Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, October 8
Reno, Nev.
4 P.M. PT
Fresno State
1-5 , 0-2
22
at
27
Nevada
3-3 , 1-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Fresno State
6
0
7
9
22
Nevada
7
14
0
6
27
Photo by: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports
‘Dogs drop nail-biter in Reno, 27-22
10/8/2016 9:53:00 PM | Football
Box ScoreGame Stats vs. Nevada (PDF)Photo GalleryHead Coach Tim DeRuyter Postgame InterviewRB Dontel James Postgame InterviewDB Stratton Brown Postgame InterviewWR Jamire Jordan Postgame Interview
Fresno State returns home on Oct. 14, looking to reclaim the Old Oil Can against San Diego State on Homecoming
RENO, Nev. – A career night of 169 yards on the ground from junior running back Dontel James was not enough for Fresno State as Nevada held on to a 27-22 lead with a defensive stand in the final minute of play, Saturday night at Mackay Stadium.
James' 169 yards (27 carries) were the most single game rushing yards by a Bulldog since Robbie Rouse ran for 261 yards at Nevada on Nov. 10, 2012. It was the junior's second 100-yard rushing game this season.
On the Bulldogs' first play from scrimmage, James started his career night by breaking off the longest run of his career, a 34-yard burst down the left side of the field. That started a 9-play, 59-yard drive that resulted in a 44-yard field goal by Kody Kroening.
Aided by Fresno State miscues, a sack turned personal foul, and a 19-yard gain on 3rd-and-20 followed by a 4th-and-1 conversion, Nevada answered the Bulldogs' score with a touchdown to take its first lead, 7-3. The scoring play came via a backward pass from quarterback Tyler Stewert to wide receiver Andrew Celis, Celis then threw downfield to Wyatt Demps for a 36-yard touchdown.
The Bulldogs responded the very next possession with a drive that Kroening capped for the 'Dogs, making it a 7-6 game at the end of the first quarter with a 25-yard field goal. The junior's first quarter field goals were his eighth and ninth consecutive makes this season.
Despite allowing a 14-yard drive to the Wolf Pack to open the second, Fresno State's special teams unit came up big as Malik Forrester blocked Brent Zuzo's 24-yard field goal attempt. Zach Kline, who saw action for the third time this season, fumbled three plays later and Nevada turned it into points with a 4-yard touchdown run from Stewart. Nevada scored again to close the second as Stewart found Demps for a 3-yard touchdown pass to take a 21-6 lead into the half.
The Bulldogs narrowed Nevada's lead to a one score game with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter as they capitalized on a 15-play drive. A drive that Virgil found Jared Rice on a 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line for the score. It was Rice's first career catch and touchdown.
Two plays later, a forced fumble by Stratton Brown and recovery by Nick Kristofors led to Kroening's third field goal of the night to close the gap to 21-16.
Nevada answered with a 14-play scoring drive to take a 27-16 advantage, with nine plays coming from James Butler on the ground, with 7:56 to play.
The Bulldogs would not go quietly. Virgil engineered a 75-yard drive that James finished off with this first TD of the night to bring the score to 27-22 in Nevada's favor with 5:08 left in the game. The Fresno State defense held tough, forcing a three-and-out, and gave the offense one final shot for the come-from-behind win.
With less than three minutes on the clock, the Bulldogs pushed the ball down to as far as Nevada's 4-yard line, but the 'Dogs were unable to get the ball into the end zone on four passing plays that fell incomplete.
Key Stat
In the second quarter, Fresno State fumbled twice and punted once on their three possessions, while Nevada scored two touchdowns on its three possessions. The Wolf Pack outgained the Bulldogs 175-75 in that frame.
Quotable
Head coach Tim DeRuyter on the final series of the game…
"We only had one timeout left. Once we got the first down, the clock was running and we thought we had a good matchup with Aaron (Peck), so we threw the fade. At that point we probably could have run the ball, but we thought we had some plays that we practiced all week down there in the red zone and we just didn't execute. Give Nevada credit, their kid knocked the ball out of Aaron's hand and they executed in the red zone better than we did."
Head coach Tim DeRuyter on the defense forcing a 3-and-out to give the offense a chance to win it…
"I was proud of our effort. We bowed up when we had to in the four-minute drill and made them punt. The offense took the ball down and we were four yards short."
Head coach Tim DeRuyter when asked about the big picture at this point and team's mindset…
"I don't believe anyone is worried about the big picture. Everybody is hurting for this game, but I know this group, I challenged them that we have San Diego State next week, back home at Bulldog Stadium, and those guys are excited to get back home and get back in this race."
