BULLDOGS OFFENSE

The jewel of the 2018 recruiting class — quarterback Marcus McMaryion — has sparkled for the Bulldogs this season. An academic load of up to 18 credits per quarter enabled McMaryion to graduate in three years from Oregon State and transfer (without a redshirt penalty) to Fresno in August. McMaryion’s 2017 scholarship was post-dated a semester, allowing him to count as a 2018 recruit. McMaryion has proven to be a quick learner on the field. After serving as a reliever in the first three games, McMaryion is 8-2 as a starter. He has completed 61.1 percent of his passes, with 14 TDs against four interceptions, including a midseason streak of 149 passes without a pick. McMaryion said OSU and FS have common plays with different terminology. Each FS receiver can align wide, tight or in motion. The Bulldogs can run power schemes with tight ends Kyle Riddering and Jared Rice. They also can play at different tempos. In 324 combined carries this season, running backs Josh Hokit, Jordan Mims and Ronnie Rivers have been tackled 11 times behind the line of scrimmage and lost only one fumble. The offensive line has surrendered a sack every 44.1 pass plays. “I fell into a really good spot where the guys work hard and I’m lucky enough to steer the ship,” McMaryion said.

BULLDOGS DEFENSE

During defensive drills, the feeding frenzy begins with a “doughnut.” The defenders take turns attacking the red tire-shaped object with a 5-foot diameter. “You hit it, you kind of feel it,” inside linebacker Jeffrey Allison said. “It’s a good simulator of players you’re trying to tackle in the game. It teaches you the right technique to tackle.” Allison, who weighs 250 after dropping 25 pounds, has spent the season dropping ball-carriers. He has amassed 113 tackles. “It’s hard on the body,” Allison said. “Playing the whole season, you’re going to take on a lot. It’s a physical game and it’s a long game. You have to fight through it.” Allison is backed by a secondary that usually is in a two-deep zone. Edge defenders Robert Stanley and Tabenna Okeke are effective in bracketing offenses with power rushes. Malik Forrester is a bruiser at the point, but his partner in grime — Nathan Madsen — appears to have incurred a season-ending injury. On 183 third-down plays, the Bulldogs have yielded 1.18 yards per rush and two TDs.

BULLDOGS SPECIAL TEAMS

After serving as a kickoff specialist last year, Jimmy Camacho won the place-kicking competition. In 2015, according to reports, Camacho faced a larger battle when he was diagnosed with a germ-cell cancer. He underwent radiation treatment, which often left him fatigued. He eventually regained the strength. This year, he has converted at least one field goal in every regular-season game. His lone miss was in the Mountain West championship game. Two former walk-ons — punter/holder Blake Cusick and kickoff returner Dejonte O’Neal — are key members of the specialty units.

COUGARS OFFENSE

’Twas the night before Christmas two years ago when quarterback D’Eriq King, who had backed off a pledge to TCU, committed to the Cougars. “It’s kind of like my anniversary,” said King, who was raised in a town 20 miles outside of downtown Houston. In his two seasons at Houston, he has shuffled between receiver and quarterback. This year, King missed the first two games because of an injury, but played the past nine. He will make his fourth consecutive start at quarterback. “He grasps things well,” head coach Major Applewhite said. “He wants to learn the ‘why’ of what you’re doing, and just wants to compete.” The offense is a blend of spread and run-pass option. In three starts, King is a blend of elusiveness (7.62 yards per non-sack rush) and explosiveness (15.4 yards per completion). King stretches defenses with a powerful arm that can launch passes up to 70 yards off a five-step drop. “I’ve been a quarterback my whole life,” King said. “I’ve been throwing since I was little. It’s kind of natural.” King has completed 69.8 percent of his passes. The three Cougar QBs have combined for 70.1-percent accuracy, fourth best in the country. King also is the team’s third-leading receiver (29 receptions), trailing Linell Bonner (73 catches) and Steven Dunbar (66).

COUGARS DEFENSE

The Cougars set up in a three-man front. And while Ed Oliver, the 2017 Outland Trophy winner as the nation’s top lineman, is in the middle, he is not always at nose. Oliver can align in any of the four gaps. He is particularly menacing across the center, where he often has the advantage in quickness and strength in one-on-one battles. “He can do anything up front,” said line coach A.J. Blum, who also coached Oliver at Westfield High. Oliver, who dunked a basketball when he was 14 and benched nearly 400 pounds at Westfield, said: “I have a long way to go. But I’m working at it every day.” The Cougars’ defensive goal is simple math. “If our three guys can take the responsibility of the five offensive linemen, then we’ve done our job,” Blum said, noting that opens the way for pass rushers to face single blocks. The reverse tactic is for the outside linebackers to crash down, boxing the pass pocket for the three down linemen. Safeties Terrell Williams and Garrett Davis often play a deep zone with a forward attitude, sprinting toward receivers running underneath routes. “In practice, we work on coming down,” said Williams, who is tied for the team lead with four picks. “I take pride in catching the ball. If it’s thrown to me, I’m going to catch it.”

COUGARS SPECIAL TEAMS

It’s no surprise punter Dane Roy has a cool demeanor. He used to be an ice-cream salesman in Australia. That’s also where he played Australian rules football and refined his punting at ProKick Australia. Roy has punted a football 79 yards, and is capable of a 5.40-second hang time. But he also can skip punts past returners off rugby-styled rollouts. “It’s all due to the trajectory of the ball,” Roy said. Placekicker Kaden Novikoff has converted eight field goals in a row dating to third game of the season.