USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – Facing the most rushing attempts in a game in the FBS this season (80), Fresno State's offense rarely saw the field on Saturday night in a 36-28 defeat to Air Force at Falcon Stadium. Air Force possessed the ball for 45:08.
When the Bulldogs' offense was on the field, Mikey Keene passed for 289 yards and three touchdowns on 23-of-26 attempts. Mac Dalena caught two of those scores as he totaled 89 yards on four receptions.
Tuasivi Nomura made a career-high 18 tackles, the most by a Bulldog since Derron Smith had 18 against USC in 2014.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Jalen Moss gave Fresno State good field position to start the game after a 41-yard return on the opening kickoff. The Bulldogs picked up 31 yards on its first play from scrimmage after Richie Anderson picked up a 16-yard reception. An additional 15 was tacked on for a horse collar penalty. The Bulldogs went to the ground on five of the next seven plays (19 yards), finishing with Elijah Gilliam punching it in from a yard out.
Air Force proceeded to chew up nearly 11 minutes on a 19-play drive that resulted in a 1-yard touchdown run by Dylan Carson with just 11 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Following a three-and-out by the Bulldogs, the Falcons put together a 14-play drive that took more than eight minutes off the clock. A 3-yard pass from Quentin Hayes to Cade Harris gave Air Force a 14-7 lead.
Facing a quick third-and-8 on its next possession, Mikey Keene found Mac Dalena along the sideline and the senior receiver did the rest, racing into the end zone for a 73-yard score with 3:47 on the clock.
Just over a minute later, the Falcons elected to go for it on fourth-and-1 from their own 34-yard line. Hayes looked to go up the middle but the Bulldogs' interior did not budge and Tuasivi Nomura stopped the Air Force quarterback for no gain.
Three plays later, the 'Dogs were back in the end zone. An 18-yard pass from Keene to Anderson set up a 19-yard touchdown pass to Moss along the sideline.
Working with just 1:42 on the clock, Air Force moved the ball down to Fresno State's 17-yard line. Matthew Dapore converted a 35-yard field as time expired to cut the Bulldogs lead to 21-17 at the half.
On the opening possession of the second half, Dapore made the score 21-20 following a nine-play, 56-yard drive by the Falcons.
On the Bulldogs' second play of the half, Keene's first incompletion of the night went the other way after his pass was tipped into the hands of Blake Fletcher. Air Force turned the interception into points with Hayes rushing in from two yards out on fourth-and-goal to end an 11-play drive. The Bulldogs held on the two-point conversion attempt, leaving the game at 26-21.
A 32-yard reception for Moss began Fresno State's next possession. But four plays later, the 'Dogs were unable to convert on fourth-and-5 at the Air Force 38-yard line. The Falcons moved the ball 64 yards in 12 plays to extend their lead to 33-21.
Keene was sacked on fourth-and-11 on the Bulldogs' next possession at their own 25-yard line. It set Dapore up for a 36-yard field goal for the Falcons.
Fresno State moved the ball 75 yards in just over a minute to cut its deficit to 36-28. Dalena caught his second touchdown of the night on a 6-yard pass over the middle with 38 seconds remaining in the game.
The Bulldogs were unable to come up with the onside kick and Air Force ran out the clock.
UP NEXT
Fresno State heads into its second bye week before returning to Valley Children's Stadium for Senior Day on Nov. 23 against Colorado State. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT and will broadcast on CBS Sports Network.