See-saw finale: Fresno State goes back and forth with Oregon State only to fall on final play

FINAL: Oregon State 35, Fresno State 32

Playing before a sellout home crowd, Fresno State lost on the very last play of the game when Oregon State’s Jack Colletto scored on a 2-yard run as time expired to give the Beavers a 35-32 victory at Valley Children’s Stadium.

For Fresno State, the Bulldogs blew a big opportunity by giving up two touchdowns in the final 1:50.

The Bulldogs (1-1) went from leading 26-21 for most of the fourth quarter to giving up a score, reclaiming the lead, then letting the game slip away on the final play.

Following an Oregon State touchdown with 1:50 remaining, Fresno State answered with a touchdown pass from Jake Haener to Erik Brooks.

But the Bulldogs missed the extra-point and had a 32-29 lead with 1:05 to go.

The Beavers (2-0) then went 73 yards in seven plays against a defense that had allowed just 217 yards through three quarters, breaking off some big chunks of yardage.

Quarterback Chance Nolan hit Jesiah Irish for 23 yards and Luke Musgrave for 28. But the biggest play was a pass interference penalty called on Bulldogs’ cornerback Cam Lockridge.

Nolan on 2nd-and-10 from the Fresno State 14 missed Tyjon Lindsey, but got the penalty. There were three seconds remaining on the clock, and the penalty moved the ball to the Bulldogs’ 2-yard line.

The Beavers lined up to go for the win, then to kick a tying field goal before lining up again to go for a winning touchdown. Colletto, who plays on both sides of the ball, took a direct snap and ran it in for the win.

Of course, games aren’t completely won or lost on the final play.

Fresno State ran into some red-zone issues throughout the game and had to settle for a field goal four times.

In fact, the Bulldogs went for six field goals.

But Fresno State kicker Abraham Montano missed two field goals, including a 52-yard attempt with 4:19 remaining. Montano then missed the ensuing extra-point attempt on the Bulldogs’ final touchdown with 1:05 remaining.

Fresno State’s defense also allowed Oregon State to convert on 2 of 3 critical fourth downs.

Fresno State did play a fairly clean game turnover wise. In fact, neither the Bulldogs nor the Beavers committed a turnover.

Bulldogs quarterback Haener finished 30 of 46 for 360 yards and one touchdown.

Fresno State running back Jordan Mims had 21 carries for 122 yards and two touchdowns.

And the Bulldogs receiving duo of Jalen Moreno-Cropper and Nikko Remigio combined to haul in 14 catches for 183 yards.

Beavers stall on 4th down

Oregon State just turned the ball over on downs, failing on a pass play on a 4th and 7 with still more than seven minutes remaining in the game. Curious call for Beavers’ coach Jonathan Smith.

Fresno State takes over at its 48 yard line.

Montano hits fourth FG. Will it be enough?

Fresno State has pushed its lead to 26-21 with 10:31 remaining on a 37-yard field goal by Abraham Montano. It was his fourth field goal in the game, hitting previously from 21, 23 and 43 yards.

‘Dogs go into fourth with lead, but something missing

Fresno State takes a 23-21 lead into the fourth quarter. Quarterback Jake Haener is 22 of 34 for 238 yards, but his streak of 20 consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass is in jeopardy.

Haener has thrown at least one in every game of his Fresno State career, and that is the fourth longest streak in Mountain West Conference history. Former Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr and Nevada quarterback Carson Strong hold the record with a TD pass in 26 consecutive games.

Beavers strike back, cut ‘Dogs lead to 23-21

Oregon hit back quickly, with quarterback Chance Nolan hitting a 42-yard pass play to set up a 4-yard touchdown run by Deshaun Fenwick to cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 2321 with 4:04 remaining in the third quarter.

Bulldogs, with big plays, extend lead

Fresno State running back Jordan Mims has scored his second touchdown of the game, this one on a 11-yard run to give the Bulldogs a 23-14 lead with 6:04 remaining in the third quarter.

The score was set up by a 60-yard pass play from Jake Haener to Josh Kelly, which is the Bulldogs’ longest play from scrimmage this season. Before that pass, they had only one play of more than 40 yards and that was the touchdown run by Mims in the first quarter.

Haener is now 21 of 30 for 236 yards and the Bulldogs have out-gained Oregon State 355 yards to 142.

