Fresno State-New Mexico State Postgame Notes

Captains: Devo Bridges, Mikey Keene, Braylen Nelson, Tuasivi Nomura
Toss: Fresno State wins, defers

Team Notes:

Fresno State shut out an opponent in the first half for the first time since Sept. 30, 2023 against Nevada.
Fresno State shut out its opponent for the first time since Sept. 16, 2023 at Arizona State (29-0).
Fresno State recorded a shutout for the fourth straight season.
Fresno State’s 48-point margin of victory is its most since defeating Cal Poly 63-10 (+53) on Sept. 11, 2021.
Fresno State improves to 2-0 at home this season.
Fresno State announced a crowd of 39,079 on Saturday, marking the 16th consecutive home game with at least 35,000 fans in attendance at Valley Children’s Stadium.
Fresno State scored its most points in a game since scoring 53 against Kent State on Sept. 23, 2023.
Fresno State’s defense had three takeaways on Saturday night, all interceptions. It was the second-straight game with multiple takeaways.
Fresno State has seven takeaways on the season.
Fresno State’s 281 rushing yards was its most in a game since Oct. 22, 2022 versus New Mexico (285).
Fresno State’s four rushing touchdowns are its most in a game since Nov. 5, 2022 vs Hawai’i.
Fresno State held New Mexico State to 138 total yards, its fewest allowed since Aug. 28, 2021 versus UConn.
61 of those 138 yards came on one of the Aggies’ 15 drives.
Fresno State held NMSU to 61 passing yards, the fewest for an opponent since holding the Aggies to 58 in the 2023 New Mexico Bowl.

Offense Notes:

For the second game in a row, WR Mac Dalena scored on the Bulldogs’ opening possession, a 69-yard touchdown reception from Mikey Keene.
Keene finished with 221 yards passing on 12-of-22 attempts and two touchdowns.
Dalena had the first multi-score game of his career, grabbing his second of the night late in the second quarter.
WR Raylen Sharpe led the team in all-purpose yards with 132 (58 receiving, 74 rushing)
Sharpe extended his active streak with a catch to 29 games.
WR Jalen Moss had his longest catch of the season with a 49-yard grab in the third quarter, setting up a touchdown for the Bulldogs.
RB Elijah Gilliam scored his first touchdown of the season, a four-yard plunge. It was the seventh of his career.
The touchdown happened on the next play after Gilliam fumbled, the first fumble by a Fresno State running back since Ronnie Rivers versus New Mexico on Nov. 13, 2021.
RB Malik Sherrod scored his third touchdown of the season in the second quarter. The senior set up his 7-yard score with a 48-yard run, his longest rush of the season.
Sherrod had his fifth career 100-yard game.
QB Joshua Wood recorded two rushing touchdowns in the win. It was his first career game with multiple scores.
Wood continues to be a red zone threat for the Bulldog offense with all three of his TDs this season being scored in the red zone.
OL Daniel Taumalolo got his first start of the season in place of injured Campbell McHarg at right guard.
Senior center Mose Vavao exited the game in the second quarter. Julian Polendo stepped up in his place.
Freshman RB Bryson Donelson earned the first carries of his career, totaling 58 yards on 12 carries.

Defense Notes:

DB Cam Lockridge grabbed his second interception of the year in the second quarter.
Lockridge grabbed his second interception of the game in the third quarter. It was his first time with a multi-interception performance since the 2022 Mountain West Championship game at Boise State.
With two interceptions on Saturday, Lockridge has 12 in his career and is the FBS' active leader in career interceptions.
Lockridge matched his career high in tackles with six and added a forced fumble. It was his first forced fumble of the season.
DE Korey Foreman had his first sack as a Bulldog.
DT Jacob Holmes had a sack in the win, his first of the season and sixth of his career.
NKL Justin Houston had his first career interception in the fourth quarter.
LB RL Miller saw his first action of the season.
DL Mordecai Hines saw his most productive game of his career as a member of the defense, finishing the game with two tackles, 1.0 sack and 1.0 TFL.

Special Teams Notes:

K Dylan Lynch got back to his ways, hitting on 2-of-2 field goals in the win
Lynch has made a field goal in 16 straight games.

Fresno State Athletics

Fresno State-New Mexico State Postgame Notes