Running back Dontel James on tonight's game and moving forward…
"There were more holes being opened up and I was just trying to help the team win. We're going to have to come to practice and work harder, do everything right, and execute at practice so when it's game-time, we just execute and play fast."
Safety Stratton Brown on what the team needs to do now…
"We have to make plays. Coaches coach, players play. They put us in right positions. We have to make plays. Our coaches coach us right all week and we just didn't fit it right."
Notables
Pregame
• Fresno State won the toss and elected to defer. Nevada started with the ball.
• Fresno State has won the coin toss in all but one game this season.
• Team captains: Jeff Camilli, Tyquwan Glass, Aaron Peck and Chason Virgil.
First Quarter
• The first offensive play for the 'Dogs was a Dontel James' rush. It went for a career-long 34 yards.
• Kody Kroening connected for his eighth straight field goal to give the 'Dogs a 3-0 lead (44 yards).
- Four of his last six attempts have been more than 42 yards.
• Fresno State scored for the first time since its win vs. Sacramento State.
• A horse collar on 3-and-10 that would have been a Bailey sack extended the Wolf Pack drive – turned into a scoring drive.
- Nevada gains 19 (pass) on 3rd-and-20 and converted 4th-and-1 from the FS44 with a 2-yard rush.
- Scored on a WR pass.
• After a pass interference call in the end zone on Aaron Peck that put the ball on the 3-yard line: rush (no gain), false start, pass (inc), pass (inc) - set up a 25-yard Kroening field goal as time expires on the 1st quarter.
• Fresno State outgains Nevada 106-103 in the first quarter. Dontel James had 60 yards on the ground.
Second Quarter
• Malik Forrester blocked a field goal that set the 'Dogs up at the Nevada 20. Three plays later Kline was stripped from behind on a QB scramble.
• The blocked kick halted a run of consecutive red zone scores by opponents
• An Aaron Peck holding penalty negated a Jamire Jordan 75-yard passing score at the 4:22 mark.
• Dontel James carried the ball 13 times for 112 yards in the first half. His career-high is 127, set vs. Sac State (9/10).
• Nevada outgained Fresno State 175-75 in the second quarter.
Third Quarter
• Chason Virgil returned to the game after Zach Kline made his third appearance of the season.
• KeeSean Johnson was pivotal in a touchdown drive that brought Fresno State within eight with 1:26 left in the third.
- 10 yard fake punt rush (4th-7)
- 15-yard first down (2nd-14)
- 33-yard first down (3rd-15)
- The 15-play drive matched the longest scoring drive (by plays) for the Bulldogs this season.
- Jared Rice caught his first career touchdown that also happened to be his first career catch.
• Stratton Brown forced a fumble and Nick Kristofors recovered it with 0:50 left in 3rd – two plays after Rice's TD.
- Third career forced fumble, first of season
- First career fumble recovery.
• Fresno State has 216 rushing yards through three quarters, a season high ... Bulldogs had 200 against Sacramento State
Fourth Quarter
• Kroening narrowed the gap to 21-16 with his 10th consecutive made field goal.
• The Bulldogs scored 10 unanswered to narrow Wolf Pack Lead to 21-16.
• Fresno State faced 1st-and-goal from the 4-yard line with under one-minute to play in the game and down five points. Failed on four-straight pass attempts.
GAME
• Jeff Camilli hit double-digit tackles for the fourth time this season – he has played in five of six games this year.
• Jeffrey Allison surpassed his season-high of four tackles at Toledo with seven.
• Nick Kristofors posted a career-high in tackles at six (had eight tackles all of 2015).
• Fresno State netted 255 yards rushing; it was the most yards rushing for the Bulldogs since the team registered 389 on the ground on Sept. 20, 2013 (Southern Utah).
• Chason Virgil was 16-of-27 (59 percent), his top throwing percentage of the season.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – Season tickets, mini plans and single-game tickets for the 2016 Fresno State football season are now on sale at GoBulldogs.com or by calling 559-278-3647. 940 AM ESPN Radio and 1600 AM ESPN Deportes is the official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs.
Follow us on:
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James' 169 yards (27 carries) were the most single game rushing yards by a Bulldog since Robbie Rouse ran for 261 yards at Nevada on Nov. 10, 2012. It was the junior's second 100-yard rushing game this season.
On the Bulldogs' first play from scrimmage, James started his career night by breaking off the longest run of his career, a 34-yard burst down the left side of the field. That started a 9-play, 59-yard drive that resulted in a 44-yard field goal by Kody Kroening.
Aided by Fresno State miscues, a sack turned personal foul, and a 19-yard gain on 3rd-and-20 followed by a 4th-and-1 conversion, Nevada answered the Bulldogs' score with a touchdown to take its first lead, 7-3. The scoring play came via a backward pass from quarterback Tyler Stewert to wide receiver Andrew Celis, Celis then threw downfield to Wyatt Demps for a 36-yard touchdown.
