Fresno State at Purdue: Bulldogs win at Purdue, extend winning streak to 10 games
FINAL: Fresno State 39, Purdue 35
Fresno State pulled off the upset, coming back from a two-score deficit in the second half to beat Purdue 39-35 on Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium.
It was the Bulldogs’ 10th win in a row dating to last season, the third longest active streak in the nation.
Bulldogs’ quarterback Mikey Keene led the Bulldogs on a 79-yard game-winning touchdown drive, scoring the winning points on a 22-yard touchdown pass to Erik Brooks with 59 seconds to go.
Keene finished 31 of 44 for 366 yards and four touchdowns.
The Boilermakers final drive came down to a 4th down pass play that was busted by linebacker Levelle Bailey.
KEENE-BROOKS TEAM UP FOR SECOND TD, ‘DOGS LEAD
Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene hit Erik Brooks with a touchdown pass for the second time, this one from 22 yards to give the Bulldogs a 39-35 lead with just 59 seconds to go.
Keene is now 31 of 44 for 366 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.
PICK, AND BULLDOGS TRAIL AGAIN
Purdue is back in the lead, scoring on an 11-yard run by Devin Mockobee with 4:36 remaining in the game.
The Boilermakers got the ball back after an interception by safety Dillon Thieneman, who was in coverage against Mac Dalena.
BULLDOGS WITH BIG GOAL LINE STAND
Fresno State turned back Purdue at the 1-yard line, the Boilermakers failing to score off a 1st-and-goal from the 9.
On fourth down, linebacker Levelle Bailey stuffed running back Devin Mockobee for no gain and the Bulldogs take possession at the 1 with 8:13 remaining.
THIRD-DOWN EFFICIENCY
Fresno State has converted 10 of its 15 third-down plays, 66.7%. The last time it hit at better than 60% with 15 or more plays was on the road against another Power Five opponent.
The Bulldogs were 12 of 18 in a 38-14 victory at UCLA in 2018.
SHERROD TD RUN HAS BULLDOGS ON TOP
Fresno State has a lead for the first time in this game, scoring on a 1-yard run by Malik Sherrod with 13:44 remaining in the game to go up 32-28.
The Bulldogs’ drive was 85 yards on 14 plays and they now have scored touchdowns on drive of 55, 60, 74 and 85 yards and had a 72-yard drive that ended with a missed field goal.
Fresno State in the second half is averaging 4.7 yards per rush after averaging just 1.7 in the first half.
BULLDOGS CUT DEFICIT TO ONE SCORE
Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene has thrown this third down pass to a third different receiver, hitting Jaelen Gill from 18 yards with 6:44 to go in the third quarter.
With a 2-point conversion pass from Keene to Jalen Moss, Fresno State trails 28-25.
The last Fresno State quarterback to debut with a three TD game was Sean Norton in a loss to Hawaii in 2006.
TACKLE FOOTBALL
Purdue has 153 passing yards and 119 of those yards came after the catch. There were 81 on the long scoring pass, but the Bulldogs also have allowed 16 yards after the catch on a 16-yard play and four yards on a 6-yard play.
PURDUE SCORES ON KICKOFF RETURN
Purdue has taken a 28-17 lead, scoring on a 98-yard kickoff return by Tyrone Tracy to open the second half. The Bulldogs haven’t managed to score on a kickoff return since 2008.
It had been a while for Purdue, too. That was its first kickoff return for a TD since 2013.
WHERE THE BALL IS GOING
Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene is 19 of 25 and Logan Fife 1 of 1 throwing the football. Here is where the ball has gone, with the results on targeted passes:
Erik Brooks - 6 targets, 6 catches, 117 yards and 1 TD
Tre Watson - 3 targets, 3 catches, 28 yards
Jalen Moss - 4 targets, 3 catches, 16 yards and 1 TD
Jaelen Gill - 4 targets, 3 catches, 12 yards
Elijah Gilliam - 1 target, 1 catch, 14 yards
Jake Boust - 1 target, 1 catch, 12 yards
Artis Cole - 1 target, 1 catch, 8 yards
Mac Dalena - 1 target, 1 catch, 6 yards
Malik Sherrod - 1 target, 1 catch, 2 yards
AT THE HALF
Fresno State is trailing 21-17.
Mikey Keene is 19 of 25 for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Logan Fife is 1 of 1 for 5 yards.
The Bulldogs’ run game has generated only 36 yards on 12 plays (not counting two sacks).