Another FG, but Bulldogs have lead

Fresno State has taken a 16-14 lead with 10:21 remaining in the third quarter, with Abraham Montano hitting a 43-yard field goal to camp a 49 yard, 11-play drive.

The Bulldogs had a 1st-and-10 at the Oregon State 26, but Jordan Mims was cut down after gaining only 1-yard and Jake Haener missed passes to Josh Kelly and Zane Pope on second and third downs.

Haener is now 20 of 29 for 176 yards. The 6.1 yards per attempt would be the second lowest of his career.

About that red zone

Fresno State entered the game leading the Mountain West Conference in red zone touchdown percentage, having plowed or passed its way into the end zone on all five of its trips in an opening victory over FCS Cal Poly.

It also was second last season, scoring a touchdown on 68.6% of its red zone trips.

So far tonight, the Bulldogs are 0 for 3, settling for two field goals.

It’s points, not yards

Fresno State is trailing at the half 14-13 despite out-gaining the Beavers 226 to 119. The Bulldogs also are 4 of 8 on third-down conversions while the Beavers are 1 of 6.

Where the ball is going

Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener is 18 of 24 for 149 yards. Here are the top targets and totals:

Jalen Moreno-Cropper 7 for 7, 38 yards

Erik Brooks 4 for 1, 12 yards

Josh Kelly 3 for 3, 35 yards

Zane Pope 3 for 2, 21 yards

Ty Jones 2 for 2, 8 yards

Another FG deep in red zone

Fresno State will go into the half trailing 14-13, failing again to get into the end zone when deep in Oregon State territory. The Bulldogs got to the Beavers 5-yard before settling for a 23-yard field goal by Abraham Montano.

The score was set up by a 27-yard punt return by Nikko Remigio to the Oregon State 35.

Fresno State drove inside the Beavers’ 20 on its final three possessions of the first half, but came away with just two field goals.

Third down success

Fresno State is 4 of 7 converting on third downs. It’s average yards to gain is 3.4 yards

Bulldogs drive, settle for three and trail 14-10

Fresno State has cut its deficit to 14-10 on a 26-yard field goal by Abraham Montano with 3:04 remaining before halftime, but it now has just one field goal to show for two drives inside the Oregon State 20 including one inside the 5.

Beavers back on top

Oregon State pounded the Bulldogs’ defense, rushing the ball four times on a 80-yard touchdown drive with Silas Bolden scoring on a 36-yard run to five the Beavers a 14-0 lead.

Oregon State also picked up 15 yards on a pass interference penalty.

The Beavers now have 92 yards on 17 rushing plays, averaging 5.4 yards per play.

Bulldogs get to red zone, zone out

Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener had hit eight passes in a row and 10 of 11 to start the game when he missed tight end Tre Watson open on the left sideline for a touchdown and the Bulldogs’ drive ended up stalling.

The Bulldogs, after reaching the Oregon State 16, came up scoreless with kicker Abraham Montano missing a field goal attempt from 34 yards.

Haener is now 10 of 13 for 82 yards.

Bulldogs’ run defense

Fresno State forced an Oregon State punt, coming up with a big sack by linebacker Raymond Scott that punt the Beavers behind the sticks.

Oregon State has rushed the football 13 times for just 27 yards, and even adjusted for that sack the Beavers are averaging just 2.9 yards per rush at the end of the first quarter.

In the Beavers’ opening victory over Boise State, they averaged 4.8 yards per rushing play.

Mims, Bulldogs answer

Fresno State has tied the score with running back Jordan Mims bolting through the line on a 3rd-and-1 play for 42 yards and a touchdown with 2:19 to go in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs’ drive was 68 yards and six plays.

Quarterback Jake Haener is 5 of 6 for 30 yards and Mims has carried the ball three times for 51 yards and the score. The touchdown was his fourth in four-plus quarters of football.

About that punt

The Beavers took advantage of a short field to get out to a 7-0 lead, needing travel only 47 yards after a 32-yard punt by Carson King. King averaged a solid 43.3 yards on four punts in an opening victory over FCS Cal Poly, but consistency was an issue last season and appears it will be again this season.

Fresno State a year ago ranked only eighth in the Mountain West Conference in punting.

Beavers break on top

Oregon State has taken a 7-0 lead on a 2-yard run by Jack Colletto with 5:39 to go in the first quarter. The drive was 47 yards in 13 plays and the Beavers’ made some plays along the way.

