Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, October 12
Fresno, CA
4 p.m. PT
Fresno State
3-3 , 1-1
17
vs
25
Washington State
5-1 , 0-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Fresno St.
7
0
7
3
17
Washington St.
13
0
3
9
25
Photo by: Samuel Marshall
Bulldogs fall to Cougars, 25-17
10/12/2024 8:45:00 PM | Football
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State football team fell 25-17 to Washington State at Valley Children's Stadium on Saturday evening, moving to 3-3 on the season.
The Bulldogs, who were ahead on three separate occasions on the night, had two interceptions and 12 penalties in the loss. Fresno State forced two turnovers itself, but were unable to capitalize on either opportunity.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Washington State scored on the opening possession of the game, using a 13-play, 75-yard drive, ending in a 1-yard rushing touchdown by John Mateer. The Cougars attempted for a 2-point conversion but failed off the interception by RL Miller. Fresno State answered right back with a 77-yard drive of its own. Mikey Keene went 7-of-8 passing, ending the drive with a 34-yard touchdown toss to Josiah Freeman and a 7-6 lead.
WSU responded with another 75-yard drive to take a 13-7 lead just before the end of the first quarter. Despite causing a pair of turnovers in the second, forced fumble by Korey Foreman recovered by Jakari Embry and an interception from Dean Clark in the endzone, the Bulldogs were unable to capitalize as the Cougars took a six-point lead into the half.
Receiving the ball to start the third, the Bulldogs were forced to punt. Mac Dalena pinned the Cougars at the 3-yard line, catching Clay Lawrence's punt. The Bulldog defense forced a three-and-out, then Jalen Moss returned the punt 19 yards to set Fresno State up at the WSU 33-yard line. Five plays later, four of those rushes from Elijah Gilliam resulted in a six-yard score for the senior.
As WSU drove into the red zone, on the ensuing possession, Jacob Holmes sacked Mateer for a 12-yard loss on second-and-goal, pushing the Cougars back to the 20-yard line. The Bulldogs held WSU to a 34-yard field goal.
The Bulldogs answered with a 27-yard field goal from Dylan Lynch with 10:13 remaining in the game.
Fresno State forced a three-and-out and proceeded to move the ball to the WSU 43-yard line. The drive stalled there as Keene threw an interception that Ethan O'Connor returned 60 yards into the end zone. A failed 2-point conversion resulted in a 22-17 lead for the visitors.
The Cougars tacked on a 23-yard field goal with 1:50 on the clock after forcing the Bulldogs' to a three-and-out inside their own five. Fresno State moved down to the Washington State 41-yard line, but saw time expire to dash hopes at a comeback.
UP NEXT
Fresno State travels to Nevada on Friday. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT and will broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
The Bulldogs, who were ahead on three separate occasions on the night, had two interceptions and 12 penalties in the loss. Fresno State forced two turnovers itself, but were unable to capitalize on either opportunity.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Washington State scored on the opening possession of the game, using a 13-play, 75-yard drive, ending in a 1-yard rushing touchdown by John Mateer. The Cougars attempted for a 2-point conversion but failed off the interception by RL Miller. Fresno State answered right back with a 77-yard drive of its own. Mikey Keene went 7-of-8 passing, ending the drive with a 34-yard touchdown toss to Josiah Freeman and a 7-6 lead.
WSU responded with another 75-yard drive to take a 13-7 lead just before the end of the first quarter. Despite causing a pair of turnovers in the second, forced fumble by Korey Foreman recovered by Jakari Embry and an interception from Dean Clark in the endzone, the Bulldogs were unable to capitalize as the Cougars took a six-point lead into the half.
Receiving the ball to start the third, the Bulldogs were forced to punt. Mac Dalena pinned the Cougars at the 3-yard line, catching Clay Lawrence's punt. The Bulldog defense forced a three-and-out, then Jalen Moss returned the punt 19 yards to set Fresno State up at the WSU 33-yard line. Five plays later, four of those rushes from Elijah Gilliam resulted in a six-yard score for the senior.
As WSU drove into the red zone, on the ensuing possession, Jacob Holmes sacked Mateer for a 12-yard loss on second-and-goal, pushing the Cougars back to the 20-yard line. The Bulldogs held WSU to a 34-yard field goal.
The Bulldogs answered with a 27-yard field goal from Dylan Lynch with 10:13 remaining in the game.
Fresno State forced a three-and-out and proceeded to move the ball to the WSU 43-yard line. The drive stalled there as Keene threw an interception that Ethan O'Connor returned 60 yards into the end zone. A failed 2-point conversion resulted in a 22-17 lead for the visitors.
The Cougars tacked on a 23-yard field goal with 1:50 on the clock after forcing the Bulldogs' to a three-and-out inside their own five. Fresno State moved down to the Washington State 41-yard line, but saw time expire to dash hopes at a comeback.
UP NEXT
Fresno State travels to Nevada on Friday. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT and will broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
Team Stats
FST
WSU
Total Yards
338
295
Pass Yards
220
172
Rushing Yards
118
123
Penalty Yards
91
57
1st Downs
22
23
3rd Downs
4
5
4th Downs
0
1
TOP
32:44
27:16
1st Quarter
FST 0, WSU 6
WSU - Mateer,John 1 yd run (), 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:47
FST 7, WSU 6
FST - Freeman,Josiah 34 yd pass from Keene,Mikey (Lynch,Dylan kick) 10 plays, 77 yards, TOP 04:44
FST 7, WSU 13
WSU - Hutson,Kris 2 yd run (Janikowski,Dean kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:49
3rd Quarter
FST 14, WSU 13
FST - Gilliam,Elijah 6 yd run (Lynch,Dylan kick), 4 plays, 33 yards, TOP 02:20
FST 14, WSU 16
WSU - Janikowski,Dean 34 yd field goal 13 plays, 58 yards, TOP 02:10
4th Quarter
FST 17, WSU 16
FST - Lynch,Dylan 27 yd field goal 13 plays, 66 yards, TOP 06:40
FST 17, WSU 22
WSU - O'Connor,Ethan 60 yd interception ()
FST 17, WSU 25
WSU - Janikowski,Dean 23 yd field goal 8 plays, 40 yards, TOP 02:58
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
24
TD
1
YDS
220
INT
2
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DL
/ FootballQB
/ Football
P
/ Football
K
/ Football
WR
/ FootballJeff Tedford to be inducted into the Fresno State Football Ring of Honor
Tuesday, September 23
FB highlight at Hawai'i [9/20/25]
Monday, September 22
Instant Highlight: Fresno State 23, Hawaii 21
Sunday, September 21
Post-Game Press Conference [9/20]
Sunday, September 21