Fresno State avoids emotional slide, steps up during 4th quarter to beat Utah State

Fresno State did Friday night what it couldn’t do a year ago, which was recovery quickly despite suffering an emotional loss and playing without its starting quarterback.

It took two games last year before backup quarterback Logan Fife found a groove and led the Bulldogs again to victory.

Fife, thrust into the starting lineup after primary quarterback Mikey Keene got injured last week during Fresno State’s loss at Wyoming, proved to be a lot more reliable this time around at Utah State.

The junior even stepped up big during crunch time of the Bulldogs’ 37-32 win against the Aggies.

With the Bulldogs down one point with 4:35 remaining, Fife helped Fresno State march 72 yards in five plays, including a 29-yard pass to Josiah Freeman that brought the offense to the Utah State 20.

Then with 2:19 remaining, Malik Sherrod ran in the go-ahead score with a 11-yard touchdown.

Bulldogs defensive back Morice Norris Jr. sealed the victory on Utah State’s ensuing possession, intercepting a slant pass near midfield and quieting the announced crowd of 17,220 at Maverik Stadium in Logan, Utah.

Fife for the night completed 22 of 39 passes for 291 yards and one touchdown.

Perhaps more importantly, he did not throw an interception.

In the four games that Fife started last year when 2022 primary starter Jake Haener was out with an injury, Fife threw two interceptions in each of his first two games (both were losses) and got intercepted once each during his third and fourth starts (both were wins).

Fresno State is now 3-2 when Fife serves as the starting quarterback.

The Bulldogs (6-1 overall, 1-1 Mountain West), meanwhile, prevented last week’s 24-19 loss at Wyoming into negatively impacting this week and snowballing into a losing streak.

Fresno State, which had a winning streak of 14 games snapped due to the loss at Wyoming, avoided dropping a second straight game despite giving up 568 total yards to the Aggies compared to the 459 total yards by the Bulldogs.

Fresno State’s defense, however, held Utah State to 3 of 12 conversions on third downs, came up with two turnovers (both interceptions) and made three sacks.

The Bulldogs also were aided by the Aggies committing eight penalties for 73 yards.

Sherrod had his best game of the season for Fresno State while rushing 23 times for 129 yards and three touchdowns. He also had three catches for 35 yards.

Bulldogs receiver Tre Watson finished with a team-high five receptions and 76 yards, along with two touchdown catches, including a 19-yard score from receiver Jaelen Gill during a deceptive double pass.

That trick play, which occurred late in the third quarter, gave Fresno State its largest lead on the night at 28-17.

This story was originally published October 13, 2023 at 9:38 PM.