Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, November 29
San Jose, CA
7:30 p.m. PT
Fresno State
8-4 , 5-3
41
at
14
San Jose State
3-9 , 2-6
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Fresno St.
3
18
3
17
41
San Jose St.
0
7
0
7
14
Team Stats
FST
SJS
Total Yards
397
227
Pass Yards
138
114
Rushing Yards
259
113
Penalty Yards
60
40
1st Downs
16
14
3rd Downs
4
3
4th Downs
3
0
TOP
39:07
20:53
1st Quarter
FST 3, SJS 0
FST - Lynch,Dylan 34 yd field goal 7 plays, 19 yards, TOP 03:47
2nd Quarter
FST 6, SJS 0
FST - Lynch,Dylan 41 yd field goal 11 plays, 31 yards, TOP 04:46
FST 13, SJS 0
FST - Ramirez,Brandon 2 yd run (Lynch,Dylan kick), 5 plays, 37 yards, TOP 02:30
FST 13, SJS 7
SJS - Pollard,Jordan 58 yd interception (Lynch,Denis kick)
FST 21, SJS 7
FST - Freeman,Josiah 37 yd pass from Warner,E.J. (Freeman,Josiah rush) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:16
3rd Quarter
FST 24, SJS 7
FST - Lynch,Dylan 41 yd field goal 4 plays, 9 yards, TOP 02:05
4th Quarter
FST 24, SJS 14
SJS - Teu,Viliami 1 yd run (Lynch,Denis kick), 6 plays, 39 yards, TOP 03:35
FST 31, SJS 14
FST - Gilliam,Elijah 2 yd run (Lynch,Dylan kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:02
FST 34, SJS 14
FST - Lynch,Dylan 33 yd field goal 4 plays, 6 yards, TOP 02:05
FST 41, SJS 14
FST - Gilliam,Elijah 34 yd run (Lynch,Dylan kick), 4 plays, 41 yards, TOP 02:09
Game Leaders
CMP
15
TD
1
YDS
138
INT
1
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
NKL
/ Football
K
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DB
/ FootballQB
/ Football
Photo by: JACQUELUNE CARRILLO
@JCMEEDJA
Fresno State brings home Valley Trophy with 41-14 win
11/29/2025 11:59:00 PM | Football
SAN JOSE - Fresno State keeps possession of the Valley Trophy for the second year in a row following a 41-14 win at San Jose State in the regular season finale on Saturday night. The Bulldogs improve to 8-4 overall and 5-3 in Mountain West play.
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The Bulldogs were powered by a defense that produced five turnovers in the game, all interceptions. It was the most turnovers gained by the Bulldogs this season, and the most interceptions in a game since Sept. 16, 2023 at Arizona State. Facing three different quarterbacks in the game, Fresno State held San Jose State to 227 total yards of offense.
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Offensively, Elijah Gilliam had a season-high nine carries for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Five different running backs each produced at least 20 yards on the ground with an additional score from Brandon Ramirez as Fresno State had a season-high 53 rushing attempts for 259 yards. E.J. Warner completed 15-of-20 pass attempts for 138 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Josiah Freeman was his leading target with six catches for 76 yards.
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How It Happened
Fresno State won the toss and elected to defer. With defense taking the field first, the Bulldogs forced a three-and-out. Taking over with good field position at the Fresno State 46 yard line, the Bulldog offense also went three-and-out in E.J. Warner's second start in as many weeks. Fresno State's defense was again off the field quickly, forcing another Spartan punt in three tries. The punt went out of bounds at the San Jose State 35 yard line, again giving the Bulldogs good field position on offense. The Bulldogs were able to connect on a 34-yard field goal by Dylan Lynch after Warner was stopped one yard short of a first down on a third-down keeper.
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Simeon Harris accounted for the first turnover of the game, snagging an interception off a tipped ball deflected by Camryn Bracha at midfield. Fresno State cashed in for points with a 41-yard field goal by Lynch to go up 6-0 at the start of the second quarter.
