Fresno State Athletics
Hawai'i Bowl Postgame Notes
Hawai'i Bowl Game Notes
Fresno State vs. Houston
Dec. 24, 2017
Pregame
• Team Captains: Aaron Mitchell, Malik Forrester, Da’Mari Scott and Robert Stanley.
• Fresno State won the coin toss and elected to defer to Houston. Houston will receive at the south end to open the game.
• Kickoff temperature: 81 degrees, winds northeast at 13mph, humidity at 45 percent.
First Quarter
• Both teams and opened the game without a first down. It was the fourth such occasion that happened in 2017.
• At the 12:21 mark, Houston crossed the 50-yard line for the first time (FS49), the next play, Houston struck for a 48-yard flea-flicker – to the 1-yard line.
• Houston scored first, Fresno State entered the game 1-3 this season when the opponent scored first. It’s one win when not scoring first was at Hawaii on Nov. 11.
• A pass off Jordan Mims’ hands fell into the hands of linebacker D’Juan Hines for McMaryion’s fifth interception this season.
• Houston’s kicker Caden Novikoff attempted to match his career long of 45 yards, but the field goal was wide left. Fresno State got the ball back with 8:53, down 7-0, not giving points off the McMaryion interception.
• Fresno State totaled 1-yard of offense with its first three possessions.
• Houston native, Tank Kelly’ PBU with 6:44 forced a three-and-out
• Hokit carried the ball three times on Fresno State’s fourth drive, gaining 1-8-0 yards.
• Blake Cusick kicked a 58-yard punt, longest of the game, to the UH15 as Houston took over with 5:00 minutes left in the frame.
• Fresno State was outgained in the first quarter 78-64. But the Bulldogs were on a 66-yard drive, left with second-and-goal from the 2-yard line when time ran out in the quarter.
Second Quarter
• After two failed attempts to punch the ball in on second and third-and goal plays, Marcus McMaryion scored on fourth-and-goal run from the 1-yard line to help knot the game 7-7.
• KeeSean Johnson extended his consecutive games with a reception to 36 games with his first catch (21 yards) in the second quarter.
• Jimmy Camacho gave Fresno State a 10-7 lead with 9:45 remaining in the half. Camacho was one field goal shy of matching the program record for single season makes (22-of-27) after that make.
• Houston has two plays of 48 and 50 yards in the game; both plays resulted in scores of 7 and 3 for the Cougars. Houston averaged 1.96 yards on its 27 other plays in the game at that time.
• Jimmy Camacho tied the program record of 23 made field goal when he made a 38-yard field goal as time expired on the half.
Third Quarter
• Marcus McMaryion scored Fresno State’s second TD, he is responsible for all four touchdowns over the last two games – all rushing touchdowns. McMaryion gave the ‘Dogs the lead with 4:21 left in the third quarter.
• Houston blocked a Fresno State field goal attempt and returned it 94 yards for a touchdown to tie the game, 20-20, with 2:54 left in the third quarter. The last time an opponent blocked a Fresno State field goal was when Hawaii blocked Fresno State’s game-winning attempt to beat Hawaii on Nov. 19, 2016.
• With KeeSean Johnson's reception of 13 yards he eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving for the season. He is the first Bulldog since Josh Harper (2014) to do it and it’s the 15th time in program history a 1,000-yard season was recorded by a Bulldog.
Fourth Quarter
• Jaron Bryant’s pick-6 was his second pick-6 of the season, and team-leading fourth interception of the season. It was the first pick-6 in a bowl game since Derron Smith returned an interception for a touchdown in the 2013 Las Vegas Bowl.
GAME
• Fresno State won its first-ever meeting against the Houston Cougars.
• Fresno State snapped a 10-year drought of having not won a bowl game. Since defeating Georgia Tech at the Humanitarian Bowl in 2007, the Bulldogs had lost six-straight before it win over Houston.
• With 10 wins in 2017, Fresno State matched its win totals from the 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons combined.
• Fresno State is the second team in FBS history to turn a double-digit loss season to a double-digit win season, joining Miami (Ohio) in 2010.
• In its 28th all-time bowl appearance, Fresno State improved to 13-15.
• Fresno State’s last bowl meeting was against a team it had never played before, the Bulldogs won both those games (Virginia/Houston).
