Fresno State Athletics
Friday, November 15
San Diego, CA
6:30 PM PT
Fresno State
4-6 , 2-4
7
at
17
San Diego State
8-2 , 5-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Fresno State
7
0
0
0
7
San Diego State
7
3
0
7
17
Fresno State falls 17-7 at San Diego State
11/15/2019 11:00:00 PM | Football
SAN DIEGO – Held to a season-low 206 yards of offense, Fresno State fell 17-7 to San Diego State on Friday night at SDCCU Stadium.
Fresno State managed 13 first downs and was held to 3-of-12 on third downs against the Mountain West's top defensive unit. The home team used an uncharacteristic offensive assault of 323 yards passing in addition to 102 in the ground game as they outgained the Bulldogs by 219 yards.
Jorge Reyna was held to 136 yards on 14-of-26 passing, and was intercepted a season-high three times. Ronnie Rivers led the 'Dogs on the ground with 47 yards on 15 carries. Arron Mosby and Justin Rice registered a game-high 11 tackles apiece.
How It Happened
Fresno State scored Friday night's first points, sparked by a fourth-down stop by the defense that turned the ball over on downs to the Bulldogs at their own 29-yard line. Evan Williams stopped Keagun Williams just short on a fourth-and-3 to halt their drive. Starting their second drive of the game at the 9:31 mark, Reyna connected with Zane Pope on a short out route that the wideout turned into a 53-yard gain down to the SDSU 16-yard line. Three plays later, Rivers punched in the game's opening score from three yards out to complete a drive that lasted just two minutes, 25 seconds.
After being pinned at their own three-yard line with just over four minutes remaining in the first quarter, the Bulldogs were unable to get anything going, and on third-and-9, Reyna was picked off by Tariq Thompson at the Bulldogs' 22-yard line. Two plays later, San Diego State tied the game, 7-7, with 2:39 remaining in the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, with the ball sitting at midfield, Fresno State fell short of converting a fourth-and-1, as Reyna bootlegged to his right, not being able to get the edge. SDSU answered the turnover on downs with an eight-play, 45-yard scoring drive that ended with a field goal. What was once believed a touchdown pass on third-and-goal from the 5-yard line, was turned over after a review, and resulted in a 22-yard field goal from Matt Araiza.
With 1:42 left in the half, the Aztecs got the ball back and threatened to score again, but Ricky McCoy single-handedly kept the Bulldogs' deficit at three, 10-7, heading into the locker room. The senior defensive tackle blocked Araiza's 42-yard field goal attempt with six seconds left.
Despite both teams going on extended drives in the third quarter, neither could find the end zone. The Aztecs, though, found their rhythm toward the end of the third, running a 10-play, 72-yard drive that started with 2:59 left in third and was capped by a 2-yard pass on third-and goal at the 13:14 mark in the fourth quarter. Fresno State got its offense going on the ensuing possession, and found itself with a first-and-goal from the 4-yard line, but a holding penalty backed the 'Dogs up 10 yards and they could not recover from it. Three plays later, Reyna threw his third interception of the night on third-and-goal from the 13-yard line. SDSU would bleed nearly eight minutes off the clock during a 13-play drive to close out the game.
Notable
Jeff Tedford, Fresno State head coach
Opening statement…
"We got beat by a better team tonight. San Diego State played very well, they executed and they played a lot better. You have to give them credit. They played really well on defense and they are a really good football team. We couldn't get anything established in the run game and we had a lot of pressure on the passer all night long. The guys played hard, but it just wasn't enough to win."
On offensive line injuries…
"It was a struggle today, no doubt. [Alex] Akingbulu went down early, we were going back and forth in the center, but that's football. Everybody goes through that, but it's a tough opponent for young people to play against because it is so many moving parts. [San Diego State] is number one in the conference for a reason. When you have young guys, you learn under fire. Our guys competed hard. I thought Jorge [Reyna] competed really hard and made some plays with his legs. We just couldn't do enough to get it done."
On the rest of the season…
"There are still things to play for. We will get back home, get back and compete. I have no doubt that our kids will compete. They compete hard every single day, but sometimes it doesn't work out our way. I have no doubt that we will respond by coming back, having a great week of practice and competing for the next game. That's going to be the goal."
Up Next
Fresno State will return home on Nov. 23 to host Nevada on Senior Day. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. PT and broadcast ESPN2.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateFB
Instagram: Fresno_State_Football
Facebook: FresnoStateAthletics
Fresno State managed 13 first downs and was held to 3-of-12 on third downs against the Mountain West's top defensive unit. The home team used an uncharacteristic offensive assault of 323 yards passing in addition to 102 in the ground game as they outgained the Bulldogs by 219 yards.
Jorge Reyna was held to 136 yards on 14-of-26 passing, and was intercepted a season-high three times. Ronnie Rivers led the 'Dogs on the ground with 47 yards on 15 carries. Arron Mosby and Justin Rice registered a game-high 11 tackles apiece.
How It Happened
Fresno State scored Friday night's first points, sparked by a fourth-down stop by the defense that turned the ball over on downs to the Bulldogs at their own 29-yard line. Evan Williams stopped Keagun Williams just short on a fourth-and-3 to halt their drive. Starting their second drive of the game at the 9:31 mark, Reyna connected with Zane Pope on a short out route that the wideout turned into a 53-yard gain down to the SDSU 16-yard line. Three plays later, Rivers punched in the game's opening score from three yards out to complete a drive that lasted just two minutes, 25 seconds.
