Fresno State has had its ups and downs this season with such a young team, but it had a chance to send off 15 seniors with a win in front of the Bulldog faithful.
The ‘Dogs welcomed Western Athletic Conference rival San Jose State to Bulldog Stadium in the final game between the two schools for at least one season with the Spartans not currently on Fresno State’s 2012 nonconference schedule and the Dogs making the jump to the Mountain West Conference next season.
The Fresno State defense did its part early on limiting senior quarterback Matt Faulkner and the San Jose State offense off the board.
Then, sophomore quarterback Derek Carr got the ball rolling orchestrating the offense down the field. The ‘Dogs utilized Carr’s arm on the drive as he hit his weapons. Running back Robbie Rouse finished off the drive with guard Matt Hunt leading the way for a two-yard touchdown to give Fresno State the early 7-0 lead.
The offense wasn’t done yet, later in the quarter Carr drove the ‘Dogs down the field with the help of a 27-yard strike to sophomore wide receiver Isaiah Bruse. Fresno State settled for a field goal and senior kicker Kevin Goessling nailing the 39-yarder to become Fresno State’s all-time leading scorer in Bulldog history and to give the ‘Dogs the 10-0 lead.
The Spartans offense answered on the next drive with former Bulldog Faulkner connecting on a 37-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Noel Grigsby. Senior running back Brandon Rutley runs it in from 14 yards out to cut Fresno State’s lead to 10-7.
Faulkner put together another drive of his own on the next Spartans’ possession leading San Jose State down the field with an array of passes. Senior kicker Jens Alvernik hit the 18-yard field goal to tie the game at 10 apiece.
The San Jose State offense would not hold onto the ball for very long as Faulkner gave it back to the ‘Dogs with senior defensive back Isaiah Green getting his first interception of his career. Rouse would do the rest on the drive finishing it off with a two- yard touchdown run to give Fresno State the halftime lead 17-10.