The Fresno State Bulldogs held off a late rally from the Nevada Wolf Pack to win 20-17 on Saturday night in Fresno.
The Bulldog offense was sluggish to start, as EJ Warner threw an interception on the team’s
first drive of the ball game. It wouldn’t hurt them too much as on the ensuing drive for Nevada, the Bulldogs came up with their own interception.
After two Bulldog punts sandwiched around a missed Nevada field goal, the Wolf Pack broke through with their own field goal to make it 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.
After Fresno State turned it over on downs to start the second quarter, the Bulldogs defense would cause another turnover, this a fumble from Herschel Turner.
Then the Bulldogs would cash in with a field goal of their own to make it 3-3.
Right after that, K’Vion Thunderbird would pick off Nevada quarterback Carter Jones. That would set up the Bulldogs at the Wolf Pack 29.
Three plays later and it was Warner finding Josiah Freeman from 12 yards out to make it 10-3 Fresno State.
Following a Nevada punt, the Bulldogs would move it 71 yards to the Nevada 19 before they would stall out and settle for a field goal. That made it 13-3 in favor of Fresno State.
On their next drive, Nevada would push into Fresno State territory before Chubba Purdy in at quarterback would throw an interception to Simeon Harris at the 34-yard line.
After that, six Warner passes allowed Fresno State to drive the 66 yards needed for a touchdown, with the sixth play being Warner finding Freeman again, this time from 24 yards out to make it 20-3.
In the second half, the offense was nowhere to be found for Fresno State.
After trading punts for much of the third quarter, Nevada would find pay dirt to end the quarter.
Carter Jones would hit Dakota Thomas from the 10-yard line to cap a 10-play 46-yard drive to cut the deficit to 20-10.
Following a quick three and out for Fresno State, Nevada would strike again for a touchdown.
This time Jones would throw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Ramseur to cut the lead to 20-17 with 12:36 to play.
After another three and out, the defense would rise to the occasion and hold Nevada to a three and out.
After a punt with over eight minutes to play, the Fresno State offense went into grind mode and would hold the ball for the last 8:04 to win the ball game.
The victory gives Fresno State a 5-1 record and 2-0 in the Mountain West Conference. Needing just one win to get to bowl eligibility.
“We like to make thing interesting. We played well at times, especially in the second quarter and the last eight minutes of the game. Other times, we spun our wheels. There are things we need to clean up,” head coach Matt Entz said after the game. “There are probably people out there that are saying we’re lucky to have won tonight. I’m okay with that. I’d rather be lucky than to have lost the game.”
Fresno State will have a quick turnaround this week as they will play on Friday night in Fort Collins to take on Colorado State. The Rams are 1-4 and 0-1 in the MWC.
Kickoff on Friday night is at 6:00 pm PT and will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
