In a game that the Fresno State Bulldogs needed to stay in the Mountain West Conference race, they laid a dud. From the opening kick until the final whistle, it was a complete domination from the visiting San Diego State Aztecs in the 23-0 SDSU win.
The Bulldogs benched EJ Warner prior to the game, and gave the start to Carson Conklin. The sophomore went 20 of 42 for 182 yards and two interceptions.
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“We talk about, ‘the ball is the team’, and we weren’t living that.” Head coach Matt Entz said following the game. “We had turned the ball over too many times and too often. We were also trying to get some leadership out of the players on offense.”
The rushing attack didn’t far too well either, going for 45 yards on 23 carries.
“We are better than what we are putting on the field right now and that’s what is frustrating to me.” Entz also said. “I see them put in hard work all week and then there is a hesitation when we get out there on Saturdays. We become indecisive and hesitant. We have to figure out why.”
The loss marked the first time in 45 years that the Bulldogs were shutout at home. To compound matters, the defeat also essentially takes the Bulldogs out of the running for the MWC regular season title with a 2-2 conference record.
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Even then, there still things that can be accomplished in Entz’s first season. First and foremost, one more win will allow Fresno State to get to bowl eligibility.
That may not seem like much, but in a day and age of turnover at the college level, a bowl game in a coach’s first season should still be looked at as a positive.
A major improbability, but a 10-win season is still on the table. If the Bulldogs win out and win their bowl game as well, that will be 10 wins on a campaign that right now is teetering in the other direction.
The Bulldogs will have their first opportunity to turn it around when they visit Boise State next Saturday.