The Fresno State Bulldogs returned to Valley Children’s Stadium with a blowout win over the Georgia Southern University Eagles, with a final score of 42-14.
After losing 31-7 against the Kansas University Jayhawks in Week 0, the Bulldogs were prepared for their home opener. While there were some hiccups from the offense, the mistakes were not the deciding factor for them this time, but they’re still hungry for more.
“We run for 350 yards, we are 20 of 27 throwing the football, all the numbers you want to see,” said Head Coach Matt Entz after picking up his first win as a Bulldog. “This is winning football right here. We got to clean up some things, of course, but we’ll do that on Monday.”
Here’s how the Bulldogs prevailed against the Eagles.
Week 0 will be the outlier
On the road, in a renovated stadium against a Power-4 conference opponent, with a quarterback who has started six years in the NCAA is grounds for an upset. The Week 1 loss to the University of Michigan last season might have inflated the thoughts of some Bulldog fans, but to expect them to come out of Kansas 1-0 was a bit over the moon.
With that being said, this team is completely different from what they showed at Kansas. The running game, the defense, the decision-making on offense — all of it was 10 times better.
Of course, there were some miscues, but altogether, this was dominant Bulldog football.
The running backs set the tone
After a disappointing Week 0 performance where the ‘Dogs rushed for only 39 yards, the running backs threw themselves into sport mode this week by totaling 329 yards. Bryson Donelson led the group with 167 and one touchdown and Rayshon Luke added 96 yards and three trips to the endzone.
The group started slowly in the first quarter, only racking up 28 yards.
It was refreshing to see the ‘Dogs run the ball with efficiency. 2024 was a year most Bulldog fans would like to forget. Watching the offense lean on its physicality in the trenches is cathartic, for many reasons.
The running backs love being the focal point in this Bulldog offense.
“Who doesn’t want to be involved 45 times?” Donelson said after a career-best performance. “I feel like we all stepped up and did a good job.”
Did the ‘Dogs just match up well against the Eagles, or have they truly found the run game that they need to contend in the Mountain West?
The defense rallied for the offense
When the offense can start a drive five yards from midfield, that points to stout defense.
The momentum really shifted after Donelson fumbled on the Eagles’ 3-yard line with just under 10 minutes left in the second quarter. The defense forced a three-and-out and only surrendered 111 total yards for the rest of the game.
Adding a shutout second half from the Bulldog defense helped the offense stuff this game away.
Playmakers like defensive back Al’zillion Hamilton made timely pass breakups, and defensive back Ryan Wilson intercepted Eagles’ quarterback JC French IV. Jayden Davis also totaled 10 tackles for the defense.
Linebacker Tim Thomas was ejected for targeting to start the second quarter, but it never fazed the defense.
“I was keeping him up and motivated on the sidelines,” said linebacker K’Vion Thunderbird. “I told him, ‘We got him.”’
The defense was thought of as the strength for the Bulldogs in 2025, and they cleaned up a lot of their mistakes from the Week 0 loss.
E.J. Warner looked comfortable… kind of
It was far from a perfect performance for starting quarterback E.J. Warner. Two ghastly interceptions in the first half had fans thinking back to last week. Having zero touchdowns and four interceptions after two games is not ideal for the senior.
To give credit where it’s due, he settled his nerves and locked in after throwing his second interception to Eagles’ defensive back Chance Gamble.
He completed a well-executed two-minute drill. The play calling could have been more aggressive, but the conservative approach worked out in the end.
In the second half, Warner completed seven of his eight passes for 91 yards. In total, he threw for 176 yards. He also ran for 28 yards, which helped extend drives.
Warner also faced little pressure. The offensive line got great penetration on the Eagles’ defensive front and allowed Warner to buy time in the pocket and give the running backs some easy lanes to get chunk plays.
“Man, I owe them a steak dinner,” Donelson said. “They stepped up big time. I tell them every game, I can’t be me unless y’all do the work.”
Entz gets his first win
Entz got his first win as a Bulldog and as a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) coach.
“Feels really good,” Entz said after the win. “I’m going to go home — eventually. Probably see my dog a little bit. Probably relax, probably watch a game that was earlier today that I don’t know the score of and probably fall asleep watching TV.”
It’s also the Bulldogs’ first home opening win over an FBS program since 2021, when they defeated the University of Connecticut.
Keep it rolling for the Beavers
Did the ‘Dogs just match up well against the Eagles, or did they truly find some magic with the offense? It’s tough to say right now, but the ‘Dogs do not get a breather as they travel to Corvallis to battle the Oregon State University Beavers.
It will be another tough road matchup for the ‘Dogs, but if they can continue the success they had in their win over the Eagles, the ‘Dogs could be sitting pretty for Mountain West Conference play.
Kickoff against the Beavers is set for Saturday, Sept. 6, at 12:30 p.m. on The CW.
