Dropping the ball: No. 25 Fresno State falters to Boise State before sellout crowd
FINAL: Boise State 40, Fresno State 14
No. 25 Fresno State had a full house Saturday in Bulldog Stadium for the first time since 2014.
But Fresno State lost 40-14 to Boise State on Saturday in a performance that seemed to resemble the 2014 Bulldogs team that was wildly inconsistent.
Those 2014 Bulldogs lost three in a row, won three in a row, lost three in a row and won three in a row to reach the Mountain West Conference championship game.
The 2021 Bulldogs have endured their own type of roller-coaster season.
Yet Fresno State could still get to the Mountain West title game despite losing to Boise State.
But the Bulldogs lost control of their destiny in the West Division of the Mountain West Conference.
Four quarters of football Saturday proved that they deserved to, as witnessed by the announced sellout crowd of 41,031.
The Bulldogs lost starting center Bula Schmidt in the first half, but struggled to move the football throughout against a Broncos defense that came into the game ranked last in the conference in rushing defense, seventh in passing defense and ninth in total defense.
Fresno State committed 11 penalties for 91 yards, including a holding call on an interception return by DaRon Bland that the Bulldogs’ cornerback took from end zone to end zone.
The penalty wiped out what would have been a go-ahead touchdown in the second quarter, and a roughing the kicker penalty that allowed the Broncos to take a field goal off the board and score a touchdown that put them up by three scores in the third quarter.
In addition, Fresno State was hurt by turnovers.
Bulldogs quarterback Jake Haener threw three interceptions, the second coming in the end zone when he lofted the football over the middle of the field to avoid pass pressure and ended up crushing a scoring threat.
All in all, though, Boise State (5-4, 3-2 in the MW) just played harder and much smarter, running a streak of road wins in conference play to 14 and winning at Fresno State for the first time since 2011.
The Bulldogs will now need some help to win the West Division and reach the Mountain West Conference championship game. They are 4-2 and San Diego State and Nevada could both be 4-1 by the end of the night – the Aztecs play at Hawaii and the Wolf Pack plays San Jose State.
San Diego State and Nevada will play next week, so one of those teams will absorb a second conference loss.
Fresno State, which holds a head to head tiebreaker over both teams, needs the other one to lose another game down the stretch while winning out at New Mexico and after a bye week at San Jose State.
San Diego State still has to play Nevada, at UNLV and Boise State. Nevada plays at San Diego State, Air Force and at Colorado State.
The rout is on, and almost over
Boise State has scored again, this time on a 1-yard touchdown run by Andrew Van Buren to go up 33-7.
There is 7:41 remaining, for what’s left of a sellout crowd at Bulldog Stadium to endure.
Boise adds another FG
The Fresno State defense held Boise State to another field goal, a 27-yarder from Jonah Dalmas his fourth of the game. But the Bulldogs are down three scores with 13:30 remaining and in the second half their three series have ended with a punt, an interception and another punt.
Haener picked again, this time in end zone
Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener has thrown his second interception, this time lofting the ball up in the middle of the field while under pass rush pressure.
The ball was picked off in the end zone by Broncos’ safety JL Skinner in the end zone.
Boise State turns penalty on FG into TD
The Broncos are now up 23-7, scoring on a 10-yard pass from Hank Bachmeier to Khalil Shakir with 6:43 to go in the third quarter, following a roughing the kicker personal foul on the Bulldogs.
Boise State kicked a field goal to go up 19-7, but freshman Cale Sanders Jr. who was called for holding on the interception return touchdown the Bulldogs taken off the board, came in off the left side and hit kicker Jonah Dalmas while trying to get a piece of the kick.
The penalty gave the Broncos a first down and eventually a touchdown. Instead of still being down only two scores, Fresno State is now down three midway through the third quarter.
Boise State picks up big third down
The Broncos have converted their first third-down play and it was a big one. A 3rd-and-5 from the 25-yard line. A stop there and Fresno State likely gets the football back with solid field position.
But Hank Bachmeier hit a wide open Khalil Shakir for a gain of 29 yards.
Boise State is 1 of 7 on third downs.
About those penalties …
Fresno State was penalized eight times in the first half. The Bulldogs season high for a full game is 10 at Hawaii and against Nevada, a loss and a win.
