'Dogs close out nonconference play with 30-17 win at NMSU

Saturday, September 28

Las Cruces, NM

5:00 PM PT

Fresno State

2-2

New Mexico State

0-5

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Fresno State

New Mexico State

'Dogs close out nonconference play with 30-17 win at NMSU

9/28/2019 8:46:00 PM | Football

Box Score HC Jeff Tedford Postgame Interview WR/DB Chris Coleman Postgame Interview WR Emoryie Edwards Postgame Interview WR Jalen Cropper Postgame Interview DB Wylan Free Postgame Interview Fresno State-New Mexico State Postgame Quotes Fresno State - New Mexico State Game Notes Photo Gallery

By: Fresno State Athletic Communications

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Behind 118 yards on the ground from Jalen Cropper and a two-interception night for Wylan Free, Fresno State walked out of Aggie Memorial Stadium on Saturday with a 30-17 win over New Mexico State.

Cropper led the team in all-purpose yardage with 132 yards from scrimmage (118 rushing, 14 receiving), which included 79 on one touch with an electric touchdown run in the second quarter. Redshirt freshman Emoryie Edwards saw the first game action of his career, and led all receivers with 70 yards on eight receptions.

The 'Dogs piled up 239 yards on the ground on 38 carries. Jorge Reyna finished 20-of-31 passing for 147 yards.

Defensively, the Bulldogs (2-2, 0-0 MW) held NMSU (0-5) to 315 total yards and produced three interceptions. Two of those came from Free, who entered the game with one in his career. The sophomore recorded Fresno State's first defensive score of the season with a 91-yard touchdown return on his first pick of the night. Justin Rice grabbed the team's third INT along with leading the 'Dogs with 10 tackles.

How It Happened
Following the defense holding the Aggies to a three-and-out on their opening drive after electing to receive the ball, Reyna started the Bulldogs' drive with three straight completions to get the 'Dogs moving. A 25-yard run from Cropper would set-up Hokit for a physical run through a pair of tackles on his way to a nine-yard touchdown to give the 'Dogs a 7-0 lead six minutes into the game.

The defense took over for both sides during the next 12-plus minutes. That ended when Cropper found space on the right side and went on a 79-yard sprint through the Aggie secondary which extended the Bulldogs' lead to 14-0 with just over 11 minutes remaining in the half.

After forcing NMSU's fourth three-and-out of the half, Fresno State put together a 13-play drive to milk six minutes off the clock. Cesar Silva finished the drive with a 28-yard field goal to push the advantage to 17-0. The Aggies looked to counter on the ensuing drive, moving the ball deep into Bulldog territory but Free denied the opportunity, returning his second-career interception 91 yards down the Bulldogs' sideline for a touchdown to push the lead to 24-0 with a minute left in the half.

Following a Fresno State penalty on the kickoff return, New Mexico State used a shortened field to move into field goal range just before the end of the half. Dylan Brown got the Aggies on the board with a 42-yard field goal to cut Fresno State's lead to 24-3 at the half.

On the Bulldog's opening drive of the second half, a fumble from Zane Pope put the Aggies at the Fresno State 31-yard line. Four plays later, NMSU's Jason Huntley turned it into points and cut the Bulldogs' lead to 24-10. Silva would tack on two more field goals (38, 24) for the Bulldogs in the quarter, making it 30-10 heading into the final 15 minutes.

After the Bulldogs were held to a three-and-out deep in their own end early in the fourth quarter, New Mexico State went on a nine-play drive that resulted in Josh Adkins connecting with Tony Nicholson for a 16-yard touchdown to cut Fresno State's lead to 30-17.

As the Aggies regained the ball with 4:17 remaining on the clock after a Fresno State punt, Free ended the game with his second interception of the night on Adkins' second pass attempt of the drive.

Quotable
Jeff Tedford, Fresno State head coach
Opening statement…
"If you go on the road and play a hungry team, which we knew they would be, you have to find a way to win. We are fortunate to have done that. Every week, it's about opportunities and how we can get better, and we are going to continue to do that."

Wylan Free, sophomore DB
On his pick six…
"It was a big impact on the team to go out and execute a play that we have worked on. For me, it was a pretty big thing. It was my first pick this year and my first pick six while in college. It definitely will hold some significance."

Jalen Cropper, freshman WR
On his touchdown run…
"When I got the ball, I cut the corner and saw Jared Rice and Cam Sutton blocking and doing their jobs, and I just saw green. After that, I turned on the burners and didn't look back after that. With that being my first touchdown, it meant a lot to me and I know it meant a lot to the team. I went in and executed the play the way I was supposed to. Being a freshman, coming out on our fourth game, knowing that the coaches trust me with the rock in my hand and being out there makes me feel blessed. It is a great feeling. I feel blessed each and every play that I am out there with my teammates."

Emoryie Edwards, redshirt freshman WR
On his first game as a Bulldog…
"I had butterflies and was shaky throughout the week knowing I was going to play this Saturday. It was a restless night last night. It felt amazing to get out there. It is good to be back."

Chris Coleman, sophomore WR/DB
On finding out he would be playing on defense…
"I found out Monday morning at about 9:32 AM. Coach Tedford called me and asked me how I would feel if they needed my help at corner with all of the injuries at that position. At first I was apprehensive because I hadn't done any DB work in two and a half years. He told me I was an athlete and he knew I could do it. The coaches were behind me and it gave me the drive to do it. I said I was more than willing to do what the team needed me to do."

Notable

Wide receiver Chris Coleman switched to cornerback and started opposite of Jaron Bryant - Coleman finished with three tackles.
Cropper's 79-yard rushing TD was his first career score and it was the 13th longest run from scrimmage in program history.
Free's INT touchdown return was the first by a Bulldog since Tank Kelly's 70-yard TD return in the 2018 Las Vegas Bowl against Arizona State and longest since Arron Mosby's 95-yard INT TD return versus San Jose State on Nov. 24, 2018.
Free's 88-yard INT was the fifth-longest interception return for a touchdown in program history.
Justin RIce finished with 10 tackles - Rice has double-digit tackles in three of the first four games this season.
Reyna kept a clean sheet for the second-straight game, not throwing an interception.
Cropper finished as the Bulldogs' leading rusher with 118 yards on five carries (23.5 yards per rush).
Fresno State had a season-high three interceptions. The Bulldogs entered the game with two interceptions this season.
Fresno State was averaging 8.8 yards per rush in the first half, and 6.3 in the game.
Fresno State matched its season-high of eight TFLs.
For the second time this season, kicker Cesar Silva was perfect going 3-of-3 on field goals (24, 28, 38) and was also 3-of-3 PATs.

Up Next
Fresno State will take next weekend off before beginning Mountain West play at Air Force on Oct. 12. Kickoff at Falcon Stadium is slated for 4 p.m. PT and will broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

"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