FRESNO, Calif. -- Fresno State's offense lit up the scoreboard on Saturday evening as the Bulldogs piled on a 63-10 win over Cal Poly on Heroes Night at Bulldog Stadium.
Fresno State totaled 671 yards of total offense, its most in a game since 2014.
How It Happened
Following a slow start that saw Fresno State punt on its opening two possessions, the Bulldogs got on the board in the final minute of the first quarter with a two-yard run from Jake Haener .
That drive started a string of eight-straight offensive possessions with a touchdown by the 'Dogs as the game went from 7-0 to 56-10. Haener accounted for six of those touchdowns during the stretch, two on the ground and four through the air to four different receivers (Jalen Cropper – 24, Josh Kelly – 14, Zane Pope – 62, Keric Wheatfall – 53).
Kelly caught touchdown passes on the final two possessions of the first half, a 51-yard reception from Cropper and a 14-yard pass from Haener. The 'Dogs held a 35-10 lead at the half.
Fresno State kept Cal Poly off the scoreboard in the second half, outscoring the Mustangs 28-0 during the final 30 minutes.
Notes
- Fresno State scored a season-high for points in a quarter with 28 in the second. The 'Dogs had previously scored a high of 24 in the second quarter against UConn.
- The Bulldogs held Cal Poly scoreless in the second half, the second opponent Fresno State has held without a point in the second half this season.
- Fresno State improves to 2-0 at home on the season, and 3-1 at home under Kalen DeBoer.
- Fresno State's 671 yards of offense was the most since piling up 680 yards against Southern Utah on Sept. 20, 2014.
- Jalen Cropper caught a touchdown pass for the third-straight game.
- Jalen Cropper threw the second touchdown of his career, a 51-yard toss to Josh Kelly. He is 2-for-2 passing in his career with each going for a touchdown.
- Jake Haener accounted for six of the Bulldogs' first eight touchdowns in the game (two rushing, four passing). It was the first time in his career that he has accounted for six scores.
- Jake Haener had 300+ yards for the second game this season. His 380 yards rank 31st in a single game in program history.
- Evan Williams forced and recovered a fumble on Cal Poly's opening possession of the second half - his first for both stat categories this season.
- Williams led the team in tackles for the second-straight game. The junior finished with five tackles, 1.0 TFL, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Quotes
Head Coach Kalen DeBoer
On biggest takeaway from the game...
"Yeah, I think it was a great performance by our team all around, defense continues to be stingy, love the way they just play consistently through the course of the game. Really the only touchdown was the short field. We got a turnover that, again, in the first quarter that, early in the game that really gets the red wave rocking and gets a lot of momentum back on our side so, special teams, I think our kicking game continues to be consistent and solid. We've got Meono out there, we've got Montano and Meono. Those guys continue to do a good job and replace and filling in for Cesar. I thought it was a good team effort all around. The offense when it gets rolling is pretty tough to stop and you can see there's a lot of different playmakers making plays and great to get Jaylen out there at the end of the game for the last quarter, quarter and a half. I think those are huge reps for us, just for him, if he has to be put out there in a situation obviously, we don't want to be in, he showed what he's capable of doing at least on some level. There'll be some great things for him to learn from and probably got a little of those nerves behind him now and can learn from it. Great experience for him as well."
Jake Haener, Sr., QB
On the offense…
"We came into the week focusing on ourselves and what we could do well this week. You want to start fast no matter who the opponent is. The past three weeks we have failed to start fast on offense. We haven't put ourselves in the best positions going into the middle of the first quarter. Next week, I want to challenge the guys to start faster. We need to put the ball in the end zone on the first or second possession. When we give the ball over to the other team, we are just giving them more chances. I want to see us start faster."
"Next week, we need to come out and be physical. I need to be better in the beginning of the game so that we can start faster. I need to get the ball out of my hands and get it into a playmaker's hands. It starts with me. I need to get the offense rolling an move the ball up and down the field. I need to take ownership of that and do a better job."
Kevin Atkins, Sr., DT
About the energy in the stadium...
"It was great having a crowd out there. It really does give us that energy and disrupts the offenses as well. Especially having a sold out student section, they get real loud. That was a big night. Especially running out with that flag and showing people that we represent more than just football and more than just a sport. It's more of a community and family, and tonight we showed that."
About the defense's performances in the past three weeks...
"I feel like we still have things to work on. We are showing that we are able to compete with anyone. Just like coach Pat Hill says, 'Any time, any place, anywhere.' It shows that every day we go out there and work. I think we work harder than anyone we compete against."
Jalen Cropper, Jr., WR
On the offense it around after a slow start...
"Jake came and talked to us and told us we needed to turn it around. The first couple of games, we came out slow. He told us that we can't keep coming out slow. We just gotta start fast you know. We just got to play the ball in the right playmaker's hands. And we just have that little spark of energy, and that's what happens."
Next Up
Fresno State travels to face No. 16 UCLA at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 18. The Bulldogs are set to face their second ranked opponent of the season next Saturday.