New Mexico Bowl Postgame Notes

Taylor Martinez / Strategic Communications Assistant

Captains: David Perales, Jake Haener, Ronnie Rivers (sweats), Tyson Maeva (sweats)
Toss: UTEP wins, defers.

Team

Fresno State won the New Mexico Bowl for the first time in program history.
The Bulldogs finished the 2021 season with an overall record of 10-3, marking the 12th 10-win season for the program.
Senior running back Jordan Mims was named the game's offensive most valuable player.
The Bulldogs have taken home the offensive most valuable player in their last three bowl appearances. Ronnie Rivers brought home the award in the 2018 Las Vegas Bowl and Marcus McMaryion received the honor in the 2017 Hawai'i Bowl.
Senior safety Elijah Gates was named the game's defensive most valuable player.
Gates is the first Bulldog to receive the award since Karl Mickelsen in the 2012 Hawai'i Bowl.
Closest New Mexico Bowl Game at the half (19-17) since 2009.
Fresno State's defense recorded a safety in the fourth quarter, it was the second safety in the history of the New Mexico Bowl. The first was in the inaugural New Mexico Bowl, by New Mexico.
Fresno State scored 10 points in the last two minutes of the half to erase an eight-point deficit.
Fresno State has had a one-possession game at half time of a bowl game in its last three bowl appearances - tie game at Las Vegas Bowl (17-17) and three point lead at Hawai'i Bowl (13-10). Fresno State won both those games.

Offense

Fresno State scored the first touchdown of the game, a two-yard rush by Jordan Mims. It was his fifth rushing touchdown of the season, tying for the most on the team this year.
Mims had his second game this season with multiple rushing touchdowns. First since San Diego State (Oct. 30) where he had two.

Mims had his third 100-yard rushing game of the season.
Jake Haener surpassed 4,000 yards passing on the season. He is the first Bulldog to surpass 4,000 yards passing since Derek Carr had 5,082 in 2013. Haener joins Derek Carr and David Carr as the only Bulldog quarterbacks to throw for 4,000 yards in a single season.
Zane Pope had a game-long 35-yard reception.

Defense

The Bulldogs scored on a defensive safety, the second safety in New Mexico Bowl history.
Fresno State has had two safeties this season.
Senior defensive end Aaron Mosby recorded his sixth forced fumble of the season.
Senior safety Elijah Gates recorded his first interception as a Bulldog, and his fourth as a collegiate football player (had three as a player at UCLA).
Junior linebacker Levelle Bailey recorded his third interception of the season.
Sophomore Malachi Langley had a team-high eight tackles, leading the defense for the second consecutive game.

Special Teams

Cesar Silva missed his first PAT of the season on the opening drive of the game, following a penalty on a two-point conversion attempt (illegal formation).
Silva went 3-for-4 in field goal attempts.
Malik Sherrod had a season-long kick return of 27 yards.

Fresno State Athletics