Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, November 30
San Jose, CA
7:30 PM PT
Fresno State
4-8 , 2-6
16
at
17
San Jose State
5-7 , 2-6
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Fresno State
14
2
0
0
16
San Jose State
3
0
7
7
17
'Dogs surrender Valley Trophy in 17-16 loss to San Jose State
11/30/2019 11:24:00 PM | Football
SAN JOSE, Calif. – The 2019 Fresno State football season came to an end on Saturday night as the Bulldogs fell 17-16 to San Jose State in the battle for the Valley Trophy at CEFCU Stadium. The Spartans scored the final 14 points of the game, including the go-ahead touchdown with 2:11 remaining.
Ronnie Rivers totaled 275 all-purpose yards, the sixth-most in a single game in Fresno State history and 11 shy of his career-best 286, set in the 2018 Las Vegas Bowl - which stands as the fourth-best mark by a Bulldog. The junior rushed for a season-high 177 yards on a career-high 29 carries, while also contributing a career-high eight receptions for 63 yards, and totaled 35 punt return yards. Jorge Reyna threw for 151 yards and a touchdown on 15-of-22 passing in his last game as a Bulldog. Fellow senior Juju Hughes had a team-high nine tackles, seven solo, on the night.
How It Happened
Fresno State found the end zone first, marching 98 yards down the field with 34 yards coming from Rivers on five touches. Jared Rice finished off the drive with a 38-yard touchdown reception from Reyna. The Bulldogs' defense held the Spartans to eight yards on the ensuing possession, forcing a punt that was downed at Fresno State's 39-yard line. On the second play of the Bulldogs' next drive, Rivers broke loose for 55 yards. Two plays later, the junior pushed the Bulldogs' lead to 14-0 less than 10 minutes into the game with a rush from five yards out. Rivers accounted for all 61 yards on the four-play scoring drive.
SJSU answered with its first points of the game four minutes later. The home team settled for a 22-yard field goal, capping a nine-play, 70-yard drive.
Reyna surrendered the games' only interception on the Bulldogs' next drive, turning the ball over to the Spartans at their own eight-yard line. The Spartans made it to the Fresno State 19-yard line before the Bulldogs' defense halted the Spartans for no gain on three straight runs, which included a 4th-and-1 stop. The 'Dogs flipped the field, gaining 43 yards, but were ultimately forced to punt. Downing their punt at the Spartans' nine-yard line, the defense took advantage as Justin Rice sacked Josh Love in the end zone on third-and-9 for two points to give the 'Dogs a 16-3 lead with 5:27 remaining in the half.
With under three minutes to go in the first half, Rivers gave the Bulldogs a spark on offense with a 35-yard punt return to give the Bulldogs starting field position at the Spartans' 20-yard line. Five plays into the drive, Ja. Rice was stopped at the one-yard line on third-and-goal. The 'Dogs went for it on fourth down, but Reyna's sneak was stopped with 31 seconds on the clock, leaving the game in Fresno State's advantage, 16-3, at halftime.
San Jose State scored on its first possession of the second half, putting together a seven-play, 87-yard drive that Love finished off with a two-yard rush that cut the Spartans' deficit to 16-10 with 9:43 to play in the third quarter.
Ben Wooldridge entered the game at the 5:11 mark in the third quarter after Reyna suffered an injury to his throwing hand. Reyna would re-enter the game at the start of the fourth quarter, but the 'Dogs turned back to Wooldridge on the final drive.
Before that happened, the Spartans took their first lead of the night with under three minutes to play. Set up by back-to-back plays from Tre Walker and DeJon Packer to move the Spartans 57 yards down the field, Packer scored on a 10-yard run to tie the game and the ensuing extra point put San Jose State on top, 17-16. With Wooldridge returning under center to lead the final drive, the Bulldogs picked up one first down but were unable to move the ball past their own 44-yard line, turning the ball over on downs with 50 seconds left in the game.
Notable
Jeff Tedford, Fresno State head coach
On the game…
"It is never in hand. With the conditions that were going on out there, and having some injuries there down the stretch, it was a close game. [San Jose State] is an explosive team that can score points. Our defense did a lot throughout the game, but not enough. Offensively, we could not convert on third down and stay on the field."
On Jorge Reyna's injury…
"He couldn't throw the ball. They gave him a shot and some stitches in his throwing thumb. He came out and tried, but he couldn't really feel the ball. With the game on the line, we felt like Ben [Wooldridge] would give us a better chance."
On finishing the season 4-8…
"Of course it is nowhere that we expected to be. Each game is a little bit different. Every game is competitive and you have to find a way to win close games and we couldn't do that – for one reason or another. So, we have to learn from these things and gain some experience from it. One thing I can't fault this team for, ever, is their competitive instincts. They give it everything they have in every game. There have been a lot of close games, but it is unfortunate they haven't gone our way. Other people have found ways to win and we haven't."
