The Fresno State football team beat the Oregon State Beavers on the road 36-27, moving the Bulldogs to 2-1 on the year.
While it wasn’t pretty, the ‘Dogs were able to get the job done in a tough environment.
Quarterback E.J. Warner threw another interception but made up for it with solid play down the stretch.
He didn’t score through the air, but did get into the end zone on a 30-yard rushing touchdown on the Bulldogs’ opening drive.
Warner threw for only 121 yards but added 57 yards on the ground. With one minute remaining in the fourth quarter, Warner led what would have been the game-winning drive, which ended in a Dylan Lynch 43-yard field goal. To start that drive, Warner connected with two Bulldog wide receivers for first downs and scrambled for another.
Say what you want about his lack of passing touchdowns and his list of interceptions, Warner was clutch under pressure. While the interceptions need to be cleaned up, Warner showed the clutch gene, something Red Wave fans may have missed from their quarterback last season.
The run game continued to be the backbone of this team.
Running back Rayshon Luke took over again, this time with 86 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. Bryson Donelson had seven carries for 34 yards but didn’t see a lot of action down the stretch.
An offensive line that continues to improve, combined with the 1-2 punch of Luke and Donelson, can have this team in meaningful games late in the season.
While there aren’t any pictures on the score card, this game wasn’t clean by any means.
In the second quarter, Rayshon Luke had a kick return touchdown called back due to a holding penalty.
Later on, Fresno State started the fourth quarter in a key 3rd and 7 at the Beavers’ 17-yard line. After a completion to wide receiver Josiah Freeman, the Bulldogs had 4th and 1 and kept the offense on the field. Instead of having a shot at a first down and possibly more, a delay of game penalty forced the special teams unit out on 4th and 6.
The ‘Dogs took the lead with a made field goal, but the penalty took any shot at six off the table.
The saving grace was special teams mistakes from the Beavers.
With under a minute to go in the second quarter, the Beavers punter botched the snap and tried to kick the ball away while it was on the ground. The punt went just 20 yards when defensive back Jaden Carrillo picked it up and ran all the way to the end zone, giving the Bulldogs a 20-15 lead heading into halftime.
Another botched snap from the Beavers’ punt team gave the Bulldogs great starting field position with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Despite the penalties and over 500 total yards of offense from the Beavers, Fresno State found a way to win this game.
Last season, the ‘Dogs found themselves in positions to close out games constantly but just couldn’t finish. On Saturday, the Bulldogs played like a team that can win big games and one that won’t apologize for how they do it.
The Bulldogs now head back home to Valley Children’s Stadium where they look to ride this momentum against the Southern University Jaguars on Sept. 13.
