Jose State and Fullerton have
looked the best so far from what I've
Junior Craig Jones will*replace Rich Barttewskl as Fresno State's starting tight end tonight Jones has seven receptions
for 82 yards on the year.
FSU Golfers tie for 10th In LSU Invitatioricfi
ByJonMatMune
Youth and inexperience took their
toll on the Fresno State golf team as it
tied for 10th in the LSU Invitational in
Baton Rouge Wednesday.
The7 tourney, which consisted of 12
teams, was the season opener for the
Dogs, who return just three lettermen
from last year's No. 3 squad.
A disasterous opening round Tues¬
day was the factor most responsible for
the Bulldogs' low finish in the two-day,
54-hole competition. FSU shot a 387
over the first IB holes and were dead*
last after the first round.
The second round, also played
Tuesday, ssw the Dogs record s 368
and move into 11th place. A 379 in the
final round Wednesday tied Fresno
State with Mississippi State for 10th at
1134.
Arizona State won. the tournament
with a score of 1093, I^usiana State
finished second with a 1096, and Mis¬
sissippi took third with a 1098.
"Our second round shows that we
can play," said FSU Coach Mike
Watney, "But well be inconsistent be¬
cause .we're playing with people who
are   just   starting   their   collegiate
Fresno State's top scorer was fresh¬
man Kevin Carissimi, who fired a 223
and finished 22nd overall. Junior
Mike Gambello compiled a 226 for the
Dogs to place second on the team
scoring chart. Freshman Randy Bridge
shot a 229 for the third position.
The 'Dogs, next go into action next
Monday thru Wednesday in the presti¬
gious Southwest Intercollegiate, which
is hosted by Southern California,    r
"When we go to the USC tourna¬
ment, we will be facing the very best in
the nation," said Watney, "It's kind of
like s preview of the NCAA Champion¬
ships."
The tournament will include of 23 of
the nation's top 24 teams and will be
played at the North Ranch Country
Club in Westlake Village, the same
course the NCAA Championships are
scheduled to be played on.