FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno State reclaimed the Valley Trophy on Homecoming Saturday evening, defeating San Jose State 33-10 at Valley Children's Stadium. The Bulldogs held the Spartans to just three points during the final 59 minutes of the game.
Fresno State's secondary came away with four interceptions on the night, two from Cam Lockridge. Al'zillion Hamilton and Julial Neal added the other two.
Mikey Keene threw for 275 yards on 30-of-41 attempts to go with three touchdowns. Jalen Moss had two of those scores. The sophomore had eight receptions for 85 yards, his most since week one at then-No. 9 Michigan.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After Fresno State forced San Jose State into a third-and-10 on the opening drive of the game, the Spartans connected on back-to-back passes of 40 and 35 yards to take a 7-0 lead. The Bulldogs marched into the red zone on their first drive but that's where it stalled. Dylan Lynch put the 'Dogs on the board with a 33-yard field goal.
Following nine combined plays, Fresno State's offense got going to the tune of a 13-play drive. A 29-yard pass from Mikey Keene
to Mac Dalena set the Bulldogs up on the doorstep as the game moved into the second quarter. Elijah Gilliam gave the 'Dogs their first lead with a 1-yard touchdown plunge.
Fresno State's defense followed up with its third straight three-and-out. It took the 'Dogs just three plays to extend the lead. After back-to-back 2-yard runs, Keene hit Jalen Moss across the middle. The sophomore cut across the field to the left side, outrunning the Spartan secondary to the end zone for a 43-yard touchdown.
San Jose State began moving the ball on its next possession, getting to the Bulldogs' 26-yard line. Julian Neal ended the threat with an interception in the end zone. Beginning at their own 9-yard line, the 'Dogs chewed up just over six minutes before Lynch extended Fresno State's advantage to 13 with a 48-yard field goal.
With less than a minute left in the half, the Spartans managed to move the ball down to the Fresno State 25-yard line. Their 42-yard field goal attempt came up short as time expired, keeping the game at 20-7.
Receiving the opening kickoff of the second half, Fresno State put together a 10-play, 75-drive. Keene found Dalena in the corner of the end zone from 35-yards out.
The Spartans moved the ball into the red zone on their next possession. Al'zillion Hamilton ended the threat though, intercepting Emmett Brown's pass on the sideline and returning it 69 yards down to the 26. The pick started a stretch of three consecutive defensive possessions with an interception for the Bulldogs. Cam Lockridge grabbed the second and third INTs of that stretch.
Lockridge returned the first of his interceptions 35 yards to the SJSU 20-yard line. Four plays later, Moss caught his second touchdown of the evening on a 6-yard pass from Keene with 14:35 remaining in the game.
With 5:08 left, Kyler Halvorsen tacked on a 37-yard field goal for San Jose State. After receiving the kickoff, Fresno State ran out the clock.
UP NEXT
Fresno State hosts Hawai'i next Saturday at Valley Children's Stadium on Native American Heritage Night. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. PT and will air on Spectrum Sports and locally on CBS 47. Tickets are available here.