After being pinned at their own three-yard line with just over four minutes remaining in the first quarter, the Bulldogs were unable to get anything going, and on third-and-9, Reyna was picked off by Tariq Thompson at the Bulldogs' 22-yard line. Two plays later, San Diego State tied the game, 7-7, with 2:39 remaining in the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, with the ball sitting at midfield, Fresno State fell short of converting a fourth-and-1, as Reyna bootlegged to his right, not being able to get the edge. SDSU answered the turnover on downs with an eight-play, 45-yard scoring drive that ended with a field goal. What was once believed a touchdown pass on third-and-goal from the 5-yard line, was turned over after a review, and resulted in a 22-yard field goal from Matt Araiza.
With 1:42 left in the half, the Aztecs got the ball back and threatened to score again, but Ricky McCoy single-handedly kept the Bulldogs' deficit at three, 10-7, heading into the locker room. The senior defensive tackle blocked Araiza's 42-yard field goal attempt with six seconds left.
Despite both teams going on extended drives in the third quarter, neither could find the end zone. The Aztecs, though, found their rhythm toward the end of the third, running a 10-play, 72-yard drive that started with 2:59 left in third and was capped by a 2-yard pass on third-and goal at the 13:14 mark in the fourth quarter. Fresno State got its offense going on the ensuing possession, and found itself with a first-and-goal from the 4-yard line, but a holding penalty backed the 'Dogs up 10 yards and they could not recover from it. Three plays later, Reyna threw his third interception of the night on third-and-goal from the 13-yard line. SDSU would bleed nearly eight minutes off the clock during a 13-play drive to close out the game.
Notable
- Fresno State's 206 yards total offense was the lowest under Jeff Tedford, and the lowest since facing Utah State at home on Oct. 10, 2015.
- Scoring 30-plus points in four-straight games, Fresno State's streak came to a halt. Its seven points was the lowest since being shut out by Colorado State on Nov. 5, 2016.
- Fresno State committed three turnovers. The Bulldogs had not surrendered three turnovers in a game since its season-opener on Aug. 31 at USC.
- The Bulldogs forced San Diego State into multiple turnovers (2) for the first time this season.
- The Bulldogs forced San Diego State to fumble for the first time this season.
- Fresno State held San Diego State to 0-of-2 on fourth downs. Over the last three games, opponents are 1-of-7.
- Starting 41 different players this season, Fresno State entered the game tied for seventh in the FBS in that category. The number rose on Friday to 43 as tight end Jared Torres and defensive end Kwami Jones saw their first starts this season.
- Ronnie Rivers extended his scoring streak to six-straight games.
- Jorge Reyna tossed his first interception since Oct. 26 in the first quarter. He had 56-straight attempts until being intercepted on Friday.
- Chris Gaston recorded his first career interception in the first quarter.
- Arron Mosby had a career-high 11 tackles.
- The winner of the annual Fresno State-San Diego State game has gone on to represent the West Division in the Mountain West Championship game since the inception of the title game in 2013. No other team in the West Division has participated in the MW title game
Jeff Tedford, Fresno State head coach
Opening statement…
"We got beat by a better team tonight. San Diego State played very well, they executed and they played a lot better. You have to give them credit. They played really well on defense and they are a really good football team. We couldn't get anything established in the run game and we had a lot of pressure on the passer all night long. The guys played hard, but it just wasn't enough to win."
On offensive line injuries…
"It was a struggle today, no doubt. [Alex] Akingbulu went down early, we were going back and forth in the center, but that's football. Everybody goes through that, but it's a tough opponent for young people to play against because it is so many moving parts. [San Diego State] is number one in the conference for a reason. When you have young guys, you learn under fire. Our guys competed hard. I thought Jorge [Reyna] competed really hard and made some plays with his legs. We just couldn't do enough to get it done."
On the rest of the season…
"There are still things to play for. We will get back home, get back and compete. I have no doubt that our kids will compete. They compete hard every single day, but sometimes it doesn't work out our way. I have no doubt that we will respond by coming back, having a great week of practice and competing for the next game. That's going to be the goal."
Up Next
Fresno State will return home on Nov. 23 to host Nevada on Senior Day. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. PT and broadcast ESPN2.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateFB
Instagram: Fresno_State_Football
Facebook: FresnoStateAthletics
Team Stats
FS
SDSU
Total Yards
207
425
Pass Yards
137
323
Rushing Yards
70
102
Penalty Yards
55
50
1st Downs
13
24
3rd Downs
3
9
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
23:55
36:05
1st Quarter
FS 7, SDSU 0
FS - RIVERS, Ronnie 3 yd run (SILVA, Cesar kick), 5 plays, 71 yards, TOP 2:25
FS 7, SDSU 7
SDSU - JASMIN, Chase 2 yd run (ARAIZA, Matt kick), 2 plays, 22 yards, TOP 0:41
2nd Quarter
FS 7, SDSU 10
SDSU - ARAIZA, Matt 22 yd field goal 8 plays, 45 yards, TOP 3:25
4th Quarter
FS 7, SDSU 17
SDSU - JASMIN, Chase 2 yd pass from AGNEW, Ryan (ARAIZA, Matt kick) 10 plays, 72 yards, TOP 4:45
Game Leaders
CMP
14
TD
0
YDS
137
INT
3
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
DL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
DB
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