The Bulldogs responded the very next possession with a drive that Kroening capped for the 'Dogs, making it a 7-6 game at the end of the first quarter with a 25-yard field goal. The junior's first quarter field goals were his eighth and ninth consecutive makes this season.
Despite allowing a 14-yard drive to the Wolf Pack to open the second, Fresno State's special teams unit came up big as Malik Forrester blocked Brent Zuzo's 24-yard field goal attempt. Zach Kline, who saw action for the third time this season, fumbled three plays later and Nevada turned it into points with a 4-yard touchdown run from Stewart. Nevada scored again to close the second as Stewart found Demps for a 3-yard touchdown pass to take a 21-6 lead into the half.
The Bulldogs narrowed Nevada's lead to a one score game with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter as they capitalized on a 15-play drive. A drive that Virgil found Jared Rice on a 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line for the score. It was Rice's first career catch and touchdown.
Two plays later, a forced fumble by Stratton Brown and recovery by Nick Kristofors led to Kroening's third field goal of the night to close the gap to 21-16.
Nevada answered with a 14-play scoring drive to take a 27-16 advantage, with nine plays coming from James Butler on the ground, with 7:56 to play.
The Bulldogs would not go quietly. Virgil engineered a 75-yard drive that James finished off with this first TD of the night to bring the score to 27-22 in Nevada's favor with 5:08 left in the game. The Fresno State defense held tough, forcing a three-and-out, and gave the offense one final shot for the come-from-behind win.
With less than three minutes on the clock, the Bulldogs pushed the ball down to as far as Nevada's 4-yard line, but the 'Dogs were unable to get the ball into the end zone on four passing plays that fell incomplete.
Key Stat
In the second quarter, Fresno State fumbled twice and punted once on their three possessions, while Nevada scored two touchdowns on its three possessions. The Wolf Pack outgained the Bulldogs 175-75 in that frame.
Quotable
Head coach Tim DeRuyter on the final series of the game…
"We only had one timeout left. Once we got the first down, the clock was running and we thought we had a good matchup with Aaron (Peck), so we threw the fade. At that point we probably could have run the ball, but we thought we had some plays that we practiced all week down there in the red zone and we just didn't execute. Give Nevada credit, their kid knocked the ball out of Aaron's hand and they executed in the red zone better than we did."
Head coach Tim DeRuyter on the defense forcing a 3-and-out to give the offense a chance to win it…
"I was proud of our effort. We bowed up when we had to in the four-minute drill and made them punt. The offense took the ball down and we were four yards short."
Head coach Tim DeRuyter when asked about the big picture at this point and team's mindset…
"I don't believe anyone is worried about the big picture. Everybody is hurting for this game, but I know this group, I challenged them that we have San Diego State next week, back home at Bulldog Stadium, and those guys are excited to get back home and get back in this race."
Running back Dontel James on tonight's game and moving forward…
"There were more holes being opened up and I was just trying to help the team win. We're going to have to come to practice and work harder, do everything right, and execute at practice so when it's game-time, we just execute and play fast."
Safety Stratton Brown on what the team needs to do now…
"We have to make plays. Coaches coach, players play. They put us in right positions. We have to make plays. Our coaches coach us right all week and we just didn't fit it right."
Notables
Pregame
• Fresno State won the toss and elected to defer. Nevada started with the ball.
• Fresno State has won the coin toss in all but one game this season.
• Team captains: Jeff Camilli, Tyquwan Glass, Aaron Peck and Chason Virgil.
First Quarter
• The first offensive play for the 'Dogs was a Dontel James' rush. It went for a career-long 34 yards.
• Kody Kroening connected for his eighth straight field goal to give the 'Dogs a 3-0 lead (44 yards).
- Four of his last six attempts have been more than 42 yards.
• Fresno State scored for the first time since its win vs. Sacramento State.
• A horse collar on 3-and-10 that would have been a Bailey sack extended the Wolf Pack drive – turned into a scoring drive.
- Nevada gains 19 (pass) on 3rd-and-20 and converted 4th-and-1 from the FS44 with a 2-yard rush.
- Scored on a WR pass.
• After a pass interference call in the end zone on Aaron Peck that put the ball on the 3-yard line: rush (no gain), false start, pass (inc), pass (inc) - set up a 25-yard Kroening field goal as time expires on the 1st quarter.
• Fresno State outgains Nevada 106-103 in the first quarter. Dontel James had 60 yards on the ground.
Second Quarter
• Malik Forrester blocked a field goal that set the 'Dogs up at the Nevada 20. Three plays later Kline was stripped from behind on a QB scramble.
