ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Fresno State picked up its first road win of the season with a dominant 41-9 win at New Mexico on Saturday evening. Fresno State moves to 3-4 (2-1 Mountain West) on the season.
Fresno State was clicking on offense, putting up 510 yards of total offense against one of the top defensive groups in the Mountain West. Quarterback Logan Fife led the way with 225 yards passing with one passing touchdown and two rushing scores. Jalen Moreno-Cropper and Jordan Mims had explosive outings for the offensive attack as Moreno-Cropper had 158 yards receiving and Mims added 165 yards in the run game.
How It Happened
Fresno State scored on its opening drive for the first time since the season opener, capping a 12-play 67-yard drive with a 26-yard field goal by Abraham Montano.
New Mexico responded with a 63-yard kickoff return on the ensuing kickoff, but Fresno State's defense held the Lobos to just a field goal that evened the score a three each mid-way through the first quarter.
The Bulldogs got their offense clicking in its next drive as Logan Fife hit Jalen Moreno-Cropper on back-to-back 18 yard passes to move the 'Dogs down the field. The Bulldogs scored their first touchdown of the game on a Fife keeper from two yards out.
Fresno State's defense had another key outing, holding UNM to just a field goal after it returned a punt 38 yards to the UNM48 yard line. The Bulldogs' red zone defense stayed tough, getting UNM behind schedule after marching down the field. The Lobos scored on a 24-yard field goal to make it 10-6 in favor of Fresno State with 2:46 left in the half.
Montano put Fresno State ahead 13-6 at the half with a final second 38-yard field goal.
The Bulldogs opened the second half with a big defensive stop to get the offense back on the field. Fresno State wasted no time on its first offensive possession in the half as Fife threw for a 75-yard touchdown pass to Moreno-Cropper to put Fresno State up 20-6 with 12:44 left in the quarter.
Fife continued on with his career-high night as he snuck away untouched for a 30-yard touchdown run.
The Lobos gained momentum off of a 24-yard interception return to set themselves up in Bulldog territory. Fresno State's defense again held them to just a field goal. The Bulldogs led 27-9 with 1:59 left in the third quarter.
The Bulldogs' running backs powered the offense to its next scoring drive as Jordan Mims accounted for 56 yards to move the ball down field. Malik Sherrod capped the scoring drive with a two-yard run to the endzone to give the 'Dogs a 34-9 lead.
The backs didn't stop there as Mims added one more score on a 22-yard run to complete Fresno State's 41-point offensive showing against one of the top defenses in the Mountain West.