FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — For the first two hours or so, everything went according to plan.

27 Fresno State football seniors took their final jog into Valley Children’s Stadium, many of them misty-eyed and all of them greeted by former head coach Jeff Tedford and alumni.

Al’Zillion Hamilton was all smiles after an eventful week highlighted by the arrival of his baby girl, Scarlett. Jadon Pearson wore his heart on his sleeve, playing the last home game of his six-year college career.

Once the game kicked off, Fresno State played lights-out defense and sustained enough offense to build a 17-7 halftime lead. The Bulldogs could keep neither going after that, faltering to Utah State on Saturday evening, 28-17.

The loss eliminates Fresno State (7-4, 4-3 MW) from Mountain West football championship contention.

A half-hour before the game, E.J. Warner did not participate in the Senior Night ceremony, but he was preparing for his 8th start at quarterback – and his 1st since being benched in mid-October.

Carson Conklin started the previous three games and won the last two, but Warner had his job back and played efficiently in the 1st half, completing 12-of-15 attempts for 129 passing yards.

Rayshon “Speedy” Luke put the Bulldogs on the board first, scoring on his longest run of the season (69 yards).

After Utah State tied it on a double pass touchdown, Dylan Lynch made his 13th field goal of the season, and a scrambling Warner found Jahlil McClain for the 43-yard touchdown pass.

Fresno State had an opportunity to seize control leading 17-7 at halftime and receiving the ball to start the 2nd half,

Yet the Bulldogs never did, relying more on the passing attack and less on the run game that produced 200+ yards last week.

While leading in the 2nd half, the Bulldogs attempted six passes, two of them completed for 12 yards and one of them intercepted, and ran five times for 50 yards.

Every incompletion stopped the clock, resulting in shorter possessions for the Fresno State offense and longer possessions for Utah State. The Aggies converted 7-of-7 3rd down attempts in the 2nd half after only converting 1-of-9 in the 1st half.

The Aggies ran the ball effectively in the 2nd half, toting 29 carries for 173 yards after halftime. They were held to 18 carries for 54 yards in the 1st half.

With its rejuvenated run game, Utah State reeled off three unanswered touchdowns.

The Bulldogs did themselves no favors with 10 penalties for 93 yards, both marking the 2nd-most in a game this season, only behind the Oct. 10 loss to Colorado State.

A holding penalty wiped out a Josiah Freeman touchdown run in the 2nd quarter.

Two separate offsides penalties wiped away sacks, one of which would’ve resulted in Utah State punting instead of scoring the go-ahead touchdown.

An unsportsmanlike conduct against the Bulldogs pushed them back 15 yards after a 44-yard run.

Instead of 1st down at the 28-yard line, Fresno State later punted on that possession in the 3rd quarter.

There are multiple ways to lose a 10-point halftime lead, and the Bulldogs found all of them.

Warner finished the night completing his last five pass attempts, all while trailing by double-digits. His final stat line read 23-for-33, 187 passing yards, and 1 TD to 1 INT.

Luke was Fresno State’s leading rusher with 81 yards on just four carries.

The conference championship is now out the window, but Fresno State still has two games left to play – first, the regular season finale at San Jose State on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Then, the ‘Dogs will play a bowl game for the 5th consecutive year.