Fresno State ends season on three-game slide, in dire need to fix run defense before bowl
A week after Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford apologized to Fresno State fans for the football team’s poor showing, the Bulldogs did little to regain much faith going into the bowl season.
Fresno State once again couldn’t stop the run, this time resulting in a 33-18 loss to San Diego State during Saturday’s regular-season finale at Snapdragon Stadium.
Pushed around at the line of scrimmage and struggling to consistently make tackles down field for the third straight week, the Bulldogs couldn’t stop another opposing team from controlling the clock and owning a massive advantage in time of possession. San Diego State had the ball for 40 minutes, 51 seconds compared to Fresno State’s 19:09.
And partly because of the lack of time having the ball, the Bulldogs offense never could get in any rhythm, especially during critical downs (converted just one third down on nine attempts).
It all added up to another perplexing Fresno State loss, with this one denying the Bulldogs (8-4 overall, 4-4 Mountain West) the opportunity to record a 10-win season.
In fact, the Bulldogs end the regular season on a three-game losing streak — with all the defeats occurring against an opponent that had a losing record entering the game.
Going into Saturday, the Aztecs (4-8, 2-6) had lost eight of its past nine.
In the previous weeks, New Mexico (4-8, 2-6) and San Jose State (7-5, 6-2), which was 4-5 overall entering its game against the Bulldogs, got the best of Fresno State.
In all three losses, the Bulldogs’ problems started with their inability to defend the run.
San Diego State didn’t even try to be subtle with its offensive game plan.
The Aztecs often lined up in obvious-run formations, using three running backs in the backfield or three tight ends at the line of scrimmage and challenging the Bulldogs to stop their ground game.
San Diego State, in turn, ran 53 times for 226 yards (4.3-yard average) and two touchdowns, led by quarterback Jalen Mayden’s 96 yards on 14 carries.
Fresno State did manage to make six tackles for a loss.
But the Bulldogs had trouble stopping the Aztecs on third down as San Diego State converted on 8 of 19 attempts.
Entering Saturday, San Diego State averaged 147.7 rushing yards per game and converted just 34.2% of its third downs (53 of 155).
On offense for Fresno State, the Bulldogs ran just 40 total plays — 39 less than the total number of plays by San Diego State.
Quarterback Mikey Keene completed 21 of 36 passes for 190 yards, and had no touchdowns to one interception.
Running back Malik Sherrod had the biggest day for the Bulldogs, rushing 15 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns.
Despite the current slide, Fresno State clinched a bowl spot back in mid October.
Now, the Bulldogs will wait and find out which bowl selects them and what team they’ll face.
In the latest bowl projections by 247sports.com, the website predicted Fresno State would face Miami (Ohio) in the Arizona Bowl (Dec. 30).
Fox Sports earlier in the week projected Fresno State also would be in the Arizona Bowl vs. Toledo.
USA Today earlier in the week had Fresno State in the L.A. Bowl and facing USC on Dec. 16.
And Yahoo Sports predicted Fresno State also in the L.A. Bowl, but facing Arizona.
