Fresno State
7-2 , 4-1
San Diego State
7-1 , 3-1
Old Oil Can returns to Fresno
10/30/2021 11:51:00 PM | Football
Behind another strong performance on the ground by Jordan Mims, who finished the game with a career-high 186 yards and two touchdowns, the Bulldogs powered their way to their second win over a ranked opponent this season.
How It Happened
On its second possession of the night, Fresno State put together its longest drive of the year, a 15-play drive that saw the 'Dogs go 86 yards. Jordan Mims broke into the end zone from 13 yards out to give the 'Dogs an early 7-0 lead.
Late in the opening quarter, Evan Williams picked off Lucas Johnson on a third-and-13 and returned it 36 yards down to the Aztec 31-yard line. Four plays later, Jake Haener connected with Keric Wheatfall from 16 yards to double the Bulldogs' advantage.
Following a defensive stop after San Diego State crossed the 50 again, the 'Dogs turned it into three points with a career-long 49-yard field goal from Cesar Silva. The Bulldogs did the same thing on the next set of possessions, a stop after SDSU crossed the 50, and Silva connected from 27 yards to put Fresno State up 20-0 with 2:48 on the clock. The Aztecs scored in the final minutes to make 20-7 going into the half.
Silva knocked in his season-high third field goal of the game 11 minutes into the third quarter to give the 'Dogs a 16-point lead. SDSU answered, though, with a 10-play, 80-yard drive to cut the Bulldogs' lead to 23-13 just before the end of the third.
With less than seven minutes remaining in the game, Carson King dropped a punt at the one-yard line into the awaiting hands of Deonte Perry. The Aztecs managed to get some breathing room, but on first-and-10 from their own 24, Johnson was picked off by Levelle Bailey. On the next offensive possession, it took Mims two carries to go 31 yards to seal the game, putting Fresno State up 30-13 with 4:28 on the clock.
Notes
- Fresno State defeated two Top 25 opponents in a season for the first time since 2004.
- Fresno State had never defeated two Top 25 teams on the road in the same season until 2021, it's 100th year of football.
- Fresno State handed San Diego State its first loss of the season.
- Fresno State's first rushing touchdown of the game (1st quarter) was just the third rushing touchdown that the Aztecs have allowed all season.
- Fresno State held its opponent scoreless in the first quarter for the fourth time this season.
- Fresno State's 20 points in the first half is the most that SDSU has given up in a half this season.
- SDSU went into halftime trailing for only the second time this season.
- Fresno State held SDSU to just 38 rushing yards in the first half.
- The Bulldogs' 30 points in the game were the most the Aztecs have allowed in regulation this season.
- Fresno State is the first opponent to record over 400 yards of total offense against San Diego State since BYU had 416 in 2019.
- Fresno State tallied the most total yards (485) against the Aztecs since Hawai'i posted 516 against them in 2018.
- Fresno State's defense registered zero sacks for the second time this season, its other time in its win at then-No. 13 UCLA.
Head Coach Kalen DeBoer
On the game...
"This was a huge team win for us. The defense did a great job all game long by consistently shutting down the run. We brought a lot of physicality from the start which set the tone. We had some timely turnovers that our offense was able to finish off for some points. We knew this was going to be a grind, especially with how good SDSU's special teams unit is. It was a hard-fought battle tonight. We faced a really good football team tonight. We came out strong. I thought we played one of our better first quarters that we've had. We had a really good mindset this week. The guys are coming out to practice ready, trusting in the game plan, believing in each other and believing in the coaches. That's what you saw out there on the field today."
"We were able to take away their strength of running the football, and we were able to establish the run game. They like to put you in third and long situations. Jake did a great job of managing the downs. Our offensive line consistently did their job against some really great players on their defensive line. SDSU has a great defensive scheme, but our guys did a great job executing what we needed to do against them."
Up Next
Fresno State hosts Boise State (4-4, 2-2 MW) in a big Mountain West matchup at Bulldog Stadium next Saturday, Nov. 6. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m. PT. The teams face off for the Milk Can in a trophy rivalry game that dates back to 2005. Tickets are available at gobulldogs.com/tickets.
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Team Stats
FS 7, AZTECS 0
FS - MIMS, Jordan 13 yd run (SILVA, Cesar kick), 15 plays, 86 yards, TOP 6:51
FS 14, AZTECS 0
FS - WHEATFALL, K 16 yd pass from HAENER, Jake (SILVA, Cesar kick) 4 plays, 31 yards, TOP 1:38
FS 17, AZTECS 0
FS - SILVA, Cesar 49 yd field goal 5 plays, 60 yards, TOP 2:49
FS 20, AZTECS 0
FS - SILVA, Cesar 27 yd field goal 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:48
FS 20, AZTECS 7
AZTECS - Shavers,Tyrell 19 yd pass from Johnson,Lucas (Araiza,Matt kick) 6 plays, 82 yards, TOP 2:12
FS 23, AZTECS 7
FS - SILVA, Cesar 42 yd field goal 7 plays, 24 yards, TOP 2:24
FS 23, AZTECS 13
AZTECS - Bell,Greg 3 yd run (Rudolph,Jay passfailed), 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:38
FS 30, AZTECS 13
FS - MIMS, Jordan 15 yd run (SILVA, Cesar kick), 2 plays, 31 yards, TOP 0:46
FS 30, AZTECS 20
AZTECS - Haskell,Will 7 yd run (Araiza,Matt kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:22
