Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State-Nevada Postgame Notes
Fresno State at Nevada
Mackay Stadium
Dec. 5, 2020
Pregame
• Matt Smith was the coin toss captain representative
• Nevada won the toss and elected to receive.
• Kickoff Temp: 42 degrees
• Attendance: 50
GAME
• Fresno State had 599 yards of total offense. It's the second straight game the offense topped 500 yards in a game, and it was the most yards in a game since Sept. 2, 2017 versus Incarnate Word.
• Fresno State was 7-of-12 on third down in the first half, and finished the game 9-of-21.
• Two first quarter special teams' miscues cost the Bulldogs 14 points. The first led to a 4-play, 40-yard scoring drive, the second led to a 3-play, 21-yard scoring drive.
• Fresno State had 30 first downs. Matching a mark from Sept. 21, 2019 against Sacramento State.
• Fresno State set a single game record for most plays with 105, surpassing the previous record of 102 which was set against Utah State in 1987.
• Fresno State 21 passing first downs was one shy of the program's single game record of 22 which was set in 2013.
• Fresno State had zero points off three turnovers gained.
OFFENSE
• Zane Pope set a career-high for receiving yards with 96. He participated in his first game of the year after suffering an injury during the preseason.
• Josh Kelly, on his first career rushing attempt (a fly sweep), scored his first career-rushing touchdown with a nine-yard run.
• Josh Kelly set a career-high for receptions with five.
• Keric Wheatfall caught his first touchdown pass of 2020, and second career touchdown pass of his career. Both of his career TDs are against Nevada.
• Wheatfall (113) and Cropper (107) were the first receiver duo to achieve 100 yards receiving since Sept. 29, 2018 when Jordan Mims (126) and KeeSean Johnson (102) each had over 100 yards against Toledo.
• Wheatfall recorded a career high in receptions (6) and receiving yards (113).
• Jalen Cropper recorded his second-straight 100-yard receiving game. He had 107 yards.
Ronnie Rivers
• Ronnie Rivers had a season-high seven receptions in the first half. He set a career-high in the game with nine.
• Saturday was the first game that Ronnie Rivers did not score since Sept. 28, 2019.
• Rivers became the seventh player in Fresno State history to reach the 4,000-yard all-purpose yards milestone. He now owns 4,026 and ranks No. 7 all-time.
Jake Haener
• Haener's 502 yards of total offense tied for the fifth-most all-time in a single game by a Bulldog. He tied David Carr's performance versus Michigan State in 2001.
• Haener is the first Bulldog to reach 500 yards of total offense in a game since Derek Carr's 551 yards at San Jose State on Nov. 29, 2013.
• Haener's 485 yards passing was the eighth-most in a single game in program history.
• His 41 completions, and 65 attempts, were both marks for the third-most in program history, respectively. Those numbers were also enough to tie for fourth-most in Mountain West history.
• Set a career-high for pass attempts in the third quarter. Previous record was 38. He finished with 65 attempts.
• Haener had the most total offensive yards, total offensive plays, passing yards, passing attempts, and completions by any player in any MW game this season.
• Heaner was responsible for 76 of the Bulldogs' 105 offensive plays. His 76 plays are the third-most in MW history and most since Boise State's Brett Rypien had 81 in 2015. Rypien holds the record, and Derek Carr is second with 77 in his performance against Rutgers. He now holds the MW record for most offensive plays by a junior QB, passing the previous mark of 71 in 2013.
• Haener becomes one of eight players in MW history to have consecutive 400-yard passing games. Derek Carr holds the conference record with three in 2013.
DEFENSE
• David Perales added to his streak of forcing a fumble to four straight games. It was on a strip sack.
• Levelle Bailey forced his first career fumble (3Q). Malachi Langley recovered it, also his first career recovery.
• Bralyn Lux recorded his first career interception (3Q). It was Carson Strong's third interception thrown in 2020.
• On third-and-10 early in the fourth quarter, Fresno State allowed the longest pass play of the season, an 85-yard touchdown pass from Carson Strong to Tory Horton.
• Wylan Free registered the Bulldogs' second interception off Strong in the game in the end zone, giving the ball back to the offense with 11:47 left in the game. It was his first interception since recording two at New Mexico State in 2019.
• Strong entered the game with two interception this season, and left with four.
• It was the second time this season Fresno State had two INTs in a game.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Mac Dalena was the first Bulldog to wear No. 0. He did so as the Bulldogs' place kicker.
• Dalena was 2-of-4 kicking PATs. It was his first two career points scored as a Bulldog.
