Fresno State vs. Wyoming: What to watch, including Moreno-Cropper and a run to history

By Robert Kuwada

Updated November 24, 2022 9:09 AM

Fresno State wideout Jalen Moreno-Cropper is just 36 yards away from reaching 1,000 for the season, which would add some history to what is becoming one of the best offensive seasons in school history.

The Bulldogs already have a 1,000-yard rusher in running back Jordan Mims and quarterback Jake Haener is on pace to pass for more than 3,000 yards, even playing at most in only 10 games due to an ankle injury.

Fresno State last had an offense with a 3,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard rusher and a 1,000-yard receiver in the same season in 2012 with Derek Carr, Robbie Rouse and Davante Adams. It had one in 2011 with Carr, Rouse and Jalen Saunders, as well. But before that, it had not happened since 2001 when David Carr, Paris Gaines and Rodney Wright hit those milestones and that was the first time in school history that it happened.

Things to watch in a Senior Day matchup against Wyoming with a spot in the Mountain West Conference championship already safely locked away? How about history?

Fresno State’s Jalen Moreno-Cropper is tackled by San Jose State’s Nehemiah Shelton, left, in first half action Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com

Moreno-Cropper has averaged 8.3 targets per game since Haener returned from that ankle injury and in the past two has had 152 receiving yards at UNLV and 137 at Nevada.

“I mean, he’s going to get it,” Haener said. “I just think you’ve got to keep playing football. I don’t think when you’re trying to be successful and do all these things on the field, I don’t think you need to start worrying about stats. I think you just need to go play and perform and do what you do.

“I think the moment you start trying to worry about things like that you lose focus on the present moment and everything that you’re trying to do in that moment, start trying to chase things and get our of your comfort zone and out of your normal game play. I just thing ‘Crop’ needs to go play and do what he does and I’ll get him the ball and the rest will take care of itself.”

Jalen Moreno-Cropper hydrates while warming up before the start of the Fresno State-Cal Poly game at Valley Children’s Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com

Wyoming has allowed 223.1 passing yards per game, which might not sound like a lot. But in the Mountain West, with some poor passing offenses, that actually ranks ninth in the conference. When matching up against proficient passing teams, the Cowboys have struggled and allowed some big games:

Elijah Cooks (San Jose State) 8 catches for 177 yards

Tory Horton (Colorado State) 8 for 168

Keanu Hill (BYU) 5 for 160 and 2 touchdowns

Keylon Stokes (Tulsa) 11 for 136 and 1

Malachi Jones (Tulsa) 6 for 103 and 1

JuanCarlos Santana (Tulsa) 7 for 102 and 1

The Bulldogs also will see a lot of man-to-man coverage from Wyoming, which is a difficult way to go against their deep set of wideouts. Moreno-Cropper is leading the Mountain West in yards per route run against single coverage (4.5), according to Pro Football Focus, and he has the second-highest grade among wideouts.

He also has caught at least one pass in 34 consecutive games, tying Henry Ellard (1979-82) for the second-longest streak in school history. KeeSean Johnson, the Bulldogs’ all-time receptions leader, set the record with at least one reception in 50 games in a row.

THE ‘A’ GAP

The Bulldogs’ interior defensive line has been a question mark all season and last week they played without tackle Leonard Payne, who was not available due to an injury suffered the previous week at UNLV.

Wyoming will challenge Fresno State with its run game and particularly running back Titus Swen, who is sixth in the conference in averaging 87.7 rushing yards per game.

Swen is averaging 6.8 yards per play when running inside and included in that is an average of 3.3 yards after contact on plays the Cowboys have run up the middle, which is the highest among the top six running backs in the Mountain West, according to Pro Football Focus. Brad Roberts (Air Force), who is leading the conference in rushing with 1,425 yards, is averaging 2.1 yards after contact on inside runs, George Holani (Boise State) is at 3.0, Mims (Fresno State) 2.0, Aidan Robbins (UNLV) 2.7 and Calvin Tyler Jr. (Utah State) 2.3.

Wyoming in a 20-17 loss to Boise State last week had five rushing plays of 10 or more yards against a defense that had allowed a conference-low 27 on the season, and four of those five plays went through the middle including an 83-yard touchdown and a 42-yard burst by Swen.

SENIOR SALUTE

Fresno State is expecting around 37,000 at Valley Children’s Stadium for Senior Night, which is a good number on a tough ticket. The Mountain West has saddled the Bulldogs with a final home game on Thanksgiving weekend seven times now in 10 non-COVID seasons in the conference, and some of them have not been well-attended.

In 2018, when the Bulldogs also were headed to the championship game, they had only 26,162 for a final home game against San Jose State played two days after Thanksgiving.

Fresno State will honor 13 seniors: Moreno-Cropper, Haener, Mims, offensive lineman Dontae Bull, safety L.J. Early, safety Elijah Gates, tight end Zach Hartsfield, wideout Ty Jones, tight end Raymond Pauwels Jr., defensive end David Perales, wideout Zane Pope, wideout Nikko Remigio and tight end Jared Torres.

“It means everything to me,” said Perales, when asked about his final home game. “It’s crazy. I’ve been thinking about it all week, to be honest. I remember watching the seniors last year and I just thought, ‘It’s really their last game,’ and now I’m in the same position. It’s a crazy feeling, but I’m super excited and grateful for everything that’s happened.

“It means a lot. It means really everything to me. I never thought I’d be in this position. Just the program history and everything like that, it’s awesome to be a Bulldog. Just to contribute to this program is just an amazing feeling and I’m super grateful for all the fans and all the families, all the supporters who came out here and supported us.”

The Bulldogs through five home dates are averaging 38,837 and will lead the Mountain West in attendance. They also are third among Group of Five conference programs.

THE GAME