“Long,” said Interim Head Coach Tim Skipper. “It just seemed like it took forever.”

Long indeed, but an eventful first home win nonetheless for Skipper and the Bulldogs.

The Fresno State football team beat Sacramento State 46-30.

On Saturday, Sept. 7, the Bulldogs were able to hold off any comeback attempt in the high-scoring win.

Lots of explosive plays and penalties by both teams made the game go long as the rushing attack took a back seat.

The Bulldog offense took no time at all scoring on the game’s very first play.

Quarterback Mikey Keene found receiver Mac Dalena down the field for a 75-yard touchdown. The Bulldog offense kept their offense on the field and decided to go for a 2-point conversion.

The bet played off as Keene ran up the middle for a successful 2-point conversion giving the ‘Dogs an early 8-0 lead.

The Bulldog defense was able to force a punt on the Hornet’s opening drive but a fumble on the punt return gave the ball back to the Hornets with excellent field position.

The ‘Dogs came up with the stop, setting up Sacramento State’s kicker for a 34-yard field goal attempt. Kicker Zach Schreiner made the field goal, making the score 8-3, still in favor of the Bulldogs.

Sacramento State’s next drive saw another punt after going three-and-out. Punt returner Jalen Moss took the punt 85 yards all the way to the end zone.

The successful extra point gave the ‘Dogs a 15-3 lead with just over eight minutes to go in the first quarter.

Transfer Korey Foreman was able to make his presence felt on the first play of Sacramento State’s next drive. Foreman came off the edge, forcing a fumble in his pursuit of quarterback Kaiden Bennett.

The fumble was recovered by Fresno State’s linebacker Tuasivi Nomura on Sacramento State’s 20-yard line.

After going three-and-out, kicker Dylan Lynch nailed a 32-yard field goal making the score 18-3.

The Bulldog offense continued to attack the Hornets through the air on their next drive. Keene started the drive finding receivers Jordan Brown and Dalena for 11 and 7-yards apiece.

On first and ten, Keene completed a deep pass to Dalena for 55 yards, setting up the ‘Dogs on the goal line.

Sacramento State’s defense pushed Fresno State back, setting them up for a 48-yard field goal attempt.

Lynch missed the attempt left, keeping the score 18-3 in favor of the Bulldogs.

Throughout the first quarter, Keene connected with Dalena for multiple explosive plays.

The start of the second quarter saw the Bulldog offense continue to have success through the air. Keene connected with Moss for 23-yards as well as 19-yards the very next play.

The drive was capped off by Malik Sherrod’s 2-yard run to the end zone. The extra point made the score 25-3.

Sacramento State saw their first big play of the game with over ten minutes to go in the second quarter as safety Eian Moore intercepted Keene. The Hornets didn’t capitalize on the turnover and good field position, failing to convert on a fourth and one.

With just under six minutes to go in the first half, Sacramento State saw its first touchdown of the game.

Bennett rolled outside the pocket, finding receiver Jared Gipson. Gipson evaded his defender and took it 78 yards down the sideline into the end zone.

Following a Bulldog punt, the Hornets found themselves in the red zone after positive plays on the ground and in the air. Following a 30-yard completion to receiver Anderson Grover, running back Elijah Tau-Tolliver fumbled the ball on the next play.

Cornerback Cam Lockridge of the Bulldogs recovered the fumble, giving the ‘Dogs the ball with just two minutes to go in the half.

Another interception by Keene ended Fresno State’s drive early, giving Sacramento State the ball on Fresno State’s 13-yard line.

But the Hornets could not take advantage of the gift as Bennet was picked off by safety Camryn Bracha.

An eventful first half ended with Fresno State ahead 25-10. Keene ended the half with 230 yards. 156 of those yards went to Dalena who racked up 5 catches and a touchdown through the opening two quarters.

Sacramento State’s offense came to life on the opening drive of the third quarter. With new quarterback Carson Conklin in the game, the Hornets drove 75 yards down the field, utilizing four different receivers on the drive.

The drive ended with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Conklin to wide receiver Ezra Moleni. A successful point after made it a one-score game at 25-17.

The Bulldog’s second drive of the third quarter took over six minutes that ended in a touchdown. This drive saw a heavy dose of Sherrod on the ground and short passes from Keene.

After a pass interference call against Sacramento State, a Dalena run put Fresno State at the Hornets’ 7-yard line. After three run plays with Sherrod, the ‘Dogs were looking at a fourth-and-one on the 1-yard line.

A play-action passing touchdown to fullback Tyler Mello put the ‘Dogs up 32-17 with three minutes to go in the third quarter.

Sacramento State could not replicate their previous drive, being forced to punt.

Keene and the offense went back to work at the 50-yard line. The first play of the drive saw yet another deep completion to Dalena, this time for 41 yards.

The catch brought Dalena up to 197 yards on the day just through three quarters.

The drive ended with a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Sherrod to put the ‘Dogs up 39-17.

Sacramento State was able to answer with a long drive of its own. The Hornets drove down the field 75 yards with the help of a 26-yard run by Tau-Tolliver and two penalties against the Bulldog defense.

The Hornets cut into the Bulldog’s lead with a 3-yard passing touchdown to tight end Austin Jarrard. A failed two-point conversion made the game 39-23.

With just under 12 minutes to go, the Bulldogs took over at their own 25-yard line. After completing a pass to Moss for 14 yards, then Keene went back to the hot hand of Dalena.

A 38-yard catch by Dalena put the ‘Dogs on the Hornets’ 10-yard line. With his seventh catch, Dalena racked in a total of 235 receiving yards on the night.

“I did a good job in my preparation and so did the offense,” Dalena said.

Dalena’s performance against Sacramento State put him at seventh on the all-time Bulldog single-game receiving yards list.

A 10-yard run by Joshua Wood finished the drive and made the score 46-23 with just over eight minutes to go.

The fourth quarter continued to be a touchdown fest. Sacramento State drove down the field in only three plays with a strong passing attack.

After finding Gipson twice for eight and 31 yards apiece, Conklin found Grover for the 36-yard passing touchdown. The score made the game 46-30 with the ‘Dogs still in control.

The ‘Dogs got the ball back and took their time on the drive, using the run game to chew 5 minutes off the clock. A missed 46-yard field goal by Lynch gave the Hornets the ball back with only two minutes left.

After a turnover on downs by the Hornets, the Bulldogs got the ball back and ended the game with a kneel-down by Mikey Keene.

The final score was 46-30 with Fresno State taking down Sacramento State.

The ‘Dogs are looking to build off this offensive explosion heading into another home game next week against New Mexico State on Saturday, Sept. 14 at Valley Children’s Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.