The Beavers converted a 4th-and-2 on the drive with a nice play-action pass from Chance Nolan to tight end Luke Musgrave and a gain of 9 yards. They converted a 3rd-and-8 with a pass from Nolan to Silas Bolden. They also converted a 4th-and-1 to get to the Bulldogs’ 3-yard line.

The Bulldogs get a chance to counter, but Oregon State under coach Jonathan Smith is 11-4 when leading after the first quarter.

Bulldogs punt

Fresno State went three-and-out on its first possession and punter Carson King left the Bulldogs’ defense in a tenuous spot with a 32-yard punt, giving the Beavers a short field to work with.

Oregon State will start its second series from the Fresno State 47-yard line.

Beavers open, out quickly

Fresno State kicker Abraham Montana is now 7 for 7 getting his kickoffs into the end zone for touch backs.

Oregon State opened from its 25-yard line, but went three-and-out and will punt. Quarterback Chance Nolan is 0 for 2 to start.

Pregame notes

Fresno State has not opened a football season 2-0 since 2013 when it started 10-0 behind quarterback Derek Carr and wideouts Davante Adams, Isaiah Burse and Josh Harper, though it has had chances.

It opened with a win last season, then lost at Oregon. It opened with a win in 2018, then lost at Minnesota. It opened with a win in 2017, then lost at Alabama. It opened with a win in 2015, then lost at Mississippi.

Every one of those losses came against a Power Five conference opponent, and all were on the road.

But the Bulldogs get Oregon State on Saturday at home and in front of what us expected to be a sellout crowd by kickoff. Can they break that streak and set up what would be an even bigger game next week at USC?

Here’s how to catch the game on TV and radio:

When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

TV: CBS Sports Network (Alex Del Barrio, Donte Whitner)

• Find it fast: Channels 643 and 1643 on AT&T Uverse, 418 and 732 on Comcast, 221 on DirecTV, 158 on Dish Network

Radio: Bulldog Sports Network (Paul Loeffler, Pat Hill, Cameron Worrell)

• Find it fast: 1400 AM in Visalia/Tulare; 1340 AM in Fresno; 1280 AM in Stockton; 970 AM in Bakersfield; 92.9 FM in Modesto; 96.7 FM in Fresno.

Will Bulldogs get boost to run defense?

Fresno State had some difficulty defending the run in its opening victory over FCS Cal Poly, allowing a sack adjusted yards per rush of 3.7 per play. That might not sound like much, but the Bulldogs had limited FCS opponents to less than 3.0 yards per rush six times in their past seven matchups.

The Bulldogs still are waiting on addition on the defensive line in Stanford transfer Andres Fox, who has not yet been cleared to play.

Sanger product goes from walk-on to key for Fresno State tonight vs. Oregon State

Inside the Beavers’ passing defense

Oregon State made a switch at defensive coordinator last season, with Trent Bray taking over before the 10th game of the season. It was ranked 11th in the Pac-12 in passing defense at the time, and there was some statistical improvement.

But was there actual improvement?

The Beavers at the end of the 2021 season played Stanford, Arizona State, Oregon and then Utah State in the L.A. Bowl, and the Cardinal and Sun Devils finished the season ninth and 11th in the conference in passing offense. Oregon State also played both of those games at home, in Corvallis.

Oregon was sixth in passing, but hit 23 of 28 passes (82.1%) for 275 yards and two touchdowns. Utah State didn’t hit a high percentage of its throws, just 58.1%, but racked up 273 passing yards.

The Beavers ended the season ranked 11th in the Pac-12 in passing defense.

Is today the day?

The Bulldogs’ streak of kickoff returns without a touchdown is up to 598, after two returns in the opener against Cal Poly went for just 19 and 16 yards.

Oregon State wouldn’t appear an easy mark.

Boise State returned four kickoffs against the Beavers last week and averaged just 17 yards with a long of 26.

Fresno State last returned a kickoff on Nov, 7, 2008 when A.J. Jefferson took one back 92 yards against Nevada.

Avoiding the heat

Though record heat made the central San Joaquin Valley quite unbearable throughout the week, including 114 degrees in Fresno on Tuesday, Saturday’s game was played under much milder temperatures.

The 7:30 p.m. opening kickoff occurred amid 88-degree weather with a slight wind from the northwest.

Good news for fans who wanted more comfortable conditions at the game.

But for Fresno State fans who wanted Oregon State suffer from playing in 100-plus degree heat, their wishes did not come true.