Chippy showdown with future Pac-12 rival ends with Fresno State throwing a costly interception

Of all of the interceptions Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene has inadvertently thrown this season, his latest pick proved most costly.

And led to a unison of screams.

With Fresno State nursing a one-point lead in the fourth quarter and the ball around midfield, Keene decided on 2nd and 13 to throw into double coverage.

That’s when Ethan O’Connor intercepted a pass thrown 10 yards down field toward the outside and ran back the pick 60 yards to score a go-ahead touchdown with 6:52 remaining.

Washington State would go onto beat Fresno State 25-17 Saturday night before an announced sellout crowd of 41,031 at Valley Children’s Stadium.

“He’s a gunslinger,” Fresno State interim head coach Tim Skipper said of Keene. “Obviously, some costly plays there. He’ll own up to it when you talk to him. We can’t turn the ball over.”

Perhaps making the interception all the more perplexing: Keene was not under any pressure, instead standing back in a protected pocket before firing the errant throw intended for receiver Jalen Moss.

Keene finished Saturday having completed 24 of 36 passes for 220 yards with one touchdown to two interceptions. He started the game by completed seven of his first eight throws.

The Bulldogs (3-3), who were coming off a bye week, dropped their second straight game. Fresno State previously lost 59-14 at UNLV.

But while the Bulldogs’ offensive woes in Las Vegas were more a result of poor protection from the offensive line, Keene’s late-game interception Saturday shined light on his season-long trouble.

Keene now has eight interceptions to eight touchdowns on the season.

Fresno State seemed on its way toward victory prior to the pick six.

Fresno State kicker Dylan Lynch redeemed himself from missing his first two field goal attempts of the day by converting a 27-yard field goal that gave the Bulldogs a 17-16 lead with 10:13 remaining.

Fresno State’s defense followed by forcing a punt on Washington State’s ensuing possession, with the Bullgdogs logging back-to-back sacks in a three-and-out Cougars series.

But those cheers for Fresno State’s defense quickly turned into shock and screams on the next drive as Red Wave fans watched Keene get picked and Washington State run back a touchdown.

“It’s a tough one to swallow,” Skipper said. “We had control there at the end. We gave it up. Just too many self-inflicted things.

“We needed to limit the turnovers. Unfortunately today, we had some costly ones.”

Saturday’s back-and-forth excitement, as well as the chippy exchange between the two teams could be a preview of what awaits Fresno State upon joining the Pac-12 in two years.

There was trash talking, taunting and targeting calls that all drew yellow flags.

There also was a slap to the head, a late hit and face mask calls that resulted in unsportsmanlike conduct or unnecessary roughness penalties.

All of this vitriol exchange erupted while Fresno State and Washington State squared off for nonconference action, with the teams meeting for the first time in the regular season in 30 years (the Bulldogs did beat the Cougars 29-6 in the 2022 Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl).

Will the matchup become heated further in the reshaping Pac-12 when the teams face off as conference foes?

Fresno State and Washington State combined for 17 penalties on Saturday, including a season-high 12 penalties for 91 yards from the Bulldogs.

“You can’t have that,” Skipper said, “and be a good team.”

Despite the excessive action, Fresno State’s defense for the most part was effective in slowing down Washington State’s uptempo offense.

The Cougars (5-1) entered the game averaging almost 42 points per and 495 total yards per game. Against the Bulldogs, the Cougars offensive unit was held to two touchdowns and 295 total yards.

The Bulldogs recorded 10 tackles for a loss, including four sacks. Jacob Holmes and Phoenix Jackson each had two sacks.

“The effort was good tonight,” Skipper said. “It’s all about playing smart. It’s limiting the turnovers. It’s limiting the penalties. Those things were killing us.

“We were doing things you shouldn’t do. We just need to settle in, play ball, take things one play at a time. Don’t get emotionally hijacked and do stupid stuff.”

This story was originally published October 12, 2024 at 8:32 PM.