They were second in third-down conversion percentage at 50.4%, but over the past three games have fallen off to 33.3% and were 1 of 9 against the Aztecs.įresno State was ranked fourth in the conference in total offense, averaging 407.0 yards per game. But in their losing streak the Bulldogs have averaged 17.7, which over this last three-game stretch of the season is ahead of just a Nevada team that is 2-10. They were third in the conference in scoring, averaging 34.0 points per game. But in the past three they have averaged 16.3, a number that is the fewest in the conference over the final three games of the regular season. They also were leading the conference in first downs, averaging 22.6 per game. In the past three games, they have completed only 56.4% of their passes, including 56.8% in the loss to San Diego State (4-8, 2-6) with quarterback Mikey Keene 21 of 36 for 190 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Bulldogs’ offense struggling at worst timeīut that is not the only glaring statistic in illustrating just how far the offense has fallen off over the final three weeks of the season.Īfter that victory over Boise State, the Bulldogs were leading the Mountain West in completion percentage, hitting 66.3% of their passes. They have 12 three-and-outs in their three-game losing streak, and in the first nine games of the season they had 15 total.įresno State went three full games without a three-and-out in victories over Arizona State, Kent State and Nevada. The Bulldogs in those two games have gone three-and-out nine times in 21 truly offensive series. In the past two games the Aztecs (40:51) and Lobos (40:41) have held huge advantages in time of possession. Running back Malik Sherrod rolled up a school-record 312 all-purpose yards against the Aztecs with a career-high 138 yards rushing, 44 receiving and 130 on kickoff returns.īut an inability to consistently rush the football and control critical points in the game have hurt. They also allowed San Diego State to convert 8 of 19 third-down plays and 3 of 3 fourth downs into firsts, and over the past three games opponents have converted 45.2% of their third downs.īut the offense is perhaps more the culprit - while the defense can’t get off the field, and the offense keeps putting it back on, often with very little rest between series. Before that, Fresno State allowed 345 rushing yards to New Mexico and 313 to San Jose State, season-high totals for the Lobos and Spartans. The Bulldogs allowed 226 yards on the ground to the Aztecs, the most San Diego State has had this season against a bowl subdivision (FBS) opponent. It never reached that level and in this three-game losing streak has been brutalized by opposing run games and had difficulty getting off the field on third downs. Hopefully, we can regroup, get some guys back healthy and make a better showing.”Īt the start of the season, and as Fresno State (8-4, 4-4 Mountain West) was winning Power Five road games at Purdue and at Arizona State, the expectation was the Bulldogs’ defense would build on a solid 2022 and provide a young offense time to develop under first-year coordinator Pat McCann. But we didn’t play well enough, so we’re 8-4 and now we get an opportunity to play in a bowl game. “We’re an 8-4 team and we went down the stretch and unfortunately we had a lot of unfortunate things happen to us. “It’s been a disappointing last three weeks, yeah, it has,” coach Jeff Tedford said in a post-game radio interview. But the past two weeks the Bulldogs have been beaten up by New Mexico, which was tied with San Diego State in last place in the conference at kickoff, and then the Aztecs, who were all alone in last place in the conference at game time.
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