The Bulldogs have been penalized five times on offensive including for a false start four times, though only two of those were on offensive linemen – one also was called on wideout Zane Pope and the other was on linebacker Malachi Langley when in punt formation.
The defense has been hit with three penalties including two holding calls, one that wiped out the interceptions return for a touchdown by DaRon Bland.
On third downs
Fresno State is just 1 of 7 converting on third down. Boise State is 0 of 6.
Offensive line issues
The Fresno State offensive line put together one of its best if not its best game last week against San Diego State, but with starting center Bula Schmidt going out with an injury it is struggling mightily with Boise State leading the Bulldogs 16-7 at halftime.
The Bulldogs have allowed 4.0 sacks and 6.0 tackles for loss and have rushed for football 17 times for just 2.4 yards per play. Fresno State has 173 yards of offense, but with seven points this matches their lowest scoring opening half this season. The good part in that: they had seven at halftime and came back to win at Wyoming, 17-0.
Fresno State scored nine points in the first half against UNLV and came back to win that one 38-30.
The bad part in that: Boise State is allowing 7.4 points in the second half of its games, seventh-fewest in the nation.
Boise State FG pushes lead to 16-7
The Broncos are back up by two scores, kicking a 32-yard field goal with 41 seconds remaining before the half.
The Boise State drive was 52-yard in eight plays and the Broncos have now gained 260 yards to 158 for the Bulldogs.
Bulldogs get pick, but no Pick Six
Fresno State cut down a Boise State drive with cornerback DaRon Bland picking off a pass from wideout Khalil Shakir at the 1-yard line.
Bland took the pick all of the way back for a touchdown, but the Bulldogs had a holding penalty called on the return. The return went for 32 yards.
Bulldogs on the board
Fresno State has cut its deficit to 13-7, scoring on a 10-yard pass from Jake Haener to Keric Wheatfall with 5:50 to go before halftime.
The Bulldogs’ drive was 54 yards in five plays, the big ones a 20-yard pass from Haener to Josh Kelly and a 22-yard run by Ronnie Rivers. Fresno State had gained just 18 yards on its four previous series.
Haener is now 8 of 12 for 103 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Will field position make a difference?
Fresno State came up with a big stop on 4th-and-1, with Tyson Maeva and Arron Mosby stopping running back Andrew Van Buren for a loss of 1-yard.
The Bulldogs take over that the 46-yard line. Their first five series started at the 18, 26, 25, 26 and 23.
A reminder on Boise State defense
Fresno State has punted on three consecutive possessions and have 94 yards of total offense in five series.
Boise State came into this game ranked 12th in the Mountain West in rushing defense, seventh in passing defense and ninth in total defense. The Broncos also were 5th in scoring defense.
Boise State extends lead with FG
The Brocnos extended their lead to 13-0 with a 27-yard field goal by Jonah Dalmas with 12:45 remaining before halftime, and the Bulldogs are fortunate to have kept the out of the end zone.
Boise State hit a 48-yard pass from Hank Bachmeier to Octavius Evans on first down to the Bulldogs’ 12-yard line. From there, a pass went for a minus-3 yards, a run for 1 yard and then an incomplete pass.
Bulldogs’ Perales on a roll
Bulldogs’ defensive end David Perales has been in on 1.5 sacks already. He now has 5.5 on the season. In the past five games coming in, Perales had 3.0 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss.
Fresno State gets ball back
Boise State used freshman quarterback Taylen Green on its past series, which ended a sack by Bulldogs’ defensive end David Perales on 3rd-and-10 for a loss of 16 yards and a Broncos’ punt.
Bulldogs punting it back to Boise State
Fresno State converted a 3rd-and-10, but Jake Haener missed a wide open Jalen Cropper on another 3rd-and-long and the Bulldogs are punting the football back to Fresno State.
Haener through three series is 4 of 7 for 69 yards with one interception. The Bulldogs run game has done little against a Boise State rushing defense that ranks last in the Mountain West Conference.
Fresno State has run it seven times for 14 yards, 2.0 yards per play. Boise State is allowing 4.4 yards per rush and 186.6 yards per game.
A note on the Haener pick
The interception thrown by Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener was his first since he had four in the Bulldogs’ 27-24 loss at Hawaii, a game they had six turnovers.