They also are 6 of 10 converting on third downs, including a 3rd-and-13 on a 14-yard pass from Keene to running back Elijah Gilliam, a 3rd-and-10 on a 19-yard pass from Keene to wideout Erik Brooks and a 3rd-and-7 on a 12-yard pass from Keene to right end Jake Boust.
Purdue has taken advantage of one big play and two short fields to score its 21 points. It hit an 84-yard scoring pass on its first series and its next two touchdown drives covered 17 yards in eight plays and 59 yards in six plays.
BULLDOGS CLOSE TO 21-17 ON LONG FG
Fresno State closed to 21-17 at the end of the first half, scoring on a career-best 52-yard field goal by Dylan Lynch.
KEENE HIT, OUT
Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene is on the sidelines after taking a big hit by two Purdue defenders, with the Bulldogs trying to get into position for a field goal at the end of the half.
Keene is headed to the locker room with medical personnel.
BULLDOGS COME UP EMPTY ON LONG DRIVE
Fresno State blew a chance to tie the score or at least cut into the Purdue lead before halftime, but a drive that covered 17 plays and 72 yards and took 8:08 off the clock ended with a missed 20-yard field goal by Dylan Lynch.
The field goal attempt could be questioned by coach Jeff Tedford, coming with just 57 seconds remaining in the half. The Bulldogs could have run a play on a 4th-and-goal from the 3 yard line and if unsuccessful left the Boilermakers with a long field and little time on the clock to put a drive together.
PURDUE BACK IN LEAD
Purdue is back in the lead, scoring with a help of an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on wideout Jalen Moss following the Bulldogs’ touchdown.
Quarterback Hudson Card hit Deion Burks for 17 yards and the score with 9:05 to go in the second quarter. The Purdue drive started at its 41 yards line after the penalty and 22-yard kickoff return.
Purdue has rolled up 174 yards of offense and is averaging 7.3 yards per play.
YOU’RE NOT HELPING
Fresno State ranked third in the Mountain West in fewest penalties per game. Not even two quarters into its opening game, the Bulldogs have been called for an offsides, a personal foul, pass interference twice and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
KEENE, WITH SECOND TD PASS, TIES IT AT 14
Fresno State bounced back from a poor series, tying the score on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Mikey Keene to Jalen Moss with 12:29 remaining in the second quarter.
The big play on the series covered 49 yards, a pass from Keene to Erik Brooks.
The Bulldogs’ quarterback is now 11 of 14 for 130 yards and two touchdowns.
BAD SERIES, BAD PUNT, BAD RESULT
Purdue is back in the lead, going up 14-7 on a 1-yard run by Tyrone Tracy with 14:57 remaining in the second quarter.
It did take the Boilermakers six plays to score from the 2-yard line, two negated by penalties on the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs stopped Devin Mockobee for one yards on 1st-and-goal from the 2. Fresno State was called for offsides on the second play, and Mockobee was hit for a 1-yard loss by nickel Morice Norris on second down.
Purdue then tried a pass on third down, and got a fresh set of downs on a pass interference penalty. Quarterback Hudson Card was then stopped for no gain before Tracy scored.
The score was set up by a poor offensive series by Fresno State.
Fresno State went three-and-out for the third time, losing nine yards. That was followed by a poor punt by Carson King that the Boilermakers’ TJ Sheffield was able to take back 29 yards to the Bulldogs’ 17.
KEENE TO BROOKS, TD
Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene threw his first touchdown pass for the Bulldogs, hitting Erik Brooks with a 29-yard strike to tie the score at 7 with 7:26 remaining in the first quarter.
Keene has hit 7 of 10 passes, accounting for 68 of the Bulldogs’ 71 yards of offense.
The TD pass was preceded by a nice catch and run by tight end Jake Boust, who picked up 12 yards on a 3rd-and-7 play. It was the Bulldogs’ first third-down conversion in three tries in the first quarter.
BULLDOGS’ DEFENSE BOUNCES BACK
The Fresno State defense forced a three-and-out on the second Purdue drive, with cornerback Carlton Johnson breaking up passes on first and third downs.
The Bulldogs’ corrners, Cam Lockridge and Johnson, last season were among the best in the Mountain West Conference in reception percentage. Lockridge led the league, allowing a reception only 41.1% of the time he was targeted by the opposing quarterback. Johnson, who missed the start of the season with a toe injury, didn’t have enough snaps to qualify, but would have ranked third at 44.4%.
