Jordan Mims rushed for a career-best 186 yards and scored two touchdowns to help visiting Fresno State record a 30-20 upset of No. 21 San Diego State in Mountain West play on Saturday night.
Jake Haener completed 25 of 42 passes for 306 yards and one score as the Bulldogs (7-2, 4-1 MW) won their third consecutive game and moved ahead of the Aztecs into first place in the West division. Josh Kelly caught five passes for 107 yards, Keric Wheatfall had a scoring reception and Cesar Silva kicked three field goals for Fresno State.
Lucas Johnson was 14-of-31 passing for 220 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for the Aztecs (7-1, 3-1), who were looking for their first 8-0 start since 1975. Greg Bell rushed for a touchdown and Tyrell Shavers caught a scoring pass.
Elijah Kothe caught four passes for 105 yards for San Diego State, which was outgained 485 to 412.
Fresno State star receiver Jalen Cropper was carted off the field with a non-contact right knee injury in the third quarter. Cropper, who entered the day tied for the FBS lead with 10 touchdowns receptions, had six catches for 84 yards before exiting.
San Diego State trailed by 16 late in the third quarter before Bell scored from the 3 with 13 seconds left. A trick play, two-point conversion pass failed.
But just past the midway point of the fourth quarter, Johnson tried to throw across his body and Fresno State’s LJ Early deflected the ball and Jalen Williams intercepted it and returned it 5 yards to the Aztecs’ 31.
Two plays later, Mims provided the knockout punch with a 15-yard run to make it 30-13 with 4:29 to play.
San Diego State backup quarterback Will Haskell scored on a 7-yard run with 1:06 left to make the final margin closer.
Fresno State scored the first 20 points and led 20-7 at the break.
Mims got the upset started with a 13-yard scoring run with 3:53 left in the opening quarter. The Bulldogs increased the lead to 14 on Haener’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Wheatfall with 14:17 left in the half.
Silva booted field goals of 49 and 27 yards to make it 20-0. San Diego State got on the board on Johnson’s 19-yard scoring pass to Shavers with 2:15 left in the half.
Silva nailed a 42-yard field goal with four minutes left in the third quarter to make it 23-7.
–Field Level Media
