Derek Carr’s record performance helps Fresno State rout New Mexico

From a pregame ceremony honoring Derek Carr and the rest of the senior class to a record-setting offensive performance that led to a division championship, it was a celebratory day for No. 15-ranked Fresno State.

Carr threw for 527 yards and a school-record seven touchdowns in his final regular-season home game to help the Bulldogs clinch a spot in the Mountain West Conference title game with a 69-28 victory over New Mexico on Saturday.

“I couldn’t have scripted it better,” Carr said. “It was fun.”

Davante Adams had nine catches for 246 yards and four touchdowns and Josh Harper had 10 receptions for 161 and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs (10-0 overall, 7-0 Mountain West play) gained a school-record 820 yards and clinched first place in the West Division. The Bulldogs will likely play host to the conference championship game Dec. 7 as long as they remain ahead of the Mountain Division winner in the BCS standings.

The Lobos (3-8, 1-6) lost their 15th consecutive game against a ranked opponent as they struggled on offense without injured quarterback Cole Gautsche and running back Kasey Carrier and had no defensive answer to stop Carr and the Bulldogs’ bevy of playmakers.

“It was just the perfect storm of our offense really could not control the clock,” Coach Bob Davie said. “You keep putting anybody out there against that quarterback and those receivers, it’s just a matter of time. Whoever Fresno plays, if the other team can’t control the ball, they’re going to have a hard time matching up.”

Fresno State scored touchdowns on five of its first six possessions to turn senior day into a daylong celebration that started with a ceremony for the departing players and ended with a division championship as the Bulldogs opened 10-0 for the first time since 1989.

Carr threw two 59-yard touchdown passes in the third quarter to give him 100 for his career. The first went to Adams and the second to Harper. That made Carr the 18th player in FBS history with at least 100 career touchdown passes and 10,000 yards passing.

“He’s as good as there is in the country,” Coach Tim DeRuyter said. “That’s why I think it’s very well-deserved that he should be in the Heisman discussion. He’s led us to a 10-0 record which is the most important thing for a quarterback. Statistically he’s got to be up there with anybody in the country.”

Carr connected once more with each Adams and Harper in the third quarter to set the school single-game mark for touchdown passes. The previous record was held by his brother, David, and Bill Yancy.

“Nothing really amazes me at this point with him,” Adams said. “I’m so used to him making crazy plays and having numbers like this in the game. It’s kind of the norm.”

The victory kept Fresno State in the running for a possible Bowl Championship Series berth if the Bulldogs can beat San Jose State next week and then win the conference title game. Fresno State is 15th in the BCS standings. If the Bulldogs remain in the top 16 they will play in a BCS game.