• Fresno State’s 13 fourth quarter points were a season-high for points scored in that frame.
• Fresno State’s 20 second half points were a season-high against an FBS opponent.
• The Bulldogs’ defense held Houston to 2.4 yards per rush, a season-best for the Bulldogs’ defense.
• Fresno State improved to 9-2 for the season when outrushing its opponents. The ‘Dogs outrushed Houston 131-72.
• Fresno State held their opponent under 100 yards rushing for the fifth time this season.
• Fresno State improved to 2-3 this season when its opponent scored first. Both wins came at Aloha Stadium (Nov. 11 at Hawai’i).
• Fresno State matched a bowl record 88 total plays – tying the 88 plays run in the 1993 Aloha Bowl. It was also a season-high mark for the Bulldogs.
• After Fresno State owned the first two turnovers lost, the Bulldogs forced the next two. Sunday’s bowl game marked the fourth time the turnover battle was tied – Fresno State won all four times.
• Fresno State is now one of six teams that set a win improvement of 8.0 games or better in NCAA history.
• Fresno State improved 7-1 this season when having the time of possession plus 30:00 minutes.
• Fresno State improved to 4-0 this season win winning the coin toss.
• Fresno State improved to 5-0 this season when scoring 30 or more points.
• Fresno State improved to 10-1 this season when owning the halftime lead.
• Fresno State improved to 6-0 this season when accumulating more the 400 yards total offense.
• McMaryion attempted a career high 48 passes. He completed a career-high 33 passes.
• McMaryion surpassed 300 yards for the second time this season.
• Marcus McMaryion matched a career-best for rushing touchdowns with two, matching a record set in the Bulldogs’ last game played on Dec. 2.
• McMaryion’s four scores on the ground over the Bulldogs last two games account for all four of the Bulldogs touchdowns scored in that span.
• Jimmy Camacho became the program’s all-time leader in single-season made field goals (24).
• Jimmy Camacho’s six field goal attempts were the most field goal attempts by an individual in a single-game in program history.
• Jeffrey Allison led the team with 13 tackles, it was the sixth time he posted double-digit tackles in 2017. Allison finished the season with the ninth-most tackles in a single-season in program history (126).
• Jimmy Camacho’s four made field goals set the Fresno State record for makes in a bowl game.
• KeeSean Johnson became the first Bulldog since Josh Harper (2014) to eclipse 1,000 yards receiving and it’s the 15th time in program history a 1,000-yard season was recorded by a Bulldog.
• Johnson caught a pass in his 36th straight game as he enters his senior season with 180 receptions (eighth in program history) for 2,123 yards (11th most).
Hawaii Bowl Specific Notes
• The six combined field goals by Fresno State’s Jimmy Camacho (4) and Houston’s Caden Novikoff (2) were the most in Hawai‘i Bowl history.
• Camacho’s four field goals set a new Hawai‘i Bowl record
• Fresno State’s Marcus McMaryion’s two rushing touchdowns were the most by a quarterback since J.P. Mosman of Tulane in the inaugural Hawai‘i Bowl in 2002.
• McMaryion’s 33 completions tied fellow Fresno State alum, Derek Carr (2012) and UH’s Colt Brennan (2006) for the most ever in Hawai‘i Bowl history. McMaryion’s 48 pass attempts ranks No. 4 in the Hawai‘i Bowl record books. His 325 passing yards was the most since Boise State’s Grant Hedrick’s 382 in 2013.
• Fresno State linebacker Jeffrey Allison’s 13 tackles were the third most in bowl history.
• Fresno State’s Jarron Bryant recorded the sixth pick-six in Hawai‘i Bowl history for a 44-yard touchdown return off the interception.
• Fresno State’s six point margin of victory ties for third smallest victory margin with Hawai‘i’s triple-overtime, 54-48 win over Houston in 2003.
• Fresno State’s 33 points were the third fewest points scored by a winning team in Hawai‘i Bowl history.
• Fresno State’s Blake Cusick’s 58-yard punt in the first quarter was the seventh longest in bowl history.
• The first quarter lasted 44 minutes and featured 10 drives – 5 for each team – with six combined punts.
• Fresno State is now 1-2 in the Hawai‘i Bowl, Houston is now 0-2.
