Who will start at quarterback for Fresno State in Saturday\u2019s regular-season finale \u2014 E.J. Warner or Carson Conklin?<\/p>\n
Not even coach Matt Entz is sure.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll continue to evaluate,\u201d Entz said. He has no timetable for when he may name a starter.<\/p>\n
Fresno State (7-4, 4-3 Mountain West) at San Jose State (3-8, 2-5) Warner \u2014 who went 5-2 in the first seven games \u2014 resumed the starting job Saturday over Conklin, who went 2-1 after taking over, including a win at Boise State.<\/p>\n The Bulldogs lost 28-17 to Utah State. Warner completed 70% of his passes and threw for a touchdown but also had a third-quarter interception.<\/p>\n \u201cOur job as coaches is to put us in the best situation to win games every Saturday. That\u2019s why the decision was made,\u201d Entz said.<\/p>\n Warner took his earlier benching well.<\/p>\n \u201cHe continued to pour into his teammates, continued to compete, and stepped out of his comfort zone a little bit at practice,\u201d Entz said.<\/p>\n Entz updated the quarterback situation after ducking the question last Saturday.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t want to come in here and all of a sudden be hijacked by my emotions and say something that I can\u2019t take back,\u201d Entz said.<\/p>\n He said he has to answer to players, parents and agents.<\/p>\n Entz on Play Selection<\/p>\n After the Bulldogs fell behind against Utah State in the fourth quarter Saturday, Warner threw 12 passes \u2014 only two beyond the first-down marker.<\/p>\n After Utah State scored with 10:37 left in the fourth quarter to take a 21-17 lead, Fresno State opened its next drive on its own 22. On second-and-6, Warner threw his next two passes short of the first-down marker. One was a 4-yard gain to Richie Anderson. The next was broken up in the backfield. Punt.<\/p>\n The Aggies scored on their next drive for a 28-17 lead. Fresno State started its next drive at its own 8-yard line with about six minutes left. Warner attempted five passes, only two of them deep. The drive stalled after a sack. Turnover on downs.<\/p>\n The defense forced an interception, giving the Bulldogs the ball with 3:33 left. Warner completed five straight passes, all short of the first-down marker. Turnover on downs.<\/p>\n Why the play-calling? Entz said it was partly because of Utah State\u2019s defense.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat you hope is you can make some hits, break some tackles,and convert them into first downs,\u201d Entz said.<\/p>\n Timing and the need to move quickly were other considerations, Entz said.<\/p>\n Penalties and poor third-down conversion \u2014 3-for-14 \u2014 were other factors in the loss, Entz said.<\/p>\n Rayshon Luke had just five carries for 79 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown run.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to get the ball into some of our playmakers\u2019 hands more often. I need to do a better job of trying to find ways to keep track of that during the course of the game,\u201d Entz said.<\/p>\n Kurt Warner\u2019s Message<\/p>\n Kurt Warner, E.J.\u2019s Pro Football Hall of Fame father, attended the game Saturday. He posted on X<\/a>, formerly Twitter, about the difficulties of being perfect.<\/p>\n \u201cPlay QB long enough & one of the toughest lessons you learn is that they will always remember the mistake you make! No matter what else happened in game or how well you played outside of it! I will forever be the guy that \u2018LOST\u2019 the Cardinals #SB43<\/a> due to that mistake at the end of the 1st half!! I will have to live with that FOREVER\u2026 and be reminded of it every year!!\u201d Warner said.<\/p>\n Responding to a fan who said his son did great, the elder Warner said \u201che was great until that 1 play & hurts so bad when that 1 play goes the other direction\u2026 it\u2019s all THEY will remember!\u201d<\/p>\n San Jose State Rivalry<\/p>\n The Bulldogs head to San Jose State, with the winner taking home the Valley Trophy.<\/p>\n \u201cThe trophy is sitting upstairs where everyone can see it. It\u2019ll be at practice; it\u2019ll be in meetings,\u201d Entz said.<\/p>\n Several Bulldog players know Spartan players because of the proximity, Entz said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is as big a trophy as there is out there because that green V, in particular, is Fresno State,\u201d Entz said.<\/p>\n Although San Jose State remains in the Mountain West as Fresno State moves to the Pacific-12, the series will continue. The Bulldogs and Spartans will meet six of the next nine years in non-conference games. Next season, the game will again be in San Jose, Sept. 19.<\/p>\n A Bulldog Thanksgiving<\/p>\n Entz said the team will gather for a catered meal Wednesday evening. There will be practice on Thanksgiving, but it will conclude in plenty of time for players to be home with family.<\/p>\n Entz said he will celebrate at home with his family. His youngest son, Konner, is in town this week. His oldest son, Kellen, remains a player at North Dakota State \u2014 the team formerly coached by Entz \u2014 and will stay there during the week.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a huge mashed potato guy. Gravy is a good food group,\u201d Entz said. \u201cI\u2019ll be more excited about the company I get to share.\u201d<\/p>\n Aztecs in Lead for Mountain West Title Game<\/p>\n Seven teams are mathematically alive for the Mountain West title game heading into the final week of the season.<\/p>\n Of the 32 permutations of what could happen, Fresno State is alive in two scenarios \u2014 at least until the computers kick the Bulldogs out.<\/p>\n San Diego State is the only team that can win and be in. If it defeats New Mexico on the road, the Aztecs will host the championship game Friday, Dec. 5. Everyone else needs a win and help.<\/p>\n A tie involving three teams for either the first or second slot will likely go to the computer rankings.<\/p>\n The Aztecs lead the three publicly-known computer polls \u2014 the fourth, SportsSource Analytics, is a closely-guarded secret. The remaining teams by the average ranking are UNLV (46.33), Boise State (52.00), New Mexico (57.00), Hawai\u2018i (69.33), Utah State (72.67), and Fresno State (75.33).<\/p>\n Bowl Projections<\/p>\n Where will the Bulldogs land for bowl season? Here are some prognostications:<\/p>\n ESPN<\/a>: Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl (Dec. 27 in Tucson, Arizona) against either Miami (Ohio) or Toledo<\/p>\n CBS Sports<\/a>: Arizona Bowl vs. Miami (Ohio)<\/p>\n Athlon Sports:<\/a> Arizona Bowl vs. Central Michigan<\/p>\n Entz said he\u2019s \u201ca little bit\u201d of a fan of Snoop Dogg: \u201cSome of his older stuff I would listen to.\u201d<\/p>\n Sports Illustrated<\/a>: Potato Bowl (Dec. 22 in Boise, Idaho) vs. Miami (Ohio)<\/p>\n
Date\/time:\u00a0Saturday, Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m. PT
Location: CEFCU Stadium, San Jose
TV:\u00a0FS1 (Trent Rush, Charles Arbuckle)
Radio:\u00a0Bulldog Sports Network (Paul Loeffler, Pat Hill; sidelines: Cam Worrell)
Betting line:\u00a0Fresno State by 2.5 (FanDuel Sportsbook<\/a>)<\/p>\n