Fresno State Athletics
Photo by: Wyatt Bible
Pair of 'Dogs pick up Pac-12 weekly honors
9/21/2026 2:02:00 PM | Football
FRESNO, Calif. - Two Fresno State football players earned Pac-12 Player of the Week nods in Week Three.
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Sophomore kicker Manaki Watanabe was named the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance at San Jose State last weekend. Watanabe was 4-of-5 in his field goal attempts on Saturday, hitting from distances of 52, 51, 44 and 40 yards. He became the first Bulldog kicker to have multiple 50-yard field goals in a game, and the first to do so in back-to-back games as well.
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His 52-yarder was a Div. I career-best. He is the only FBS kicker this season to attempt three field goals of 50+ yards. He leads the FBS with three made 50+ yard field goals. In just two games, Watanabe has the most 50-yard FG made in a season by a Fresno State kicker since at least 1996.
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Junior defensive back Ethan Tierney was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week. Tierney snagged two interceptions in the win, his first career game with multiple interceptions. Tierney is the first Bulldog with multiple interceptions in a game since teammate Simeon Harris had a pair against the Spartans last season. This is the third straight year that a Fresno State player has had multiple interceptions in a game against San Jose State. Tierney grabbed two interceptions off the Spartan quarterback who only had one on the year going into the night.
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The Bulldogs return home this Saturday, hosting Rice. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT and tickets are available here.
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Sophomore kicker Manaki Watanabe was named the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance at San Jose State last weekend. Watanabe was 4-of-5 in his field goal attempts on Saturday, hitting from distances of 52, 51, 44 and 40 yards. He became the first Bulldog kicker to have multiple 50-yard field goals in a game, and the first to do so in back-to-back games as well.
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His 52-yarder was a Div. I career-best. He is the only FBS kicker this season to attempt three field goals of 50+ yards. He leads the FBS with three made 50+ yard field goals. In just two games, Watanabe has the most 50-yard FG made in a season by a Fresno State kicker since at least 1996.
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Junior defensive back Ethan Tierney was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week. Tierney snagged two interceptions in the win, his first career game with multiple interceptions. Tierney is the first Bulldog with multiple interceptions in a game since teammate Simeon Harris had a pair against the Spartans last season. This is the third straight year that a Fresno State player has had multiple interceptions in a game against San Jose State. Tierney grabbed two interceptions off the Spartan quarterback who only had one on the year going into the night.
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The Bulldogs return home this Saturday, hosting Rice. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT and tickets are available here.
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