Fresno State shut out in second half, finishes without Jorge Reyna in loss to San Jose State

FINAL: San Jose State 17, Bulldogs 16

Fresno State started out well, as it has several times this season. But the Bulldogs botched several opportunities to get away from San Jose State in a 17-16 loss on Saturday at CEFCU Stadium.

None was bigger than a fourth-and-goal play from the Spartans’ 1-yard line just before the end of the first half, when they had a chance to extend a 16-3 lead with possession to start the second half.

The Bulldogs had a third-and-goal from the Spartans’ 8-yard line and quarterback Jorge Reyna hit tight end Jared Rice for a gain of seven. They had 31 seconds to work with and a timeout remaining, but they got to the line quickly and Reyna tried to get in on a quarterback sneak.

He did not get close.

The Bulldogs’ defense kept them in it after giving up a touchdown on the Spartans’ opening possession of the second half to close to 16-10.

But San Jose State was able to cash in with 2:11 to go, moving 83 yards in seven plays to take a 17-16 lead on a 10-yard run by DeJon Packer.

Fresno State had forced three punts in a row and stopped the Spartans on a fourth-and-2 play before that touchdown.

Spartans lead

San Jose State has taken a 17-16 lead with 2:11 to go on a 10-yard touchdown run by DeJon Packer.

Rice with another record

Fresno State tight end Jared Rice just caught a fourth pass in the game and has set a school record for receptions by a tight end.

Rice now has 113 career receptions, one ahead of Bear Pascoe. He set the school record for receiving yards by a tight end last week in a loss to Nevada.

Reyna back, but Wooldridge still in

Fresno State quarterback Jorge Reyna is back on the field, but Ben Wooldridge remains in the game.

Another o-line injury

The Bulldogs’ Jace Fuamatu just limped off the field. Tyrone Sampson is back in the game at center and freshman Bula Schmidt is playing left guard.

Enter Wooldridge

Fresno State quarterback Jorge Reyna appeared to come away from a late hit on the Bulldogs’ last drive at less than 100% and they are going with redshirt freshman Ben Wooldridge.

The Bulldogs’ past six drives have ended with an interception, four punts and once on downs at the Spartans’ 2-yard line.

Spartans to within 16-10

San Jose State has closed to 16-10 with 9:43 remaining in the third quarter on a 2-yard touchdown run by quarterback Josh Love.

The Spartans’ drive was 87 yards in seven plays.

Love the third quarter

San Jose State quarterback Josh Love, who is leading the Mountain West Conference in passing, has not excelled in third quarters this season. He has completed only 53.8% of his passes, the lowest in any quarter. He also has an efficiency rating of 119.93, by far his lowest in any quarter.

Spartans coming up empty

San Jose State has 187 yards and three points at halftime.

The Spartans came in on a bit of a roll. Over their past four games they did this …

Army – 34 points, 402 yards

Boise State – 42 points, 497 yards

Hawaii – 40 points, 497 yards

UNLV – 35 points, 564 yards

Rivers at the half

Fresno State running back has 113 rushing yards and one touchdown at halftime and has five receptions for another 50 yards.

The Bulldogs are rushing for 6.1 yards per play. They are doing it behind yet another starting offensive line combination. Nick Abbs started at guard, making it 10 starting offensive line groups in 12 games this season.

And a safety makes it 16-3

Fresno State has extended its leave with a safety, linebacker Justin Rice sacking San Jose State quarterback Josh Love in the end zone with 5:27 remaining in the first half.

Fourth down stop

Fresno State cut down a San Jose State scoring threat, stopping a fourth-and-1 run by De Jon Packer at its 19-yard line. Mykal Walker and freshman Evan Williams were credited with the tackle.

Nevada last week was 3 of 3 on fourth down plays against the Bulldogs’ defense.

Top quarter

Fresno State gained 187 yards in the first quarter, building a 14-3 lead.

It is the most yards the Bulldogs have had in an opening quarter this season and the second most yards in any quarter. They had 252 yards in the second quarter against UNLV.

The Bulldogs are averaging 11.0 yards per play.

Spartans answer with 3

San Jose State got a 50-yard pass play from Josh Love to Tre Walker to set up a short field goal, cutting the Bulldogs’ lead to 14-3 with 1:13 to go in the first quarter.

Rivers TD run

Fresno State is up 14-0, scoring on a 5-yard run by Ronnie Rivers with 5:08 to go in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs drive was 61 yards in four plays – Rivers also had a 55-yard run on the drive.

The 55-yard run was the longest this season for the Bulldogs’ running back.The touchdown run was his 13th this season, the most in the Mountain West Conference.

Rivers in the first quarter has rushed six times for 81 yards and has gained more yards than he did in eight of the Bulldogs’ games this season. He has three 100-yard games – 146 against Colorado State, 103 against Hawaii and 102 against Utah State.

‘Dogs defense is 2 for 2

San Jose State has had two series and had to punt the ball away both times.

Fresno State the past four games have had had a lot of stops. Opponent punts in those games …

Hawaii – 3

Utah State – 2

San Diego State – 3

Nevada – 3

Rice TD, Bulldogs on top

The Bulldogs are off to a 7-0 lead on a 38-yard touchdown pass from Jorge Reyna to tight end Jared Rice, capping a 98-yard drive in nine plays.

The touchdown reception for Rice was the 11th of his career, tying Marty Thompson for first on the Bulldogs’ all-time list for tight ends.

Reyna on the drive was 5 of 5 for 72 yards and the touchdown.

Dogs get a stop, start in a hole

The Fresno State got a top to start the game, but it will have a long way to go to get into the end zone. The Spartans’ punt was touched down at the Bulldogs’ 2-yard line.

Setting records, the easy way

Fresno State wideout KeeSean Johnson caught a school-record 275 passes in his career.

Two of them were thrown by quarterback Jorge Reyna.

Both came last season in the fourth quarter of the Bulldogs’ victory over Hawaii. With the first, Johnson tied the school record for career receptions. With the second, Johnson set the record.

“I take that one to heart,” Reyna said. “I joke about it with Marcus (McMaryion). I’m like, ‘Thank you Marcus, you did all the work for me …’ He gets mad about it, but it’s all fun and games.”

Reyna also threw the pass last week that pushed senior Jared Rice past Bear Pascoe at the top of the Bulldogs’ career receiving yards list for tight ends and he could be part of another record on Saturday with the Bulldogs closing their season at San Jose State.

Rice is just four receptions away from the Fresno State record for receptions by a tight end and two touchdown receptions away from the school-record for touchdowns by a tight end.

Here is where Rice, a senior from Modesto, stands on the receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns lists …

Receptions

Bear Pascoe (2005-08) – 112

Jared Rice (2016-present) – 109

Receiving yards

Jared Rice – 1,317

Bear Pascoe – 1,294

Receiving touchdowns

Marty Thompson (1989-’92) – 11

Bear Pascoe – 10

Jared Rice – 10

This story was originally published November 30, 2019 at 7:43 PM.