Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State-New Mexico Postgame Notes
Fresno State at New Mexico
Sam Boyd Stadium (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Dec. 12, 2020
Pregame
• Matt Smith was the coin toss captain representative.
• New Mexico won the coin toss and elected to receive.
• Kickoff Temp: 48F
• Attendance: 0
GAME
• The Lobos won the 19th meeting in the all-time series between the two squads. Fresno State remains the all-time series leader, 13-5.
• Fresno State fell to New Mexico in a Mountain West game for the first time (5-1).
• New Mexico is the Bulldogs only opponent of the 2020 season that wasn't on their natural rotation of Mountain West games. The revised 2020 schedule was released on Oct. 1.
• Fresno State's seven-game winning streak against New Mexico was snapped. It was New Mexico's first win over Fresno State since 1994.
• Fresno State's No. 1 ranked offensive attack exceeded 400 total yards in every game of the 2020 season.
• Fresno State has outscored its opponents 27-7 in the fourth quarter in its wins in 2020 while being outscored 44-17 in its losses.
• Fresno State dropped its first game of the season when entering the fourth quarter with a lead (3-1).
• Fresno State allowed the most points in a game since allowing 52 to Toledo on Sept. 17, 2016.
• Scored on opening drive for the fourth time in six games this season, and also scored on its first drive of the second half for the first time this season.
OFFENSE
• Jordan Mims' 84-yard touchdown run was the 10th longest run from scrimmage in program history. It was the longest play from scrimmage by the Bulldogs in 2020.
• The 84-yard touchdown run was the longest rushing play for the Bulldogs since 2012 when Robbie Rouse had a 94-yard touchdown run against Colorado.
• Cropper scored his team-leading fifth TD of the season.
• Fresno State allowed eight sacks. That has not happened in at least 10 seasons (dating back to 2011). Fresno State allowed seven once in 2014 (Utah) and once in 2012 (SMU).
• Mac Dalena caught his first career pass (a 51-yarder in his second quarter) and his first career touchdown (a 24-yard catch in the fourth quarter).
• Jalen Cropper had a career-high 12 catches. It was his second game in 2020 with 10+ catches.
• Josh Kelly had a career-high seven catches and a career-high 96 yards.
Ronnie Rivers
• Rivers saw his first action with 8:30 left in the third quarter on first-and-goal from the 2-yard line.
• Rivers remains tied for the program's record for most touchdowns in a career (44). He has been tied with Anthony Daigle (1991-93) since last scoring a touchdown against Utah State on Nov. 14.
Jake Haener
• Haener scored his third rushing touchdown of the season.
• Haener topped 300 yards passing for the third-straight game, and fourth time in six games in 2020.
• Haener is the first Bulldog quarterback to amass four 300-yard passing games in a single season since Brian Burrell in 2014.
DEFENSE
• Justin Houston record a career-high 11 tackles. It was a team lead.
• Justin Houston recorded his first career sack. It was the first sack by a true freshman since Levelle Bailey recorded his first career sack on Sept. 7, 2019 against Minnesota.
• Isaiah Johnson had a career-high seven tackles.
• Reggie Strong, in his first career start, collected the second-most tackles on the team with nine.
• Arron Mosby had a season-high eight tackles.
• The Bulldogs did not force a turnover for the first time since the season finale at San Jose State in 2019.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Asa Fuller was 1-of-1 on field goals (30 yards). It was his first attempt since going 1-of-1 in the 2018 Las Vegas Bowl – also at Sam Boyd Stadium.
• Carson King punted his first three career kicks for a 41.0 average and long of 49 yards.
• Freshman long snapper Michael Munoz got his first career action.
Sam Boyd Stadium (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Dec. 12, 2020
Pregame
• Matt Smith was the coin toss captain representative.
• New Mexico won the coin toss and elected to receive.
• Kickoff Temp: 48F
• Attendance: 0
GAME
• The Lobos won the 19th meeting in the all-time series between the two squads. Fresno State remains the all-time series leader, 13-5.
• Fresno State fell to New Mexico in a Mountain West game for the first time (5-1).
• New Mexico is the Bulldogs only opponent of the 2020 season that wasn't on their natural rotation of Mountain West games. The revised 2020 schedule was released on Oct. 1.
• Fresno State's seven-game winning streak against New Mexico was snapped. It was New Mexico's first win over Fresno State since 1994.
• Fresno State's No. 1 ranked offensive attack exceeded 400 total yards in every game of the 2020 season.
• Fresno State has outscored its opponents 27-7 in the fourth quarter in its wins in 2020 while being outscored 44-17 in its losses.
• Fresno State dropped its first game of the season when entering the fourth quarter with a lead (3-1).
• Fresno State allowed the most points in a game since allowing 52 to Toledo on Sept. 17, 2016.
• Scored on opening drive for the fourth time in six games this season, and also scored on its first drive of the second half for the first time this season.
OFFENSE
• Jordan Mims' 84-yard touchdown run was the 10th longest run from scrimmage in program history. It was the longest play from scrimmage by the Bulldogs in 2020.
• The 84-yard touchdown run was the longest rushing play for the Bulldogs since 2012 when Robbie Rouse had a 94-yard touchdown run against Colorado.
• Cropper scored his team-leading fifth TD of the season.
• Fresno State allowed eight sacks. That has not happened in at least 10 seasons (dating back to 2011). Fresno State allowed seven once in 2014 (Utah) and once in 2012 (SMU).
• Mac Dalena caught his first career pass (a 51-yarder in his second quarter) and his first career touchdown (a 24-yard catch in the fourth quarter).
• Jalen Cropper had a career-high 12 catches. It was his second game in 2020 with 10+ catches.
• Josh Kelly had a career-high seven catches and a career-high 96 yards.
Ronnie Rivers
• Rivers saw his first action with 8:30 left in the third quarter on first-and-goal from the 2-yard line.
• Rivers remains tied for the program's record for most touchdowns in a career (44). He has been tied with Anthony Daigle (1991-93) since last scoring a touchdown against Utah State on Nov. 14.
Jake Haener
• Haener scored his third rushing touchdown of the season.
• Haener topped 300 yards passing for the third-straight game, and fourth time in six games in 2020.
• Haener is the first Bulldog quarterback to amass four 300-yard passing games in a single season since Brian Burrell in 2014.
DEFENSE
• Justin Houston record a career-high 11 tackles. It was a team lead.
• Justin Houston recorded his first career sack. It was the first sack by a true freshman since Levelle Bailey recorded his first career sack on Sept. 7, 2019 against Minnesota.
• Isaiah Johnson had a career-high seven tackles.
• Reggie Strong, in his first career start, collected the second-most tackles on the team with nine.
• Arron Mosby had a season-high eight tackles.
• The Bulldogs did not force a turnover for the first time since the season finale at San Jose State in 2019.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Asa Fuller was 1-of-1 on field goals (30 yards). It was his first attempt since going 1-of-1 in the 2018 Las Vegas Bowl – also at Sam Boyd Stadium.
• Carson King punted his first three career kicks for a 41.0 average and long of 49 yards.
• Freshman long snapper Michael Munoz got his first career action.