• The blocked kick halted a run of consecutive red zone scores by opponents
• An Aaron Peck holding penalty negated a Jamire Jordan 75-yard passing score at the 4:22 mark.
• Dontel James carried the ball 13 times for 112 yards in the first half. His career-high is 127, set vs. Sac State (9/10).
• Nevada outgained Fresno State 175-75 in the second quarter.
Third Quarter
• Chason Virgil returned to the game after Zach Kline made his third appearance of the season.
• KeeSean Johnson was pivotal in a touchdown drive that brought Fresno State within eight with 1:26 left in the third.
- 10 yard fake punt rush (4th-7)
- 15-yard first down (2nd-14)
- 33-yard first down (3rd-15)
- The 15-play drive matched the longest scoring drive (by plays) for the Bulldogs this season.
- Jared Rice caught his first career touchdown that also happened to be his first career catch.
• Stratton Brown forced a fumble and Nick Kristofors recovered it with 0:50 left in 3rd – two plays after Rice's TD.
- Third career forced fumble, first of season
- First career fumble recovery.
• Fresno State has 216 rushing yards through three quarters, a season high ... Bulldogs had 200 against Sacramento State
Fourth Quarter
• Kroening narrowed the gap to 21-16 with his 10th consecutive made field goal.
• The Bulldogs scored 10 unanswered to narrow Wolf Pack Lead to 21-16.
• Fresno State faced 1st-and-goal from the 4-yard line with under one-minute to play in the game and down five points. Failed on four-straight pass attempts.
GAME
• Jeff Camilli hit double-digit tackles for the fourth time this season – he has played in five of six games this year.
• Jeffrey Allison surpassed his season-high of four tackles at Toledo with seven.
• Nick Kristofors posted a career-high in tackles at six (had eight tackles all of 2015).
• Fresno State netted 255 yards rushing; it was the most yards rushing for the Bulldogs since the team registered 389 on the ground on Sept. 20, 2013 (Southern Utah).
• Chason Virgil was 16-of-27 (59 percent), his top throwing percentage of the season.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – Season tickets, mini plans and single-game tickets for the 2016 Fresno State football season are now on sale at GoBulldogs.com or by calling 559-278-3647. 940 AM ESPN Radio and 1600 AM ESPN Deportes is the official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateFB
Instagram: Fresno_State_Football
Facebook: FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat: FSAthletics
Team Stats
FS
NEV
Total Yards
452
389
Pass Yards
197
163
Rushing Yards
255
226
Penalty Yards
57
35
1st Downs
25
23
3rd Downs
6
4
4th Downs
2
3
TOP
32:08
27:52
1st Quarter
FS 3, NEV 0
FS - KROENING, Kody 44 yd field goal 9 plays, 59 yards, TOP 3:11
FS 3, NEV 7
NEV - DEMPS, Wyatt 36 yd pass from CELIS, Andrew (ZUZO, Brent kick) 10 plays, 82 yards, TOP 4:20
FS 6, NEV 7
FS - KROENING, Kody 25 yd field goal 11 plays, 57 yards, TOP 4:48
2nd Quarter
FS 6, NEV 14
NEV - STEWART, Tyler 4 yd run (ZUZO, Brent kick), 10 plays, 44 yards, TOP 3:33
FS 6, NEV 21
NEV - DEMPS, Wyatt 3 yd pass from STEWART, Tyler (ZUZO, Brent kick) 9 plays, 84 yards, TOP 1:21
3rd Quarter
FS 13, NEV 21
FS - RICE, Jared 1 yd pass from VIRGIL, Chason (KROENING, Kody kick) 15 plays, 65 yards, TOP 8:13
4th Quarter
FS 16, NEV 21
FS - KROENING, Kody 35 yd field goal 5 plays, 25 yards, TOP 2:13
FS 16, NEV 27
NEV - DEMPS, Wyatt 8 yd pass from STEWART, Tyler (ZUZO, Brent kickfailed) 14 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:41
FS 22, NEV 27
FS - JAMES, Dontel 5 yd run (VIRGIL, Chason passfailed), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:48
Game Leaders
CMP
16
TD
1
YDS
197
INT
0
CMP
0
TD
0
YDS
0
INT
0
Players Mentioned
LB
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DB
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ILB
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DL
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DB
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RB
/ Football
WR
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WR
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DL
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K
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TE
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WR
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TE
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/ FootballFB Weekly Press Conference [11/3]
Monday, November 03
FB highlight at Boise State [11/1/25]
Monday, November 03
Post-Game Press Conference [11/1]
Saturday, November 01
Instant Highlights: Fresno State 30, Boise State 7
Saturday, November 01