• The Mountain West is now 3-3 in the Hawai‘i Bowl, the American is now 0-2.
Fresno State vs. Houston
Dec. 24, 2017
Pregame
• Team Captains: Aaron Mitchell, Malik Forrester, Da’Mari Scott and Robert Stanley.
• Fresno State won the coin toss and elected to defer to Houston. Houston will receive at the south end to open the game.
• Kickoff temperature: 81 degrees, winds northeast at 13mph, humidity at 45 percent.
First Quarter
• Both teams and opened the game without a first down. It was the fourth such occasion that happened in 2017.
• At the 12:21 mark, Houston crossed the 50-yard line for the first time (FS49), the next play, Houston struck for a 48-yard flea-flicker – to the 1-yard line.
• Houston scored first, Fresno State entered the game 1-3 this season when the opponent scored first. It’s one win when not scoring first was at Hawaii on Nov. 11.
• A pass off Jordan Mims’ hands fell into the hands of linebacker D’Juan Hines for McMaryion’s fifth interception this season.
• Houston’s kicker Caden Novikoff attempted to match his career long of 45 yards, but the field goal was wide left. Fresno State got the ball back with 8:53, down 7-0, not giving points off the McMaryion interception.
• Fresno State totaled 1-yard of offense with its first three possessions.
• Houston native, Tank Kelly’ PBU with 6:44 forced a three-and-out
• Hokit carried the ball three times on Fresno State’s fourth drive, gaining 1-8-0 yards.
• Blake Cusick kicked a 58-yard punt, longest of the game, to the UH15 as Houston took over with 5:00 minutes left in the frame.
• Fresno State was outgained in the first quarter 78-64. But the Bulldogs were on a 66-yard drive, left with second-and-goal from the 2-yard line when time ran out in the quarter.
Second Quarter
• After two failed attempts to punch the ball in on second and third-and goal plays, Marcus McMaryion scored on fourth-and-goal run from the 1-yard line to help knot the game 7-7.
• KeeSean Johnson extended his consecutive games with a reception to 36 games with his first catch (21 yards) in the second quarter.
• Jimmy Camacho gave Fresno State a 10-7 lead with 9:45 remaining in the half. Camacho was one field goal shy of matching the program record for single season makes (22-of-27) after that make.
• Houston has two plays of 48 and 50 yards in the game; both plays resulted in scores of 7 and 3 for the Cougars. Houston averaged 1.96 yards on its 27 other plays in the game at that time.
• Jimmy Camacho tied the program record of 23 made field goal when he made a 38-yard field goal as time expired on the half.
Third Quarter
• Marcus McMaryion scored Fresno State’s second TD, he is responsible for all four touchdowns over the last two games – all rushing touchdowns. McMaryion gave the ‘Dogs the lead with 4:21 left in the third quarter.
• Houston blocked a Fresno State field goal attempt and returned it 94 yards for a touchdown to tie the game, 20-20, with 2:54 left in the third quarter. The last time an opponent blocked a Fresno State field goal was when Hawaii blocked Fresno State’s game-winning attempt to beat Hawaii on Nov. 19, 2016.
• With KeeSean Johnson's reception of 13 yards he eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving for the season. He is the first Bulldog since Josh Harper (2014) to do it and it’s the 15th time in program history a 1,000-yard season was recorded by a Bulldog.
Fourth Quarter
• Jaron Bryant’s pick-6 was his second pick-6 of the season, and team-leading fourth interception of the season. It was the first pick-6 in a bowl game since Derron Smith returned an interception for a touchdown in the 2013 Las Vegas Bowl.
GAME
• Fresno State won its first-ever meeting against the Houston Cougars.
• Fresno State snapped a 10-year drought of having not won a bowl game. Since defeating Georgia Tech at the Humanitarian Bowl in 2007, the Bulldogs had lost six-straight before it win over Houston.
• With 10 wins in 2017, Fresno State matched its win totals from the 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons combined.
• Fresno State is the second team in FBS history to turn a double-digit loss season to a double-digit win season, joining Miami (Ohio) in 2010.
• In its 28th all-time bowl appearance, Fresno State improved to 13-15.
• Fresno State’s last bowl meeting was against a team it had never played before, the Bulldogs won both those games (Virginia/Houston).
• Fresno State’s 13 fourth quarter points were a season-high for points scored in that frame.
