CARSON — Fresno State fans barked throughout Saturday night’s game against San Diego State.
The “Red Wave” washed over Dignity Health Sports Park, Fresno fans making the 240-mile trip south in a strong show of support.
Chants of “Fresno State,” “Bulldogs” and “Defense” — and, yes, barks — echoed across the stadium, the voices of Fresno faithful drowning out their SDSU counterparts in the stands.
The Bulldogs’ bite was even worse on the field in a 30-20 Mountain West win over No. 21 SDSU that ended the Aztecs’ unbeaten streak at seven games.
Fresno State (7-2, 4-1 MW) assumed first place in the conference’s West Division. The Bulldogs now control their destiny in a bid for a spot in the Mountain West championship game against the Mountain Division winner.
The loss dropped SDSU (7-1, 3-1) into a second-place tie with Nevada (6-2, 3-1) and likely knocks SDSU from the top 25, where the Aztecs have resided the past four weeks.
Fresno State dominated SDSU like no one this season in the first two quarters, taking a 20-7 halftime lead against the Aztecs. What Fresno State did was accomplished with stunning ease against a defense ranked among the top 10 in the nation.
It was the most first-half points allowed by SDSU this season (Towson had scored 14). More points, in fact, than the 15.7 that SDSU was allowing opponents each game this season.
The Aztecs limited Fresno State to a field goal in the second half, before a second interception by SDSU quarterback Lucas Johnson was turned into a Fresno State touchdown and a 30-13 lead with 4:28 remaining in the game.
True freshman Will Haskell replaced Johnson at that point and led SDSU on a scoring drive that ended with Haskell rushing for a 7-yard TD with 1:06 remaining to complete the game’s scoring.
Even without the late Fresno State touchdown, the deficit was too much to overcome for an SDSU offense that is not accustomed to chasing points. The Aztecs fell behind 10-0 in the season opener against New Mexico State, but had not trailed by more than a touchdown thereafter.
SDSU rallied late in the third quarter against Fresno State when running back Greg Bell scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to make it 23-13 with 13 seconds remaining in the period.
The Aztecs attempted a two-point conversion after the TD — hoping to make it a two-score game instead of three — and tried some trickery with wide receiver Jesse Matthews attempting a pass. The play worked earlier in the season in a triple-overtime win against Utah. Fresno State sniffed it out this time and batted away the pass.
The game actually began on a positive note for the Aztecs. On the game’s opening drive, SDSU’s defense started by stopping Fresno State with a three-and-out.
It was fool’s gold.
When the Bulldogs got the ball back again, they went on a 15-play, 86-yard drive that used 6:51 of the opening period before backup running back Jordan Mims scored on a 13-yard touchdown run.
Hustling to the line after each play, Fresno State put the Aztecs on their heels.
Fresno State’s defense got the ball right back for the Bulldogs when defensive back Evan Williams intercepted a pass by SDSU quarterback Lucas Johnson near midfield and returned it to the Aztecs 31-yard line.
Four plays later, Fresno State had a 14-0 lead when Bulldogs quarterback Jake Haener lofted a 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Keric Wheatfall.
With 4 1/2 minutes remaining in the second quarter, the Bulldogs had expanded their lead to 20-0 on 49- and 27-yard field goals by Cesar Silva.
SDSU closed the gap to 20-7 at halftime when Johnson found wide receiver Tyrell Shavers in the right corner of the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown with 2:15 remaining in the second quarter.
Fresno State quarterback Haener was as advertised, composed, accurate and able to extend plays while completing 25 of 42 passes for 308 yards and a touchdown.
The Bulldogs rushed for 167 yards despite the absence of starting running back Ronnie Rivers, who was sidelined with a lower leg injury suffered in last week’s win over Nevada.
Mims, last week’s Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week, was an able replacement, carrying 27 times for 174 yards and two touchdowns.
Fresno State came into the game with a penchant for big plays this season, and the Bulldogs continued that against the Aztecs in the first half.
Mims broke loose for a 59-yard run on one scoring drive.
Haener connected with wide receiver Josh Kelly for a 69-yard reception that led to another score.
Kelly used sleight of hand on the catch, snatching the ball from the hands of SDSU cornerback Dallas Branch, who appeared on the verge of an interception before the ball disappeared.
Fresno State outgained SDSU 473-405 in total offense.
Johnson (14-for-31, 220 yards, TD/2 INTs) was inconsistent with his throws, although he was in sync with wide receiver Elijah Kothe (4 catches, 105 yards in first half).
By game’s end, Johnson had turned the ball over three times, twice on interceptions (he nearly had two more) and once with a fumbled on a botched handoff.
True freshman quarterback Will Haskell replaced Johnson with five minutes remaining in the game. He moved SDSU downfield before rushing for a 7-yard touchdown with 1:06 remaining.
Bell, who missed the first half last week at Air Force, returned to the starting lineup. He carried 15 times in the first half for 63 yards.
SDSU’s Matt Araiza, the national leader with a 54 yards a punt this season, averaged 38.8 yards on six punts. Most of his efforts were from midfield, requiring Araiza to kick short. His longest punt of the game was for 52 yards.
The disappointment on the field mirrored that in the stands, where another modest turnout watched the Aztecs.
There appeared to be as many Fresno State fans as Aztecs fans in the crowd Saturday night, though Fresno is twice the distance as San Diego to Dignity Health Sports Park.
The Bulldogs had an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 fans come south last month to see the team play UCLA at the Rose Bowl, so such a turnout Saturday night was not a surprise.
There weren’t as many here, but they made for the exits barking just the same.
