Fresno State football vs. Nevada Wolf Pack: Bulldogs’ bowl hopes die with 35-28 loss
FINAL: Nevada 35, Bulldogs 28
Fresno State became the first defending Mountain West Conference champion to fail to qualify for a bowl game since 2001, the Bulldogs’ chances coming to an abrupt end in a 35-28 loss to Nevada on a Senior Night Saturday.
The Wolf Pack won it on a 3-yard run by Toa Taua with 12 seconds to go.
The Bulldogs (4-7, 2-5 in the MW) were up by two touchdowns with 10:20 remaining in the third quarter, but Nevada closed it with a strong run game and by taking advantage of a short field after an interception.
The Wolf Pack (7-4, 4-2) tied the score at 28 in the third quarter, and after punting the ball and pinning the Bulldogs at their own 3-yard line with 1:46 to go forced a three-and-out.
Fresno State quarterback Jorge Reyna, who hit 24 of his first 27 passes, threw incomplete passes on three plays in a row.
The Bulldogs punted the ball back and after a 24-yard return by Ben Putnam, Nevada was set up at the Fresno State 25.
Tie score
Nevada turned an interception of Jorge Reyna into a tying touchdown, scoring on a 25-yard run by Devonte Lee with 1:49 to go in the third quarter.
The Wolf Pack and Bulldogs are tied at 28.
Nevada now has rushed for 215 yards on just 21 plays. Fresno State allowed 340 rushing yards in a loss at Air Force, but the 215 yards at this point is the second highest total it has allowed this season.
Nevada with an answer
Nevada is back within a touchdown, scoring on a 5-yard pass from Carson Strong to Romeo Doubs with 7:27 to go in the third quarter.
The Wolf Pack drive was 75 yards in seven plays and included another explosive rushing play of 20 or more yards – Devonte Lee had a 51-yard run to the Bulldogs’ 5-yard line.
Nevada has rushing plays of 27, 24 and 51 yards and has rushed for 181 yards on just 17 plays.
Record-setter?
Fresno State quarterback Jorge Reyna is 23 of 26, 88.5%.
The school record for completion percentage in a game (minimum 20 attempts) is 87.5% set by Derek Carr in a victory over Air Force in 2012. That, coincidentally, also was a Senior Day game, though not Carr’s.
In setting the record, Carr was 28 of 32 for 452 yards and four touchdowns.
Here are the top five …
87.5% Derek Carr, 28 of 32 vs. Air Force in 2012
84.1% Kevin Sweeney, 22 of 27 vs. Wichita State in 1985
81.6% Trent Dilfer, 31 of 38 at Baylor in 1993
80.0% Derek Carr, 20 of 25 vs. Weber State in 2012
80.0% Kevin Sweeney, 28 of 35 at Pacific in 1985
Reyna to Grim, 28-14
Fresno State is up 28-14 on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Jorge Reyna to Derrion Grim, who made a spectacular catch, going up to snare the football with one hand before bringing it into hisi body.
Reyna is 23 of 26 for 236 yards and three TDs.
Rice closing on Bear
Fresno State tight end Jared Rice came into the game needing nine receptions and 49 receiving yards to pass Bear Pascoe on the school’s all-time receptions and receiving yards list for a tight end.
Pascoe caiught 112 passes for 1,294 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career.
At halftime, Rice has caught four passes for 38 yards. He has 108 career receptions for 1,284 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Fresno State record for career touchdown receptions by a tight end is 11, set by Marty Thompson.
Thriving on third down
Fresno State came into this game ranked ninth in the Mountain West, converting only 38.3% of its third-down plays. Nevada came in ranked third, allowing opponents to convert only 34.3% of their third-down plays.
But at halftime, the Bulldogs are 6 of 7 on third downs, converting at a 85.7% clip.
They have converted two 3rd-and-8s, and quarterback Jorge Reyna has hit all five of his third-down passes for 43 yards, five first downs and one touchdown.
About those three TDs …
Fresno State has thrown three touchdown passes in the first half, two by Jorge Reyna and one by Ben Wooldridge.
The Bulldogs had three touchdown passes combined over their past five games – one in a victory over UNLV and two in a victory at Hawaii.
Bulldogs in the lead
Fresno State has taken a 21-14 lead on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Jorge Reyna to Emoryie Edwards with 5:16 to go in the half. The Bulldogs drive was 25 yards in five plays, following the Nevada turnover.
Reyna is now 14 of 16 for 143 yards with the two touchdowns.
Reyna back in
Fresno State quarterback Jorge Reyna is back in the game …
And, another TO
Fresno State has the ball right back, recovering a fumble by Nevada kickoff returner Toa Taua. The forced fumble was credited to Evan Williams and the fumble recovery was credited to Reggie Strong.
It’s Bulldogs’ 1st-and-10 from the Nevada 25.
Wooldridge in, throws TD
The Bulldogs have tied the score at 14 on a 17-yard pass from backup quarterback Ben Wooldridge to Keric Wheatfall with 7:27 to go in the second quarter.
Reyna down
Fresno State quarterback Jorge Reyna is down after taking a big hit from Nevada safety Tyson Williams on a scramble to the Wolf Pack 2-yard line. There was a review for targeting on the play, but no penalty.