PURDUE JUMPS OUT TO 7-0 LEAD
Purdue has a 7-0 lead on an 84-yard pass play from Hudson Card to Deion Burks with 11:40 to go in the first quarter, the Boilermakers’ wideout bouncing off several tackles before sprinting to the end zone.
The longest pass play against the Fresno State defense last season was 57 yards by Cal Poly.
BULLDOGS THREE AND OUT TO START
Fresno State in its nine-game winning streak to end the 2022 season scoring on its opening drive seven times., with four touchdowns. But it went 3-and-out on its opening drive, failing to pick up a first down after getting to a 2nd-and-2 on a pass pay from quarterback Mikey Keene to tight end Tre Watson.
Will short-yardage plays be an issue for the Bulldogs this season?
A year ago, the Bulldogs averaged 4.3 yards per rush on 3rd-and-1 to 3rd-and-3 plays, fourth best in the Mountain West Conference. They also hit 11 of 13 passes in that same down-and-distance range, picking up eight first downs.
PREGAME READING
FRESNO STATE at PURDUE
When: Saturday, 9 a.m.
Where: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Ind.
TV: Big Ten Network (Cory Provus, Jake Butt, Brooke Fletcher)
Find it fast: AT&T Uverse (NA), Comcast (403, 1313), DirecTV (610), Dish Network (405, 410)
Radio: Bulldog Sports Network (Paul Loeffler, Pat Hill, Cam Worrell)
Find it fast: Fresno (1340AM, 1400AM, 96.7FM), Stockton (1280AM), Modesto (92.9FM), Bakersfield (970AM).
The records: Fresno State (10-4 in 2022); Purdue (8-6)
The series: 0-0, first meeting
The coaches: Jeff Tedford (36-18 in fifth season at Fresno State, 118-75 in 16th season overall); Ryan Walters (0-0 in first season).
The line: Purdue -4
WIDEOUT TRANSFER TO WATCH
Fresno State last season received big contributions from wideout Nikko Remigio, a transfer from Cal. He ended up second on the team in receptions, returned kickoffs and punts. He led the Bulldogs in all-purpose yards and was second with 10 touchdowns scored.
Jaelen Gill, a transfer from Boston College, might not duplicate that production, but could an even more vital add for the Bulldogs than Remigio was last season. In a wideouts room that lacks experience, Gill stands out. He has played in parts of five seasons with a total of 1,405 snaps, including 467, 381 and 478 the past three years.
Fresno State added another transfer in Mikel Barkley, who has played 714 career snaps.
But among Fresno State’s returning players from last season, senior Erik Brooks in the only returner with more than 400 snaps in their careers.
Career snaps in the Bulldogs’ receivers room:
Jaelen Gill - 1,405
Erik Brooks - 748
Mikel Barkley - 714
Mac Dalena - 347
Emoryie Edwards - 319
Jordan Brown - 24
Jalen Moss - 9
Nathan Acevedo - 0
Artis Cole - 0
Joe Dalena - 0
Jaceon Doss - 0
Josiah Freeman - 0
Tim Grear Jr. - 0
Joshua Johnson - 0
Antoine Sullivan - 0
Gill is listed No. 1 on the depth chart at one of the three wideouts spots and also will return kickoffs for the Bulldogs.
OUCH
Fresno State nickel Morice Norris will play this season with a mangled right pinky, which was broken in a spring practice collision with tight end Jake Boust.
There is a large knot at the first knuckle and the rest of the pinky just kind of there, stuck into a claw-like shape.
“It’s cool, though, because when I’m on my phone it just sits in there,” Norris said, the unnatural claw serving as a perfect cradle of sorts. “I don’t even have to hold my finger there. It’s just automatically there. It comes in handy, in some ways.”
Norris had options right after the injury — a similar injury to former San Francisco 49ers safety Ronnie Lott famously led to the tip of his pinky getting amputated in 1986 to avoid surgery then lengthy rehab time (Lott regretted the decision almost immediately).
“The ugliest thing I’ve ever seen,” Lott said in a San Francisco Chronicle story in 2011. “I was trying to laugh it off, but I felt sick. I tried to stand up, but I broke into a cold sweat. It was just a total shock. I thought, ‘Oh man, I should have had the pin put in.’”
For Norris, the decision he faced was to have surgery to have a pin inserted and miss two-plus months, or leave it as is and play on.
He decided to play on.
“It’s going to be like that until I go get the surgery, if I can still get the surgery by then,” said Norris, a critical piece in a Bulldogs’ defense that allowed just 19.4 points per game last season.