On his first order of business in the off season…
"I don't know, we are just five minutes after the game. There is a lot of thought that goes into that. There is a lot to reflect on and a lot to think about. We will cover that when we get there."
Mykal Walker, Fresno State senior defensive end/linebacker
On San Jose State's final scoring drive...
"They made good plays. We pinned them down deep and they threw a long ball on third down and their receiver made a good catch."
On having a lead through the entire game...
"We told each other we had to keep it going. We went to the locker room and told each other it was a 0-0 game. At the end, we weren't able to pull it out."
On the season...
"It has been disappointing for me personally, but at the same time, we have guys on this team who are young and who will grow from this. I am grateful that I got to play my last season with these guys. Win or lose. It is football, you have to take the wins and the losses, the highs and the lows. I appreciate these guys, they fought hard all season long. I can't wait to come back next year and see how these guys do."
On the effort tonight...
"Anytime I am out there with my boys, I know they are never going to quit. I know they are going to never give up and they are going to fight to the very end. Like I said, I held my head up for them all and I tried to tell them to do the same. I know the season didn't go the way we wanted it to, but I love those guys and they fought until the very end."
"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
Ronnie Rivers totaled 275 all-purpose yards, the sixth-most in a single game in Fresno State history and 11 shy of his career-best 286, set in the 2018 Las Vegas Bowl - which stands as the fourth-best mark by a Bulldog. The junior rushed for a season-high 177 yards on a career-high 29 carries, while also contributing a career-high eight receptions for 63 yards, and totaled 35 punt return yards. Jorge Reyna threw for 151 yards and a touchdown on 15-of-22 passing in his last game as a Bulldog. Fellow senior Juju Hughes had a team-high nine tackles, seven solo, on the night.
How It Happened
Fresno State found the end zone first, marching 98 yards down the field with 34 yards coming from Rivers on five touches. Jared Rice finished off the drive with a 38-yard touchdown reception from Reyna. The Bulldogs' defense held the Spartans to eight yards on the ensuing possession, forcing a punt that was downed at Fresno State's 39-yard line. On the second play of the Bulldogs' next drive, Rivers broke loose for 55 yards. Two plays later, the junior pushed the Bulldogs' lead to 14-0 less than 10 minutes into the game with a rush from five yards out. Rivers accounted for all 61 yards on the four-play scoring drive.
SJSU answered with its first points of the game four minutes later. The home team settled for a 22-yard field goal, capping a nine-play, 70-yard drive.
Reyna surrendered the games' only interception on the Bulldogs' next drive, turning the ball over to the Spartans at their own eight-yard line. The Spartans made it to the Fresno State 19-yard line before the Bulldogs' defense halted the Spartans for no gain on three straight runs, which included a 4th-and-1 stop. The 'Dogs flipped the field, gaining 43 yards, but were ultimately forced to punt. Downing their punt at the Spartans' nine-yard line, the defense took advantage as Justin Rice sacked Josh Love in the end zone on third-and-9 for two points to give the 'Dogs a 16-3 lead with 5:27 remaining in the half.
With under three minutes to go in the first half, Rivers gave the Bulldogs a spark on offense with a 35-yard punt return to give the Bulldogs starting field position at the Spartans' 20-yard line. Five plays into the drive, Ja. Rice was stopped at the one-yard line on third-and-goal. The 'Dogs went for it on fourth down, but Reyna's sneak was stopped with 31 seconds on the clock, leaving the game in Fresno State's advantage, 16-3, at halftime.
San Jose State scored on its first possession of the second half, putting together a seven-play, 87-yard drive that Love finished off with a two-yard rush that cut the Spartans' deficit to 16-10 with 9:43 to play in the third quarter.
Ben Wooldridge entered the game at the 5:11 mark in the third quarter after Reyna suffered an injury to his throwing hand. Reyna would re-enter the game at the start of the fourth quarter, but the 'Dogs turned back to Wooldridge on the final drive.
Before that happened, the Spartans took their first lead of the night with under three minutes to play. Set up by back-to-back plays from Tre Walker and DeJon Packer to move the Spartans 57 yards down the field, Packer scored on a 10-yard run to tie the game and the ensuing extra point put San Jose State on top, 17-16. With Wooldridge returning under center to lead the final drive, the Bulldogs picked up one first down but were unable to move the ball past their own 44-yard line, turning the ball over on downs with 50 seconds left in the game.
Notable
- Despite the loss, Fresno State has won 19 of the last 25 meetings against San Jose State. The Spartans have the edge in Mountain West games, 4-3.
- In 2019, Fresno State dropped three of its games by less than three points, five games of its games by less than eight points and seven of its games by less than 10 points. One point was the difference in the point differential for the season - Fresno State 360, Opponents 361.
- The Bulldogs finished the season using 10 different starting combinations on the offensive line during the 12 game season.