• Fresno State’s 20 second half points were a season-high against an FBS opponent.
• The Bulldogs’ defense held Houston to 2.4 yards per rush, a season-best for the Bulldogs’ defense.
• Fresno State improved to 9-2 for the season when outrushing its opponents. The ‘Dogs outrushed Houston 131-72.
• Fresno State held their opponent under 100 yards rushing for the fifth time this season.
• Fresno State improved to 2-3 this season when its opponent scored first. Both wins came at Aloha Stadium (Nov. 11 at Hawai’i).
• Fresno State matched a bowl record 88 total plays – tying the 88 plays run in the 1993 Aloha Bowl. It was also a season-high mark for the Bulldogs.
• After Fresno State owned the first two turnovers lost, the Bulldogs forced the next two. Sunday’s bowl game marked the fourth time the turnover battle was tied – Fresno State won all four times.
• Fresno State is now one of six teams that set a win improvement of 8.0 games or better in NCAA history.
• Fresno State improved 7-1 this season when having the time of possession plus 30:00 minutes.
• Fresno State improved to 4-0 this season win winning the coin toss.
• Fresno State improved to 5-0 this season when scoring 30 or more points.
• Fresno State improved to 10-1 this season when owning the halftime lead.
• Fresno State improved to 6-0 this season when accumulating more the 400 yards total offense.
• McMaryion attempted a career high 48 passes. He completed a career-high 33 passes.
• McMaryion surpassed 300 yards for the second time this season.
• Marcus McMaryion matched a career-best for rushing touchdowns with two, matching a record set in the Bulldogs’ last game played on Dec. 2.
• McMaryion’s four scores on the ground over the Bulldogs last two games account for all four of the Bulldogs touchdowns scored in that span.
• Jimmy Camacho became the program’s all-time leader in single-season made field goals (24).
• Jimmy Camacho’s six field goal attempts were the most field goal attempts by an individual in a single-game in program history.
• Jeffrey Allison led the team with 13 tackles, it was the sixth time he posted double-digit tackles in 2017. Allison finished the season with the ninth-most tackles in a single-season in program history (126).
• Jimmy Camacho’s four made field goals set the Fresno State record for makes in a bowl game.
• KeeSean Johnson became the first Bulldog since Josh Harper (2014) to eclipse 1,000 yards receiving and it’s the 15th time in program history a 1,000-yard season was recorded by a Bulldog.
• Johnson caught a pass in his 36th straight game as he enters his senior season with 180 receptions (eighth in program history) for 2,123 yards (11th most).
Hawaii Bowl Specific Notes
• The six combined field goals by Fresno State’s Jimmy Camacho (4) and Houston’s Caden Novikoff (2) were the most in Hawai‘i Bowl history.
• Camacho’s four field goals set a new Hawai‘i Bowl record
• Fresno State’s Marcus McMaryion’s two rushing touchdowns were the most by a quarterback since J.P. Mosman of Tulane in the inaugural Hawai‘i Bowl in 2002.
• McMaryion’s 33 completions tied fellow Fresno State alum, Derek Carr (2012) and UH’s Colt Brennan (2006) for the most ever in Hawai‘i Bowl history. McMaryion’s 48 pass attempts ranks No. 4 in the Hawai‘i Bowl record books. His 325 passing yards was the most since Boise State’s Grant Hedrick’s 382 in 2013.
• Fresno State linebacker Jeffrey Allison’s 13 tackles were the third most in bowl history.
• Fresno State’s Jarron Bryant recorded the sixth pick-six in Hawai‘i Bowl history for a 44-yard touchdown return off the interception.
• Fresno State’s six point margin of victory ties for third smallest victory margin with Hawai‘i’s triple-overtime, 54-48 win over Houston in 2003.
• Fresno State’s 33 points were the third fewest points scored by a winning team in Hawai‘i Bowl history.
• Fresno State’s Blake Cusick’s 58-yard punt in the first quarter was the seventh longest in bowl history.
• The first quarter lasted 44 minutes and featured 10 drives – 5 for each team – with six combined punts.
• Fresno State is now 1-2 in the Hawai‘i Bowl, Houston is now 0-2.
• The Mountain West is now 3-3 in the Hawai‘i Bowl, the American is now 0-2.