UConn-FS Game Notes

Savannah Stoeckle / Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

UConn at Fresno State
Game Notes
Week 0, Game 1 - Aug. 28, 2021

Pregame

Fresno State Notes

Kalen DeBoer won his first season opener as head coach.
Fresno State won the first-ever morning game played at Bulldog Stadium.
Fresno State won its 14th of the last 15 season openers in Fresno.
Fresno State moves to 58-38-4 all-time in season openers.
Fresno State earned the win in the first matchup with UConn.
Against FBS indepndent opponents, Fresno State is now 9-4 overall and have won eight of their last nine games.
Fresno State recorded its first shutout since defeating New Mexico 38-0 on Oct. 14, 2017.
The 45 points was the largest margin of victory for Fresno State since Nov. 3, 2018 at UNLV (48-3).
First start in a Bulldog uniform: Ty Jones (WR), Leonard Payne (DT), Tyson Maeva (LB), Elijah Gates (FS).
First game played in a Bulldog uniform: Evan Bennett (DT), DaRon Bland (CB), Logan FIfe (QB), Jalen Guerrero (OL), Jordan Wilmore (RB), Cale Sanders Jr. (CB), Zeke Branham (LB), Emari Pait (H), Ryan Boehm (DT), Charlotin Charles (LB).

Offensive Notes

Ronnie Rivers became the program's all-time leader in career touchdowns scored (45), passing Anthony Daigle (1991-93).
Rivers is also the program's all-time leader in career pass receptions by a running back (118).
Rivers notched the longest reception of his career - a 61-yard catch on his record-breaking touchdown score.
Jalen Cropper's 86-yard reception was the 11th best in program history
Jake Haener threw 300+ yards for the fourth consecutive game dating back to 2020.
Haener threw three touchdown passes for the fourth time in his career.
With two touchdown passes over 60 yards (61, 86), Haener now has four touchdowns of 60 or more yards in his career. Two of those four were to Jalen Cropper.
Fresno State's offensive line did not allow a sack in a game for the first time since facing Arizona State in the 2018 Las Vegas Bowl.
Raymond Pauwels Jr. scored his first career touchdown - a 1-yard pass reception from Logan Fife.
Fife also threw for his first career score in the Pauwels TD.
Fresno State surpassed 500 yards of offense for the third time in the last four games.

Defensive Notes

Fresno State's defense allowed just 1.8 yards per play, the lowest total since 2007 (2.0 vs. Sacramento State, Sept. 1, 2007)
Arron Mosby became the first Bulldog defensive end to "scoop & score" since Ejiro Ederaine at San Diego State on Oct. 26, 2013.
The last time the Bulldogs' first touchdown of the season was from the defense was the Sept. 5, 2004 game at Washington - a 19-yard interception return by James Sanders.
The Bulldog defense forced 11 punts, two turnovers on downs and a fumble in 14 possessions.
Two of Fresno State's top three tacklers are first-year Bulldogs - Elijah Gates and Tyson Maeva.
Fresno State held UConn to just 107 yards of total offense, the least amount of yards gained in a game at Bulldog Stadium. The previous mark was 125 by Incarnate Word (Sept. 2, 2017).
UConn's 1.8 yards per play was the lowest single-game average recorded at Bulldog Stadium. The previous mark was 2.2 yards per play by Incarnate Word in 2017.

Fresno State Athletics