Fresno State ran all over Hawaii, rushing for 262 yards and 5 TDs.Fresno Survives Thriller vs Hawaii
Article By: Malik Sherrod ran for 235 yards and three touchdowns, and the Fresno State defense came up with three key interceptions as the Bulldogs outlasted Hawaii 38-35 in The Battle for the Golden Screwdriver on Tuesday night.
Mikey Keene rebounded from an abysmal performance and managed the game well, completing 10 of his 15 passes with four of his five incompletions being drops. Sherrod and backup RB Elijah Gilliam carried the offense on their backs, putting the ball into the endzone five times.
The first one was nearly a disaster, however. Fresno took their opening kickoff down the field, and Keene was hit hard and fumbled after a 14 yard option keeper. However, Sherrod was there to scoop it up, taking it 30 yards to paydirt. It was the first score in a quarter that would see both defenses shredded apart.
Hawaii quarterback Brayden Shager threw for over 200 yards in the first quarter, and topped 400 for the game. The Rainbows took the ball 75 yards in just three plays to tie it up, then forced a punt before marching right back down the field to take a 14-7 lead.
The teams would continue to trade scores, but Fresno got a key stop with three minutes left. The Bulldogs would drive down the field before having to settle for a long field goal attempt. Dylan Lynch hit a 49-yd bomb to put Fresno ahead, a score that would prove crucial in the end.
Hawaii would retake the lead on their opening drive of the second half, but Sherrod's third touchdown would put the Bulldogs back in front just before the end of the half. Then Hawaii tried to get one final play off before the end of the quarter.
That would prove to be a turning point in the game, as Shager was intercepted inside his own 30. Fresno would punch it in four plays later, and would never trail again.
Hawaii drove down and cut the lead to three, and forced a punt with 1:22 remaining to give themselves one last chance. That's when Korey Freeman took over.
The nation's leader in sacks added to his total, as he and Devo Bridges caused mayhem from the defensive end positions. Hawaii would convert a 4th and 11 to keep their drive alive, but Foreman and Bridges combined to sack Shager and force a 4th and 24, which led to the game-sealing pick.
"I can't say enough about how our defense responded," Coach JasonUK said after the thrilling victory. "Our guys were humiliated in that first half, but the second half they swarmed to the ball and our pass rush was able to cause problems."
JasonUK also pointed to the pick right before the end of the third quarter. "I think Hawaii was trying to catch us off guard by rushing one last play, but their QB didn't have time to scan our defense. We were showing Cover 2 Man but playing Cover 3, and he threw the ball right to us. I think we lose this game if not for that play."
With a 3-0 record in conference play, Fresno is now the last team without a loss in the very tough Mountain West. Things won't get any easier from here on out, however, and JasonUK stressed that his team must limit their mistakes if they want to keep winning.
HOME
Live
Discord