‘Dogs reach bowl eligibility with 28-22 win over Colorado State

November 24, 2024

CVV News

FRESNO, Calif. – Behind 28-unanswered points in the first half, Fresno State defeated Colorado State 28-22 on Senior Night at Valley Children’s Stadium. The Bulldogs handed the Rams their first Mountain West loss of the season.

With the win, Fresno State became bowl eligible for the fourth straight season.

Freshman Bryson Donelson rushed for 140 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Mikey Keene passed for 181 yards and two touchdowns on 20-of-28 attempts.

Jakari Embry led the team with seven tackles. Phoenix Jackson had four tackles to go with an interception and pass breakup which both ended Colorado State drives in the fourth quarter.

How It Happened
Colorado State used 12 plays to move 77 yards down the field, and eat up 6:26 off the clock to take a 7-0 lead on its opening possession. The Bulldogs, however, answered with a quick scoring drive of their own, going 80 yards on just four plays. The legs of freshman running back Bryson Donelson moved the ‘Dogs 37 total yards in the drive, which included a 16-yard touchdown score to tie the game with seven minutes left in the first quarter. Raylen Sharpe set up the score with a 38-yard catch-and-run to put the ‘Dogs in the red zone.

Fresno State forced Colorado State to punt on the following drive behind two big stops by Devo Bridges and Jakari Embry. The punt from Paddy Turner rolled out of bounds at the Fresno State 43-yard line. Fresno State was then forced to punt for the first time on the night on its ensuing drive, and the teams were tied 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Following the stop to begin the second quarter, Donelsen broke a 43-yard run up the middle down to the CSU 15-yard line. Four plays later, Joshua Wood punched it in from four yards out to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the night.

After forcing a three-and-out, the Bulldogs’ offense once again started moving the ball. In six plays, Fresno State got to the 1-yard line. Facing a fourth-and-goal, Mikey Keene saw the ball knocked loose and into the end zone. CSU recovered the fumble for a touchback.

The Bulldogs, however, forced another three-and-out. Following a 33-yard punt to their own 46, Fresno State was back in the end zone in just over two minutes. Working the ball down to the 28-yard line, Keene lofted a ball to Mac Dalena at the goal line on the third-and-9.

The Rams used just 1:17 on its next possession. Forced to punt for the third time in the second quarter, a 21-yard punt set Fresno State up at its 42-yard line. A quick 10-play drive resulted in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Keene to Jalen Moss with 17 seconds remaining in the half.

The Bulldogs led by 21 at the half following 28 unanswered points.

Out of the half, the Bulldogs came out flat with a three-and-out but the defense forced a turnover on downs after Colorado State opted to go for it on fourth-and-5 at the Fresno State 6-yard line.

The Rams cut their deficit to 14 late in the third quarter. Taking advantage of a short field, a 9-yard rushing touchdown with 3:25 on the clock capped off a six-play, 35-yard drive.

SU regained the ball at the beginning of the fourth quarter following a Fresno State punt. The Rams used up more than seven minutes but the 16-play drive ended just across midfield. Phoenix Jackson knocked away a fourth-down pass attempt.

Colorado State got the ball back with 5:03 remaining after the Bulldogs were held to their fourth three-and-out of the second half. The Rams moved the ball to the Fresno State 34-yard line, but that’s where Jackson ended another drive, grabbing his second interception of the season.

The Rams would score on its final possession of the game on a 5-yard touchdown pass with 17 seconds remaining. CSU made it a 28-22 game with a two-point conversion.

Dalena ended the game by recovering Colorado State’s onside kick attempt..

Up Next
With Mountain West play completed, Fresno State finishes the regular season on Saturday at UCLA. Kickoff at the Rose Bowl is set for 12:30 p.m. PT with the game airing on Big Ten Network.