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On the second play for the Spartans after kickoff, Al'zillion Hamilton snuck up on the Spartan receiver and made the play on the ball for the Bulldogs' second interception in as many drives. Fresno State again turned the interception into points as Warner connected with Josiah Freeman for a 17-yard gain and Brandon Ramirez capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown run to put Fresno State up 13-0 in the second quarter.
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The Bulldog defense forced its third three-and-out of the night, but the Bulldog offense surrendered its first turnover of the night on the next drive, giving up a 58-yard interception return for a touchdown with 7:50 left before halftime. Fresno State hung on to a 13-7 lead.
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The tides turned, Bryson Donelson fumbled the football just two plays into the Bulldogs' next drive and the ball was picked up by the Spartans at midfield. Defense held San Jose State to a field goal try that missed wide left.
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Fresno State strung together its most complete scoring drive of the night capped by a 37-yard touchdown pass over the middle from Warner to Josiah Freeman. The Bulldogs went for two and Warner pitched to Freeman for the conversion, putting Fresno State up 21-7 at halftime.
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The Bulldog offense punted on the first drive of the second half, but the defense again came in clutch with an interception by Ethan Tierney. Lynch remained perfect on the night, hitting from 41 yards out to extend the lead to 24-7.
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With some momentum brewing, San Jose State took 11 plays to go down the field, but turned the ball over on downs after a fourth down stop by Harris at the Fresno State 17 yard line.
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On the second play of the fourth quarter, Warner again ran for a quarterback keeper on third down but fumbled and the ball was picked up by a Spartans defender. San Jose State turned the turnover into points, using six plays to find the end zone. Tierney stopped a would-be touchdown pass at the one-yard line, and the Bulldogs saw two more goal line stops by Logan Studt and Jakari Embry before the Spartans were able to punch it in on third down, making it a 24-14 lead for the Bulldogs with just over 11 minutes left to play.
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Fresno State responded with a seven play, 75-yard touchdown drive. All 75 yards came by the legs of the running back room between Johnathan Arceneaux, Elijah Gilliam and Ramirez. Gilliam had a season-long 39-yard run in the drive, and would be the one to end the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to give Fresno State a 31-14 lead with seven minutes left in the game.
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On the second San Jose State play of its next drive, Jayden Davis flew in over the middle for his first interception of the season and the fourth Bulldog pick of the night. The offense took over at the San Jose State 21-yard line, and Lynch made his fourth field goal of the night from 33 yards out to extend the lead to 34-14.
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With a depleted SJSU offense back out onto the field, Harris snagged his second interception of the night on the Spartans's first play of the drive. Four plays later, Gilliam put the game away with a 34-yard touchdown run.
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Up Next
Fresno State awaits its bowl designation. The Bulldogs are bowl eligible for the fifth season in a row. Head coach Matt Entz is the fifth first-year head coach to lead the Bulldogs to a bowl game in their inaugural season at the helm.
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The Bulldogs were powered by a defense that produced five turnovers in the game, all interceptions. It was the most turnovers gained by the Bulldogs this season, and the most interceptions in a game since Sept. 16, 2023 at Arizona State. Facing three different quarterbacks in the game, Fresno State held San Jose State to 227 total yards of offense.
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Offensively, Elijah Gilliam had a season-high nine carries for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Five different running backs each produced at least 20 yards on the ground with an additional score from Brandon Ramirez as Fresno State had a season-high 53 rushing attempts for 259 yards. E.J. Warner completed 15-of-20 pass attempts for 138 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Josiah Freeman was his leading target with six catches for 76 yards.
