Ohio jumped out to a 17-0 lead over the Bulldogs in the first half. The Bobcats offense was clicking on all cylinders. Parker Navarro ran for a TD and hit Anthony Tyus’s on a wide open 50 yard TD. It was also the offense that gave up the play that turned the game around for Fresno. The Bobcats defense played spectacularly all day. They had just stuffed the Bulldogs on 4th and goal from the 1 and the Bobcats offense turned around and gave the Bulldogs a safety. From there, Fresno mounted a great comeback to force overtime. Both teams missed FGs in the first overtime. In double OT, the Bobcats threw an interception on their possession, but Fresno would again miss a FG and forced triple OT. Fresno made their try as a Bobcat defender whiffed on a tackle at the 1 to stop them. Ohio failed to convert and ended their hopes for a win.
Fresno State traveled to Athens, Ohio over the weekend to take on the Ohio Bobcats. Due to a lack of funds, the team had to take a 35-hour bus ride to the game, and it showed. The game started out with Ohio getting the ball and they were able to set the tone early with a long scoring drive eating up almost the entire first quarter. Fresno started counting possessions early which likely led to some uncharacteristic play calling that put the team off schedule.
The majority of the first half Fresno State was forced into punting situations whereas Ohio moved the ball with ease in both the passing and running game. Fresno star running back Malik Sherrod could not get anything going in any portion of the field. Ohio’s defense controlled the line of scrimmage and whether it was Sherrod being stuffed at or behind the line or QB Mikey Keene not having time to throw the ball, the Bulldog offense was unnerved and in a panic.
The Bulldogs trailed at the half 0-17 and the coaching staff had serious work to do. Driving down the field Coach AUChase elected to go for the touchdown on 4th and goal, knowing Ohio likely would limit their possessions the rest of the way. The decision to go for it was good but the play calling was not. They were stuffed at the 2-yard line and had a turnover on downs. On the following Ohio offensive play, linebacker RL Miller got down hill and through the line to create a safety.
With the game now being 2-17, Fresno finally had signs of life and a big 48-yard return by Elijah Gilliam put the Bulldogs back at the Ohio 35-yard line and in a position to strike again. A few plays later Mikey Keene connected with TE Jake Boust for a 28-yard touchdown pass.
In the 4th quarter, Ohio drove down the field to get well within striking distance, but the Fresno defense forced a sack on 3rd down bringing up a 4th and 16 situation and a 36-yard field goal that was doinked into the goal posts. Fresno’s offense went to work again down 9-20 with 5 minutes remaining. The Bulldogs drove down the field and with roughly 3 minutes remaining, they converted a 4th and 3 inside the red zone to keep the game alive. On the ensuing play, Mikey Keene connected with WR Jalen Moss for a touchdown and after converting the 2-pt play the Bulldogs were within 3 points. With a 3 and out forced and the ball back with 1:46 remaining and 3 timeouts, Fresno was able to drive down and kick a field goal to tie it 20-20 and send it to OT.
In the first OT Fresno couldn’t get it in the end zone and were forced to kick a field goal which bounced off the left upright. Things did not look good as Ohio only needed 3 to win it but a 44-yard field goal fell just short in their first OT attempt giving Fresno another life. They took a shot at the end zone on 3rd and 10 but were intercepted by Fresno DB Cam Lockridge which turned the tables and put Fresno now in the driver’s seat needing a FG to win. The next possession Fresno attempted a 37-yard field goal and this one bounced off the right upright. The game went to a 3rd OT where Fresno State was able to convert the first 2 point try for points and then were able to force an interception to seal the game.
We talked to Coach AUChase immediately after the game and he had this to say:
“Great game. I know it’s easier to say from our perspective as the winning team, but this game could have really gone either way. I think we learned some valuable lessons with this win. First, we need to hold a kicking tryout for potential walk Ons when we get back to campus. Second, you can’t give up the fight even down multiple scores. Our kids believed and never gave up, which I’m proud of. I believe they were more shocked than anything because we expected to come in and win this game. That’s not being cocky, we just have this belief there’s no game that we cannot compete in and the players had to get their head right. There were no low-hanging heads in that locker room at half when we were down 0-17. There were only guys who looked like they wanted to work. They overcame some poor coaching mistakes made by me and some of our support staff throughout the game. Hats off to Ohio for hosting us. It’s going to be a long 35-hour bus ride back to California but maybe we can at least enjoy the high from the exhaust fumes now that we don’t have a game to play when we get back. The good news is we were worried about players speeding around in expensive cars, but we got Athens, OH and Athens, GA mixed up.”
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