The Fresno State Bulldogs exploded for four touchdowns in about a nine minute span of the first half and rolled past the Wyoming Cowboys 42-14 Saturday night in Fresno, California. Derek Carr threw three touchdown passes in the first half, and the Bulldogs added a 78-yard punt return for a score and a 14-yard t-d run on a reverse for 35-0 lead at halftime.

Fresno State (5-3, 3-1) out-gained the Cowboys 298-to-84 in total yards on offense in the first half. After a punt on their opening drive, they found the end zone on three of their next four offensive possessions. Carr hooked up with Rashad Evans for a 6-yard t-d pass at the 8:20 mark of the first quarter. Then Evans burst right past the Pokes for the 78-yard punt return. Carr then found Victor Dean for an 19-yard scoring strike. The flurry was finished off by Isaiah Burse on a 14-yard reverse for a touchdown that put the Bulldogs up 28-0 with 14:32 left in the second quarter.

Fresno State added a Carr to Davante Adams 11-yard touchdown pass just before half for the 35-0 lead.

Wyoming (1-6, 0-3) forced two turnovers, faked a punt and went for it on another fourth and short, but came up empty in the first half.

The Bulldogs finished with 394 yards of total offense. Carr went 32-of-48 for 268 yards and the 3 scoring strikes. Adams had 11 catches for 86 yards and a score. Robbie Rouse added 91 yards rushing.

The Cowboys finally got on the board as Brett Smith found Riley Lange for a 6-yard touchdown pass with 44 seconds left in the third quarter. Smith's second t-d toss came with 2:41 left. It was another 6-yard pass, this time to Dominic Rufran.

Fresno State's only score in the second half was a Phillip Thomas interception returned 20 yards for a touchdown with 7:24 remaining in the game.

UW was held to 253 total yards. Smith threw for 158 yards, the two t-d's and the one pick. Freshmen Jason Thompson also rotated in at quarterback. He threw for just 12 yards and was intercepted once. Ghaali Muhammad led the Cowboy defense with 14 total tackles, including one for loss. He also forced a fumble and a pass break-up.

The Pokes return home to host nationally-ranked Boise State next Saturday, October 27 at War Memorial Stadium. Kick-off is at 1:30 pm. You can listen to Cowboy football on KOWB (AM 1290), with coverage beginning at 10:30 am.

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