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ENGLEWOOD, Calif. — Jordan Mims and Jake Hayner helped create the biggest mid-season turnaround in Football Bowl Subdivision history in their final game at Fresno State University.
Mims threw a career-high 205 yards and two points, while Hehner threw two TD passes as the Bulldogs beat Washington State 29-6 in Saturday’s LA Bowl.
Mountain West Conference title holders Fresno State are the first team to reach 10 wins after losing 4 of their first 5 wins. The Bulldogs (10-4) won his last nine games, although he was 1-4 in early October.
“Today we made history. Every player in that locker room is resilient and positive every day,” said Hener, who completed 24 of 36 passes for 284 yards. rice field.
Mims, who was named the game’s offensive MVP, accounted for 232 all-purpose yards, surpassing Washington State, which has 182 offensive yards. Both Mims touchdowns were direct snaps from the Wildcat formation.
Early in the second quarter, the senior moved four yards around the left end to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 advantage. Did.
“It felt surreal. I knew we had a pretty solid game. Our line did their thing, and I followed them,” Mims said. “We always want to stick to the run game and hit the ball first.
Hener connected with Zane Pope for a 22-yard touchdown to complete the Bulldogs’ first possession. He added an 11-yard score for Nikko Remigio late in the third quarter to extend the lead to 22–6.
Cameron Ward was 22 of 32 for 137 yards (7-6) for Washington State.
Nakia Watson rushed for 33 yards and gave the Cougars their only touchdown when she scored from 1 yard in the third quarter to put Washington State within 16–6.
“I think we just didn’t get the rhythm. We never established a football operation that was key to what we always wanted to do,” said coach Jake Dickert. “These are some of the things I hope to learn by watching the tape.”
be defensive
Fresno State secured a safety in the second quarter to win 16-0. On his third and his 14th from the Cougars’ 3-yard line, Ward came under pressure from Bulldogs defensive lineman Leonard Payne his junior and stepped on his line at the back of the end zone. .
It was the second time in the past three games that the Bulldogs had scored in safety.
how about an apple?
Hener started his career at the University of Washington. He spent two seasons there, but moved in 2019 after losing to the quarterback tournament at fall training camp.
Hener, who had never played in the Apple Cup rivalry game against Washington State, earned a personal victory on Saturday.
and Post on social media, Hener looked into the camera with an apple and said, “This is my apple cup.” He took a bite of the apple, threw it in the air, and said, “I love you.”
Takeaway
Fresno State: The Bulldogs have won four bowl games in a row and posted double-digit wins for the second straight season. It’s also been a great first year for Jeff Tedford, who is in his second stint at Fresno State University after Karen DeVore left for Washington.
“There are a lot of teams where people opt out of games. The players are so committed to each other and want to do something special, so we haven’t heard about it,” Tedford said. rice field.
Washington State: The Cougars dropped their final three bowl games, but fell short after both coordinators moved to different positions. Washington State has also made an impact on wide receivers and linebackers, with players opting out of games or putting their names on transfer portals.
“I think it was pretty good operationally.
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