FRESNO, Calif. » While departing through a red sea of supporters, Fresno State players began to bark.
Bulldogs fans soon joined, helping to raise the woofs.
If every dog has its day, then Saturday belonged to the Bulldogs, who dominated in a 45-10 rout of Hawaii before 30,755 at Bulldog Stadium.
"It was a good win," said Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr, who completed 15 of 23 passes for 304 yards and four touchdowns in one half of play.
The Bulldogs remained unbeaten at home in five games while improving to 7-3 overall and 5-1 in the Mountain West Conference.
After his team scored the first 28 points and then built the cushion to 42-3 at the intermission, Fresno State coach Tim DeRuyter decided to call off the ‘Dogs. He played the reserve ball-handlers in the second half.
"We were up 42-3, (and) we just wanted to get through this game," DeRuyter said. "We needed to develop our depth. We thought this was a good opportunity to do that."
The Warriors, meanwhile, were reaching different sorts of depths. The Warriors (1-7) suffered their sixth consecutive loss. They are winless against FBS opponents and in five Mountain West games.
Embattled quarterback Sean Schroeder suffered several aches after being struck numerous times. Two of his five sacks resulted in lost fumbles.
The Warriors might have lost even more after their best playmaker — cornerback Mike Edwards — suffered an injury to his left shoulder during a kickoff return. It was the same shoulder that required surgery in January.
"I’ll wait until Monday to see what’s going on," said Edwards, who is expected to have an MRI.
Defensive coordinator Thom Kaumeyer said: "He’s a tough kid. He’ll go until he can’t."
The Warriors are hopeful the growing pains eventually will lead to on-field rewards.
"Our day will come," Schroeder said. "I know the fans are getting impatient, but our day will come. I know everyone has confidence in each other. We’re going to get this job done. … We’re obviously having a tough season, but there’s no finger-pointing. On many teams … there are people throwing people under the bus. Not here. We’re all in it together."
For now, it is the Bulldogs, under DeRuyter and offensive coordinator Dave Schramm, who can do little wrong.
"Schramm put together a nice offensive scheme," Kaumeyer said. "If you take away the pass, they’ll run the ball. If you try to load the box, they’ll throw it."
Schramm decided to set the tone by calling four consecutive running plays, including an unsuccessful fourth-down rush, on the Bulldogs’ first series. That encouraged the Warriors to move up their defense and, on the next series, opened the passing lanes for the Bulldogs.
On third and 6 from their own 36, Carr launched a high pass downfield. Isaiah Burse out-jumped UH safety Marrell Jackson for the 56-yard gain. On the next play, Carr threw 8 yards to Rashad Evans for the touchdown.
Of Burse’s jump-ball catch, Kaumeyer said: "Marrell makes that play nine out of 10 times."
Jackson offered this explanation: "I felt I misjudged the ball, and (Burse) went over my head and took it. He had better judgment than me. He pushed off, but I’m not going to complain. It’s football. If the ref didn’t call it, it’s not a penalty. I’ll leave it at that. Things happen."
On the Bulldogs’ next possession, running back Robbie Rouse took the direct snap and handed off to receiver Dillon Root, who was running a fly sweep to the right. Root pitched back to Carr, who then threw back to a wide-open Root. Root sprinted 47 yards for the touchdown.
Carr said the play has several names. On Saturday, it was called "Lobo" because "we were supposed to use it last week" against New Mexico.
Later, Rouse scored on a 51-yard dash up the middle. Carr also threw scoring passes of 45 yards to Davante Adams and 31 yards to Burse. Those three scores were on third-down plays.
"We got beat by a very good football team," UH coach Norm Chow said. "I thought Derek Carr was unbelievable. The receivers are good. They have a great scheme. They know how to attack us. They had guys wide open. And they made the plays."
Carr is admittedly a reluctant scrambler. Even behind the minimum five pass-blockers, Carr can escape danger with a quick release.
"He can spin that ball," Kaumeyer said. "It’s hard to get pressure on him."
Carr’s older brother, David Carr, was an overall No. 1 NFL Draft pick. Chow believes Derek Carr is just as good.
"He’s probably a first-round draft pick," Chow said. "In fact, I told him right after the game, if he decides to come out (for the draft), I have a good agent for him. That’s me."
Rouse, who is 5-foot-7 and 190 pounds, is quick and fearless. More than half of his 13 carries were between the tackles; he finished with 102 yards. He also had no negative-yard rushes. On a third-down run, he appeared to be 2 yards shy of the first-down marker. While in defensive end Tavita Woodard’s grasp, Rouse spun, and then stretched for the first down.
"Unfortunately for defenses, you really have to wrap him,:" Kaumeyer said of Rouse. "We would hit him in the backfield, and he kept going for another 3, 4 yards. Good backs can go forward. He’s a leaner."
UH defensive end Paipai Falemalu said Rouse is a "shifty running back. He has a low center of gravity. He’s not the biggest guy, but I feel he’s one of the better running backs. He doesn’t take his size and pout about it. He goes full speed."
Rouse once considered a UH scholarship offer. Back then as was on Saturday, Rouse eluded the Warriors.
The Warriors still are seeking answers.
"We changed the way we warmed up," Chow said. "We changed the way we left the hotel. We did the haka inside (instead of on the field). We weren’t trying to impress anyone with that. We got beat by a better team. Why not give the other team credit as well? I’m not panicking. We’re not flinching. We’re going to keep fighting."