“If it gets hit a certain way, it starts hurting for the rest of the day. That’s what comes with the game. I’d rather it be my pinky than my thumb because then I couldn’t play.”
UP AGAINST HISTORY
Keene will be fighting a bit of history in making his first start for Fresno State — Bulldogs’ quarterbacks have had some tough outcomes when making their first starts.
Here are the past 10 Fresno State quarterbacks in their first starts:
2022 - Logan Fife, 19-14 loss at UConn
16 of 22 (72.7%) 157 yards, 0 TD, 2 Int.
2020 - Jake Haener, 34-19 loss to Hawaii
17 of 31 (54.8%) 289 yards, 1 TD, 3 Int.
2019 - Jorge Reyna, 31-23 loss at USC
19 of 39 (48.7%), 256 yards, 2 TD, 1 Int.
2017 - Marcus McMaryion, 41-21 win vs. Nevada
24 of 32 (75%), 296 yards, 2 TD, 1 Int.
2016 - Zach Kline, 14-13 loss to Hawaii
13 of 23 (56.5%), 108 yards, 0 TD, 0 Int.
2015 - Chason Virgil, 45-24 loss to Utah
11 of 25 (44%), 97 yards, 0 TD, 0 Int.
2015 - Ford Childress, 49-23 loss at San Jose State
19 of 32 (59.4%), 159 yards, 2 TD, 1 Int.
2015 - Kilton Anderson, 56-14 loss to Utah State
10 of 20 (50%), 112 yards, 1 TD, 3 Int.
2014 - Brian Burrell, 52-13 loss at USC
11 of 19 (57.9%), 92 yards, 0 TD, 1 Int.
2014 - Zack Greenlee, 45-17 loss to Wyoming
7 of 16 (43.8%), 55 yards, 0 TD, 0 Int.
THE STREAK THAT HAS TO END … SOME TIME
The last time Fresno State had a kickoff return for a touchdown was Nov. 7, 2008, when A.J. Jefferson took one back 92 yards in the fourth quarter of a 41-28 loss to Nevada.
The Bulldogs since that score have gone a mind-boggling 626 kickoff returns without a touchdown, including a NCAA single-season record 75 kick returns by Isaiah Burse in 2011.
Among the teams that were playing at the FBS level in 2008, only Army has not had a kickoff return touchdown in that same stretch. The Black Knights last kickoff return touchdown was Sept. 29, 2007 in a 37-21 victory over Temple, but they have had only 540 kickoff returns without a score since Corey Anderson took one 88 yards for a score.
QUICK HITTERS
Fresno State has won nine games in a row, dating to last season. That is the third longest active winning streak in the nation behind Georgia (17) and Troy (11).
The Bulldogs of the the Georgia variety open the season against FCS Tennessee-Martin and the Trojans against FCS Stephen F Austin.
The Bulldogs of Fresno State won a school-record 17 games in a row over the 1988 (last seven) and 1989 (first 10) seasons.
The Bulldogs are 5-11 all-time against teams from the Big Ten, and the past two matchups were wrenching losses. Fresno State lost to No. 10 Minnesota 38-35 in 2019 ans 21-14 at Minnesota in 2018.
The Boilermakers past five games against Group of Five conference opponents — beat Florida Atlanta 28-26 last season, lost at Nevada 34-31 in 2019, lost to Eastern Michigan 20-19 in 2018, beat Ohio 44-21 in 2017, beat Nevada 24-14 in 2016.
Purdue is kicking off its 136th year of football and the 100th at Ross-Ade Stadium.
Boilermakers’ coach Ryan Walters, just 37, was the defensive coordinator at Illinois last season when it led the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 12.8 points per game. The Illini also shut out a FCS opponent in Chattanooga and played six teams that were ranked 99th of lower in scoring offense, which had to help. Walters matched up against Indiana (99th, tie), Nebraska (102nd), Wyoming (110th), Iowa (123rd), Virginia (126th) and Northwestern (128th).
Fresno State has three former non-scholarship walk-ons listed No. 1 on the depth chart — Erik Brooks at wideout, Malachi Langley at linebacker and Morice Norris at nickel. There are 10 walk-ons or former walk-ons in the two-deep, including wideout Jordan Brown, tight end Jake Boust, offensive linemen Osmar Velez and Campbell McHarg, defensive end Charles Remlinger, linebacker Phoenix Jackson and safety Camryn Bracha.
