FRESNO, Calif. – In front of a crowd of 39,079, Fresno State recorded its first shutout in 364 days, defeating New Mexico State 48-0 on Saturday night at Valley Children's Stadium. The Bulldogs held the Aggies to 138 total yards.
The Bulldogs' defense grabbed three interceptions and forced the Aggies to 12 drives of four plays or less. Cam Lockridge had two of Fresno State's interceptions.
Offensively, Mikey Keene was 12-of-22 passing for 221 yards and two touchdowns, with both going to Mac Dalena. The Bulldogs totaled 281 yards on the ground with 131 coming from Malik Sherrod. Joshua Wood rushed for two scores while Sherrod and Elijah Gilliam each had one.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Fresno State opened the game scoring 14 points on its first four plays. On the second play from scrimmage, Mikey Keene connected with Mac Dalena for a 69-yard touchdown to open up the scoring with 12:04 on the clock.
Following a three-and-out, Elijah Gilliam rushed 10 yards up the middle but fumbled. Raylen Sharpe picked up the loose ball and ran 56 yards down to the 4-yard line. Gilliam finished the drive with a rush on the next play.
A minute into the second quarter, Fresno State started with the ball at its own 32-yard line. Six rushes later, Malik Sherrod was in the end zone from seven yards out. The running back set up his score with a 48-yard yard burst down the right sideline.
It didn't take long for the Bulldogs to regain possession as Cam Lockridge had two big plays on the Aggies' next drive. On the first play of the drive, Lockridge forced a fumble, but the ball was recovered by the Aggies. Two plays later, on third-and-7, Lockridge picked off a pass attempt to halt the momentum and give the Bulldogs back possession. The offense was unable to capitalize on that following possession.
With 6:35 remaining in the half, Fresno State got the ball back on its own 19. A 22-yard catch from Sharpe and a 32-yard run from Sherrod set the 'Dogs up at the 27-yard line. Four plays later, Keene lofted a 13-yard pass to Dalena in the back of the end zone to extend the lead to 28-0.
Fresno State tacked on a 36-yard field goal from Dylan Lynch with 59 seconds on the clock to take a 31-0 lead going into the half.
Receiving the opening kick of the second half, the Bulldogs scored on their first drive of the half. A 49-yard toss over the middle saw Jalen Moss come up with an acrobatic catch from his back at the NMSU 4-yard line. Three plays later, Joshua Wood rushed in from from a yard out.
Two plays later, Lockridge intercepted his second pass of the night. That led to a 40-yard field goal from Lynch.
After forcing a three-and out, an 8-play, 45-yard drive ended in a 2-yard touchdown run from Wood with 5:15 remaining in the third. That was the fifth straight possession the Bulldogs scored.
The fourth quarter saw just two possessions by New Mexico State and one by the Bulldogs. As the Aggies strung together their longest drive of the night at 14 plays, approaching the red zone, Justin Houston intercepted a pass by the Aggies in the end zone to keep the shutout hopes alive.
UP NEXT
Fresno State will head to the Land of Enchantment next week, opening Mountain West play at New Mexico on Sept. 21 at University Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. PT and will broadcast on truTV/MAX.