The Bulldogs have a 1st-and-goal, but it will come from the 17 after center Bula Schmidt was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct following the play.
‘Dogs force turnover, will they score?
Fresno State got a stop on defense, safety Evan Williams recovering a fumble at the Bulldogs’ 44-yard line.
The Bulldogs have forced 21 turnovers this season, but scored after only 11 of them and scored a touchdown only eight times.
Bulldogs on the board
Fresno State answered the Nevada touchdown quickly, quarterback Jorge Reyna hitting Ronnie Rivers with a 34-yard touchdown pass with 41 seconds to go in the opening quarter.
The Bulldogs’ drive was 75 yards in just four plays and 1:33.
The touchdown reception was the third this season for Rivers. He has 12 rushing touchdowns.
Reyna is now 8 of 9 for 95 yards and the touchdown.
Strong with second TD pass
Nevada is 2 for 2, scoring on its second drive of the game. The Wolf Pack extended their lead to 14-0 on a 1-yard pass from Carson Strong to Romeo Doubs with 2:14 to go in the first quarter.
Strong is 6 of 10 for 69 yards with the two touchdowns.
The Wolf Pack busted another big run on the drive, a 24-yard burst by Toa Taua. Taua has gained 61 yards on just four plays.
Empty
Fresno State drove to the Nevada 37-yard line, but came up empty on third and fourth downs and turned over the ball on downs. Quarterback Jorge Reyna hit his first five passes before missing a fourth-down throw.
Nevada on top
The Fresno State defense had a poor series, Nevada jumping out to a 7-0 lead on a 29-yard pass from Carson Strong to Elijah Cooks with 11:58 to go in the first half.
The Nevada drive was 75 yards in seven plays and included 27-yard run by Toa Taua and the 29-yard pass play.
Some pre-game reading …
Fresno State freshman Jalen Cropper, who produced some of the biggest plays this season in the Mountain West Conference, is not expected to play against Nevada on Saturday.
Cropper was injured in the second quarter of a 17-7 loss at San Diego State on a play similar to the one that he had busted for huge gains at New Mexico State, against UNLV and at Hawaii.
He had an 82-yard run against UNLV and a 79-yard run at New Mexico State, the first and third longest runs in the conference.
On a 1st-and-10, Cropper went in motion from the slot, took a flip pass from quarterback Jorge Reyna and took just a few steps before he ran right into San Diego State linebacker Andrew Aleki.
Aleki had slipped a block at the line of scrimmage, coming through almost untouched, and dragged Cropper to the turf for a loss of seven yards.
It was his first and only touch of the game – the former Sanger and Buchanan High star was helped off the field after the play and after the game was on crutches with his leg in a brace.
Three and out
Fresno State is one of three Mountain West teams that went into the weekend with a chance to become bowl-eligible.
The other two will be home for the holidays – Colorado State lost at Wyoming on Friday and San Jose State lost at UNLV on Saturday.
Charles Williams, the former Bullard High star, rushed for 186 yards and three touchdowns in the Rebels’ win. The last of his three touchdowns came with 1:15 to go and gave UNLV a 38-35 lead.
That’s wide out …
Fresno State has produced some big-play receivers, most recently Davante Adams and KeeSean Johnson.
It also is one of five FBS programs in history to have three 1,000-yard receivers in one season, 2013, with Adams (1,719 yards), Isaiah Burse (1,026) and Josh Harper (1,011).
But this could be the first season the Bulldogs do not have two receivers (wideouts and tight ends) with more than 35 receptions in a season since 2006.
With two games to go, Zane Pope is leading Fresno State with 41 receptions and tight end Jared Rice has 23.
Another game, another o-line combination …
Tackle Alex Akingbulu, who was injured in the Bulldogs’ 17-7 loss at San Diego State, is not expected to play against Nevada. He had started the past three games at left tackle, but the Bulldogs will again be shifting gears for the ninth time in 11 games this season and fifth game in a row.
With Akingbulu out, the Bulldogs are likely to start senior Nick Aibuedefe at left tackle.
Freshman Bula Schmidt, who also went down in that loss at San Diego State, was able to practice during the week and is expected to make his fourth career start and second at center.
Senior night
Fresno State will honor 17 seniors and one fourth-year junior who will be playing their final games at Bulldog Stadium …
- OL Nick Aibuedefe
- CB Jaron Bryant
- P Blake Cusick
- WR Frank Dalena
- WR Derrion Grim
- DT Jasad Haynes
- LB Dorrzel Hicks
- RB Josh Hokit
- S Juju Hughes
- DT Keiti Iakopo
- DT Ricky McCoy
- S Bryson Oglesby
- OL Cody Pound
- QB Jorge Reyna
- TE Jared Rice
- TE Cam Sutton
- DE Mykal Walker
- LS Patrick Williams
The Bulldogs were going through a rough stretch when most of this senior class joined the program, but the past four years Fresno State is 14-9 on its home field including 13-4 over the past two seasons-plus five games.
Robert Kuwada: @rkuwada
This story was originally published November 23, 2019 at 7:27 PM.