Mackay Stadium
Dec. 5, 2020
Pregame
• Matt Smith was the coin toss captain representative
• Nevada won the toss and elected to receive.
• Kickoff Temp: 42 degrees
• Attendance: 50
GAME
• Fresno State had 599 yards of total offense. It's the second straight game the offense topped 500 yards in a game, and it was the most yards in a game since Sept. 2, 2017 versus Incarnate Word.
• Fresno State was 7-of-12 on third down in the first half, and finished the game 9-of-21.
• Two first quarter special teams' miscues cost the Bulldogs 14 points. The first led to a 4-play, 40-yard scoring drive, the second led to a 3-play, 21-yard scoring drive.
• Fresno State had 30 first downs. Matching a mark from Sept. 21, 2019 against Sacramento State.
• Fresno State set a single game record for most plays with 105, surpassing the previous record of 102 which was set against Utah State in 1987.
• Fresno State 21 passing first downs was one shy of the program's single game record of 22 which was set in 2013.
• Fresno State had zero points off three turnovers gained.
OFFENSE
• Zane Pope set a career-high for receiving yards with 96. He participated in his first game of the year after suffering an injury during the preseason.
• Josh Kelly, on his first career rushing attempt (a fly sweep), scored his first career-rushing touchdown with a nine-yard run.
• Josh Kelly set a career-high for receptions with five.
• Keric Wheatfall caught his first touchdown pass of 2020, and second career touchdown pass of his career. Both of his career TDs are against Nevada.
• Wheatfall (113) and Cropper (107) were the first receiver duo to achieve 100 yards receiving since Sept. 29, 2018 when Jordan Mims (126) and KeeSean Johnson (102) each had over 100 yards against Toledo.
• Wheatfall recorded a career high in receptions (6) and receiving yards (113).
• Jalen Cropper recorded his second-straight 100-yard receiving game. He had 107 yards.
Ronnie Rivers
• Ronnie Rivers had a season-high seven receptions in the first half. He set a career-high in the game with nine.
• Saturday was the first game that Ronnie Rivers did not score since Sept. 28, 2019.
• Rivers became the seventh player in Fresno State history to reach the 4,000-yard all-purpose yards milestone. He now owns 4,026 and ranks No. 7 all-time.
Jake Haener
• Haener's 502 yards of total offense tied for the fifth-most all-time in a single game by a Bulldog. He tied David Carr's performance versus Michigan State in 2001.
• Haener is the first Bulldog to reach 500 yards of total offense in a game since Derek Carr's 551 yards at San Jose State on Nov. 29, 2013.
• Haener's 485 yards passing was the eighth-most in a single game in program history.
• His 41 completions, and 65 attempts, were both marks for the third-most in program history, respectively. Those numbers were also enough to tie for fourth-most in Mountain West history.
• Set a career-high for pass attempts in the third quarter. Previous record was 38. He finished with 65 attempts.
• Haener had the most total offensive yards, total offensive plays, passing yards, passing attempts, and completions by any player in any MW game this season.
• Heaner was responsible for 76 of the Bulldogs' 105 offensive plays. His 76 plays are the third-most in MW history and most since Boise State's Brett Rypien had 81 in 2015. Rypien holds the record, and Derek Carr is second with 77 in his performance against Rutgers. He now holds the MW record for most offensive plays by a junior QB, passing the previous mark of 71 in 2013.
• Haener becomes one of eight players in MW history to have consecutive 400-yard passing games. Derek Carr holds the conference record with three in 2013.
DEFENSE
• David Perales added to his streak of forcing a fumble to four straight games. It was on a strip sack.
• Levelle Bailey forced his first career fumble (3Q). Malachi Langley recovered it, also his first career recovery.
• Bralyn Lux recorded his first career interception (3Q). It was Carson Strong's third interception thrown in 2020.
• On third-and-10 early in the fourth quarter, Fresno State allowed the longest pass play of the season, an 85-yard touchdown pass from Carson Strong to Tory Horton.
• Wylan Free registered the Bulldogs' second interception off Strong in the game in the end zone, giving the ball back to the offense with 11:47 left in the game. It was his first interception since recording two at New Mexico State in 2019.
• Strong entered the game with two interception this season, and left with four.
• It was the second time this season Fresno State had two INTs in a game.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Mac Dalena was the first Bulldog to wear No. 0. He did so as the Bulldogs' place kicker.
• Dalena was 2-of-4 kicking PATs. It was his first two career points scored as a Bulldog.