Where Are They Now? Bulldogs in the background
| Tuesday, Dec 22 2009 06:21 PM
Last Updated Tuesday, Dec 22 2009 11:35 PM
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Fresno State's A.J. Jefferson, left, a West High grad, and Phillip Thomas, a former BHS standout, were key members of the Bulldogs' defensive backfield.
Fresno State's football roster features many of the best Kern County has to offer. None more impressive than West High graduate Ryan Mathews, who appears set to enter the NFL draft.
But somewhere lost in Mathews numbers there are two other local products who provided several highlights for the Bulldogs this season.
Defensive backs Phillip Thomas, a redshirt freshman from Bakersfield High, and one of Mathews former high school teammates, senior A.J. Jefferson have quietly had solid seasons.
Thomas' biggest plays have come in Fresno State's last two games. He returned an interception 21 yards for a score in a victory over Illinois and then blocked a kick in a 35-28 loss to Wyoming in the New Mexico Bowl.
For the season, Thomas -- who led the Drillers to the Section Div. I title as a fill-in quarterback in 2005 -- had a team-high two interceptions and 30 tackles. He also had three pass deflections and 1.5 tackles for a loss.
Jefferson did much of his damage on special teams for the Bulldogs. He had a 49-yard punt, 23-yard kickoff return and a solo tackle in Saturday's loss. He finished the year with 36 tackles, a forced fumble and four pass deflections to go along with 602 all-purpose yards as a return specialist.
Football
Ryan Mathews (West), RB, Fresno State -- Junior rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries in his final college football game, a 35-28 loss to Wyoming in the New Mexico Bowl. For the season, he finished with 1,808 yards and 19 TDs, leading the nation in rushing yards per game with 150.7. Mathews announced Monday that he will forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft.
Mathews ran for 3,280 yards and 39 touchdowns in three years at Fresno State.
Men's basketball
Charles Anderson (BHS), G, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo -- Senior is averaging 2.5 points and 1.6 rebounds in 10 games for the Mustangs.
Nick Jensen (Centennial), F, Utah Valley State -- Freshman has six points and 13 rebounds in 10 games this season.
Taylor Kelly (Centennial), G, Fresno State -- Redshirt freshman is 0-for-3 from the field, all beyond the 3-point arc, in two games with the Bulldogs this season.
Cesar Menjivar (East), G, Cal Baptist -- Junior was 2-for-3 from 3-point range and finished with six points, a rebound, an assist and a steal in a 67-57 victory over Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday.
Tim Shelton (BHS), G, San Diego State -- Sophomore had an assist in seven minutes of play in a loss to Arizona State on Saturday.
Women's basketball
Ashlee Stewart (Stockdale), G, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo -- Senior had four points, two assists, a rebound and a block in an 80-63 loss to Loyola Marymount on Saturday. She had 11 points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal in a 66-59 win over Eastern Washington on Wednesday.
Cheyenne Wallace (Stockdale), F, Concordia -- Junior was just 1-for-7 from the field for two points, but added seven rebounds, five blocks, an assist and a steal in Friday's 64-53 loss to Lewis College.
Women's hockey
Kristie Kehoe (Liberty), F, Northeastern -- Junior will help make history Jan. 8 when she plays in the first outdoor women's college hockey game. Northeastern will face New Hampshire in a doubleheader at Fenway Park in Boston that will also feature the men's teams from Boston College and Boston University.
The Huskies last played Dec. 4 and are off until Jan. 1. Kehoe has 13 points (7 goals, 6 assists) in 16 games this season.