- Ja. Rice broke Bear Pascoe's career receptions record, by a tight end, finishing with four receptions in the game and 113 career catches. Last week he surpassed Pascoe's mark in receiving yards.
- Rivers joined the 2,000-yard club in the first quarter. He entered the game needing 55 yards – he surpassed the mark on a 55-yard gallop, and totaled 86 yards alone in the opening quarter. He finished the game with a season-high 177 yards.
- Rivers set the mark for the sixth-most all-purpose yards in a single game in program history with 275 yards (177 rushing, 63 receiving, 35 punt return). Rivers now owns the fourth and sixth-best marks having posted 286 yards in the Las Vegas Bowl last season.
- Fresno State totaled 187 yards in the first quarter. It was the second-most of any quarter by the Bulldogs this season. It was the most in the first quarter, and second to a 252-yard outburst in the second quarter in the Bulldogs' game against UNLV.
- Ju. Rice registered a safety, a quarterback sack. It was the first safety recorded by a Bulldog since Malik Forrester did so on Nov. 25, 2017 at home versus Boise State.
- Fresno State was held scoreless for 11 straight drives after scoring on its first two drives of the game.
Jeff Tedford, Fresno State head coach
On the game…
"It is never in hand. With the conditions that were going on out there, and having some injuries there down the stretch, it was a close game. [San Jose State] is an explosive team that can score points. Our defense did a lot throughout the game, but not enough. Offensively, we could not convert on third down and stay on the field."
On Jorge Reyna's injury…
"He couldn't throw the ball. They gave him a shot and some stitches in his throwing thumb. He came out and tried, but he couldn't really feel the ball. With the game on the line, we felt like Ben [Wooldridge] would give us a better chance."
On finishing the season 4-8…
"Of course it is nowhere that we expected to be. Each game is a little bit different. Every game is competitive and you have to find a way to win close games and we couldn't do that – for one reason or another. So, we have to learn from these things and gain some experience from it. One thing I can't fault this team for, ever, is their competitive instincts. They give it everything they have in every game. There have been a lot of close games, but it is unfortunate they haven't gone our way. Other people have found ways to win and we haven't."
On his first order of business in the off season…
"I don't know, we are just five minutes after the game. There is a lot of thought that goes into that. There is a lot to reflect on and a lot to think about. We will cover that when we get there."
Mykal Walker, Fresno State senior defensive end/linebacker
On San Jose State's final scoring drive...
"They made good plays. We pinned them down deep and they threw a long ball on third down and their receiver made a good catch."
On having a lead through the entire game...
"We told each other we had to keep it going. We went to the locker room and told each other it was a 0-0 game. At the end, we weren't able to pull it out."
On the season...
"It has been disappointing for me personally, but at the same time, we have guys on this team who are young and who will grow from this. I am grateful that I got to play my last season with these guys. Win or lose. It is football, you have to take the wins and the losses, the highs and the lows. I appreciate these guys, they fought hard all season long. I can't wait to come back next year and see how these guys do."
On the effort tonight...
"Anytime I am out there with my boys, I know they are never going to quit. I know they are going to never give up and they are going to fight to the very end. Like I said, I held my head up for them all and I tried to tell them to do the same. I know the season didn't go the way we wanted it to, but I love those guys and they fought until the very end."
"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
SJSU
Total Yards
352
402
Pass Yards
164
290
Rushing Yards
188
112
Penalty Yards
15
55
1st Downs
18
15
3rd Downs
1
5
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
30:22
29:38
1st Quarter
FS 7, SJSU 0
FS - RICE, Jared 38 yd pass from REYNA, Jorge (SILVA, Cesar kick) 9 plays, 98 yards, TOP 3:43
FS 14, SJSU 0
FS - RIVERS, Ronnie 5 yd run (SILVA, Cesar kick), 4 plays, 61 yards, TOP 0:58
FS 14, SJSU 3
SJSU - MERCURIO, Matt 22 yd field goal 9 plays, 70 yards, TOP 3:55
2nd Quarter
FS 16, SJSU 3
FS - RICE, Justin 10 yd safety
3rd Quarter
FS 16, SJSU 10
SJSU - LOVE, Josh 2 yd run (MERCURIO, Matt kick), 7 plays, 87 yards, TOP 2:41
4th Quarter
FS 16, SJSU 17
SJSU - PACKER, DeJon 10 yd run (MERCURIO, Matt kick), 7 plays, 83 yards, TOP 2:53
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
15
TD
1
YDS
151
INT
1
CMP
3
TD
0
YDS
13
INT
0
Players Mentioned
DB
/ FootballQB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ FootballQB
/ FootballFB Media Availability [9/16]: QB EJ Warner
Tuesday, September 16
FB Weekly Press Conference [9/15]
Monday, September 15
FB highlight vs Southern University [9/13/25]
Monday, September 15
Post-Game Press Conference [9/13]
Sunday, September 14