Fresno State running back Ronnie Rivers didn’t play in New Mexico Bowl. Here’s why …
Fresno State running back Ronnie Rivers already had set four school records, including most career touchdowns with 51. He also was just a couple of chunk plays away from passing his father, Ron Rivers, on the program’s career rushing list.
But Rivers left that one to his younger brother Devon, a Fresno State commit in the Class of 2023, and opted out of playing in the Bulldogs’ 31-24 victory over UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl.
The Super Senior running back had been playing through an ankle injury suffered in a 34-32 victory over Nevada on Oct. 23, which, he said, was part of the decision to not play against the Miners.
Getting back to full health for Pro Day and a shot at the NFL also was a consideration. Rivers had to sit out the Bulldogs’ victory over San Diego State with the injury, but rushed for 79 yards in a loss to Boise State, 71 in a victory over New Mexico and 65 in a victory at San Jose State while not 100%.
“I should start training pretty soon,” he said. “I’ve got to get healthy before that all starts. Since I hurt it against Nevada, I haven’t been 100%. I’ve been pretty banged up, just fighting through it.
“I just wanted to get healthy. That’s pretty much it.”
With Rivers on the sideline, Jordan Mims handled all 29 rushing plays by a Bulldogs running back, churning out 165 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and adding five receptions for 71 yards and a third score.
The 236 yards from scrimmage were the second-most in New Mexico Bowl history, and Rivers was on the sideline and along for the ride the whole way.
Getting healthy a priority
“He was pushing me, encouraging me,” said Mims, who will take advantage of an extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to COVID-19 and return next season. “He was letting me know what I did and didn’t do right and stuff like that. He always has my back.”
“It was great to see him perform so well,” Rivers said. “I’m proud of him.”
But it’s on to Pro Day and what comes next for Rivers, who was the Bulldogs’ leading rusher the past four seasons after splitting time in the backfield with Mims and Josh Hokit in 2017 when he was a freshman.
He is the first Bulldogs back to do that going back through 1947 – Robbie Rouse, the all-time leading rusher in program history, led Fresno State in rushing for three consecutive seasons. Ron Rivers, Dale Messer and Dean Philpott also led the Bulldogs in rushing for three consecutive seasons.
No running back in school history also has as many rushing touchdowns as Rivers’ 40, as many pass receptions as his 150 or as many receiving touchdowns as his 11.
Rivers is third on the all-time rushing list with 3,352 yards, trailing Rouse with 4,647 and his father with 3,473, and his stellar career includes a number of highlights including scoring the winning touchdown in overtime of the Bulldogs’ 19-16 win at Boise State in the 2018 Mountain West Conference championship game.
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