Haener threw 28 passes in a win at Wyoming, 38 in a win over Nevada and 42 in a win at San Diego State.
Boise State takes 10-0 lead
The Broncos are up 10-0 quickly, turning the interception into a 1-yard touchdown by Andrew Van Buren.
Boise State went 41 yards in two plays for the score, the first a 40-yard pass from Hank Bachmeier to running back George Holani.
Fresno State is 2-2 this season when its opponent scores first.
Broncos come up with interception
Boise State has the football back, coming up with an interception on the Bulldogs’ first down play.
The Broncos have it at the Bulldogs’ 41.
Boise State breaks on top
Boise State is up 3-0, taking a lead on a 47-yard field goal by Jonah Dalmas with 7:17 remaining in the first quarter.
The Broncos drive was 45 yards in seven plays.
Bulldogs’ drive stalls out
Fresno State opened the game with a 30-yard pass play from Jake Haener to Josh Kelly, but it could not put any points on the scoreboard, giving the ball back to the Broncos on downs.
On a 3rd-and-2 from the Boise State 25, Jordan Mims was hit for no gain, Rather than kick a field goal there, the Bulldogs went for a first down and wideout Keric Wheatfall was cut down for a loss one one yard on a sweep.
Boise State has the ball at the 26-yard line with 10:44 remaining in the first quarter.
Kickoff change
Fresno State won the toss and deferred to open the game.
Abraham Montano, taking over for Cesar Silva, drilled the kickoff into the end zone for a touchback, a nice change over the past two games.
In victories over Nevada and San Diego State, the Bulldogs yielded a lot of field position, getting a touchback on only one of 14 kickoffs in those two games. Against the Aztecs, taking advantage of some poor kick coverage and short punts, started drives at the 38, 40, 41, 38, 37 and 50.
Boise State went three-and-out, and is punting the ball to the Bulldogs.
Here, again, the Fresno State on its opening drives this season.
UConn: 3 plays for 8 yards, punt
Oregon: 6 plays for 3 yards, punt
Cal Poly: 3 plays for 3 yards, punt
UCLA: 6 plays for 21 yards, punt
UNLV: 6 plays for 13 yards, punt
Hawaii: 4 plays for 32 yards, fumble
Wyoming: 3 plays for 0 yards, punt
Nevada: 3 plays for 2 yards, punt
San Diego State: 3 plays for 6 yards, punt
The Bulldogs are 5-0 this season when scoring first.
Pregame chatter
The No. 25 Fresno State Bulldogs will be backed by a sellout crowd for the first time since 2014 on Saturday when they take on longtime rival Boise State, and there is a ton at stake for both teams.
The Bulldogs would have a stranglehold on the West Division race in the Mountain West Conference with a victory, with games against New Mexico and at San Jose State to close the regular season.
Fresno State leads the division at 4-1 followed by San Diego State and Nevada at 3-1 – the Aztecs on Saturday play at Hawaii and the Wolf Pack have a home game against San Jose State.
The Bulldogs also have a chance to beat Boise State in back-to-back games for the first time since taking the first three games in the series in 1977, 1984 and 1996. Since then, the wins have been few and far between for Fresno State, just four in 19 games, including a 19-16 overtime win in the 2018 Mountain West championship game.
Boise State comes in just 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the Mountain West, but it still has a chance to win the Mountain Division with a victory at division-leading Utah State earlier this season.
The Aggies are leading the division at 4-1, and will have to navigate two conference road games over the final month of the season. They play a nonconference game on Saturday at New Mexico State, but still have to play at San Jose State, Wyoming and at New Mexico.
Here is how to watch the game on TV and listen on the radio:
When: Saturday, 4 p.m.
Where: Bulldog Stadium
TV: CBS Sports Network (John Sadak, Aaron Murray, Lindsay Rhodes)
Find it fast: AT&T (Channels 643, 1643), Comcast (418, 732), DirecTV (221), Dish Network (158)
Radio: Bulldog Sports Network (Paul Loeffler, Pat Hill, Cameron Worrell)
Find it fast: Fresno (AM 1340), Bakersfield (AM 970), Visalia (AM 1130), Modesto (FM 92.9), Stockton (AM 1280),
Bulldogs app, iHeartMedia app
Playing the run game
The Bulldogs’ defensive front will play a big role against the Broncos’ run game – in the two games Fresno State has lost, it allowed 186 rushing yards at Oregon and 232 at Hawaii, its two worst games against the run.