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How It Happened
Fresno State won the toss and elected to defer. With defense taking the field first, the Bulldogs forced a three-and-out. Taking over with good field position at the Fresno State 46 yard line, the Bulldog offense also went three-and-out in E.J. Warner's second start in as many weeks. Fresno State's defense was again off the field quickly, forcing another Spartan punt in three tries. The punt went out of bounds at the San Jose State 35 yard line, again giving the Bulldogs good field position on offense. The Bulldogs were able to connect on a 34-yard field goal by Dylan Lynch after Warner was stopped one yard short of a first down on a third-down keeper.
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Simeon Harris accounted for the first turnover of the game, snagging an interception off a tipped ball deflected by Camryn Bracha at midfield. Fresno State cashed in for points with a 41-yard field goal by Lynch to go up 6-0 at the start of the second quarter.
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On the second play for the Spartans after kickoff, Al'zillion Hamilton snuck up on the Spartan receiver and made the play on the ball for the Bulldogs' second interception in as many drives. Fresno State again turned the interception into points as Warner connected with Josiah Freeman for a 17-yard gain and Brandon Ramirez capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown run to put Fresno State up 13-0 in the second quarter.
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The Bulldog defense forced its third three-and-out of the night, but the Bulldog offense surrendered its first turnover of the night on the next drive, giving up a 58-yard interception return for a touchdown with 7:50 left before halftime. Fresno State hung on to a 13-7 lead.
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The tides turned, Bryson Donelson fumbled the football just two plays into the Bulldogs' next drive and the ball was picked up by the Spartans at midfield. Defense held San Jose State to a field goal try that missed wide left.
Â
Fresno State strung together its most complete scoring drive of the night capped by a 37-yard touchdown pass over the middle from Warner to Josiah Freeman. The Bulldogs went for two and Warner pitched to Freeman for the conversion, putting Fresno State up 21-7 at halftime.
Â
The Bulldog offense punted on the first drive of the second half, but the defense again came in clutch with an interception by Ethan Tierney. Lynch remained perfect on the night, hitting from 41 yards out to extend the lead to 24-7.
Â
With some momentum brewing, San Jose State took 11 plays to go down the field, but turned the ball over on downs after a fourth down stop by Harris at the Fresno State 17 yard line.
Â
On the second play of the fourth quarter, Warner again ran for a quarterback keeper on third down but fumbled and the ball was picked up by a Spartans defender. San Jose State turned the turnover into points, using six plays to find the end zone. Tierney stopped a would-be touchdown pass at the one-yard line, and the Bulldogs saw two more goal line stops by Logan Studt and Jakari Embry before the Spartans were able to punch it in on third down, making it a 24-14 lead for the Bulldogs with just over 11 minutes left to play.
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Fresno State responded with a seven play, 75-yard touchdown drive. All 75 yards came by the legs of the running back room between Johnathan Arceneaux, Elijah Gilliam and Ramirez. Gilliam had a season-long 39-yard run in the drive, and would be the one to end the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to give Fresno State a 31-14 lead with seven minutes left in the game.
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On the second San Jose State play of its next drive, Jayden Davis flew in over the middle for his first interception of the season and the fourth Bulldog pick of the night. The offense took over at the San Jose State 21-yard line, and Lynch made his fourth field goal of the night from 33 yards out to extend the lead to 34-14.
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With a depleted SJSU offense back out onto the field, Harris snagged his second interception of the night on the Spartans's first play of the drive. Four plays later, Gilliam put the game away with a 34-yard touchdown run.
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Up Next
Fresno State awaits its bowl designation. The Bulldogs are bowl eligible for the fifth season in a row. Head coach Matt Entz is the fifth first-year head coach to lead the Bulldogs to a bowl game in their inaugural season at the helm.
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Post-Game Press Conference [11/29]
Sunday, November 30
Instant Highlights: Fresno State 41, San Jose State 14
Sunday, November 30
FB Weekly Press Conference [11/24]
Monday, November 24
FB Media Availibility [11/18]: Jadon Pearson, Ryan Wilson, Julian Polendo, Jordan Brown
Tuesday, November 18