But that little spot on the scoreboard in the south end zone at Bulldog Stadium with a running total of yards gained passing and rushing could provide a good barometer of the Bulldogs’ chances in this one.
In the 2018 Mountain West championship game between the Bulldogs and Boise State, the Broncos rushed for 225 yards … and still lost 19-16 in overtime. But since that game they are 17-1 when rushing for 100 or more yards, the one loss coming at Brigham Young in 2019, and 4-7 when failing to hit 100.
That’s a .944 winning percentage, and a .364 winning percentage.
Boise State has had troubles rushing the football all season, playing some different offensive line combinations early in the season and without running back George Holani for a two-game stretch.
It is averaging just 2.6 yards per rush, the worst mark in the conference.
But the Broncos also could be headed back to the norm, especially if Fresno State doesn’t fit the run well. Holani, a 205-pound redshirt sophomore, returned from a leg injury last week in a victory at Colorado State and though he carried the football only 10 times the Broncos churned out a season-high 177 yards on the ground.
The Rams’ defense went into that game third in the Mountain West in rushing defense, allowing just 2.8 yards per play and 99.6 yards per game.
Bachmeier, the 65% quarterback
Not sure if we’ve ever seen this, but Boise State quarterback Hank Bachmeier this season by downs …
First down: 65%, 80 of 123
Second down: 65.3%, 49 of 75
Third down: 65.3%. 50 of 79
Within those numbers, the Boise State quarterback has hit 72.7% of his passes on third-and-10 or more, by far the highest percentage of anyone in the Mountain West. He has converted on 9 of 22 pass attempts, 40.9%.
That is an area in which Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener excelled a year ago. This season, Haener has hit 54.5% of his third-and-10 or more passes, converting 3 of 22 attempts into a first down.
Haener, by downs, by comparison …
First down: 113 of 154, 73.4%
Second down: 72 of 114, 63.2%
Third down: 42 of 72, 58.3%
A note about Boise State and the road
Boise State has won 13 consecutive Mountain West road games, dating to a Nov. 25, 2017, loss at Fresno State.
The Broncos are coming off a 28-19 win at Colorado State, with Bachmeier throwing three touchdown passes. Boise State erased a 13-0 first-quarter deficit in that game.
Bulldogs’ turnover deficit
Boise State ranks second in the Mountain West in turnover margin at plus-7, gaining 17 while losing 10.
That obviously could become a problem for the Bulldogs, who have had turnovers play into their two losses.
They had a 24-21 lead in the fourth quarter at Oregon, 10 minutes or so left and had the football. A few first downs, maybe a score, and that game could have ended differently.
But they fumbled the ball away at their 32, gave the Ducks a short field and even then they still could only kick a field goal to tie the score. That turnover was big.
Then, at Hawaii, they turned it over six times with four interceptions and two fumbles and two of those picks were in the red zone. They had a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter, then turned it over with an interception and Hawaii scored a touchdown, turned it over on downs and that led to another touchdown, turned it over with a fumble and the Rainbow Warriors kicked a game-winning field goal.
A challenge to the Red Wave, ICYMI
Boise State has played road games at UCF, at Utah State, at BYU and last week at Colorado State. There were 40,000-plus at the Bounce House in Orlando, Florida (43,928) and at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah (64,470).
But the big crowds and crowd noise didn’t have much impact on the Broncos’ offense, which has been flagged only four times on the road this season for a false start, once in each game.
Fresno State on Saturday will have its first home sellout since 2014, and 40,727 fans can make a lot of noise. But can the Red Wave produce a more disruptive decibel level? It could have an impact.
The false start at UCF turned a first-and-10 into a first-and-15 and came on a drive that ended with an interception. The false start at Utah State turned a first-and-goal from the 7 into a first-and-goal from the 12, though Boise State ended up scoring a touchdown after getting a fresh start when the Aggies were called for pass interference.
The false start at BYU turned a third-and-4 into a third-and-9 and the drive ended with a field goal. And, the false start at Colorado State turned a second-and-10 into a second-and-15 on a drive that ended with a punt.
This story was originally published November 6, 2021 at 2:03 PM.