There are no moral victories when you lose. That was the message from Fresno State Head Coach Matt Entz who was in disbelief after the Bulldogs’ 38-31 loss to #23 ranked Boise State on Saturday.
“If you would have told me we would have scored 31 points and lost, I would have thought you were joking. If you would have told me we would have given up 38, I would have thought you were crazy,” Entz said.
Boise State (5-1) got 334 total yards of offense from running backs Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines, who seemed to move through the Bulldog defense at will.
“Really good players, strong, powerful. They got a good offensive line in front of them. I think that complements each other, and then they got a QB that’s going to get them in and out of plays and does a tremendous job,” Entz said.
Key players
- Jayden Mandal (FS): 19-for-33, 218 yards, 2 TD, 26 rushing yards
- Ezekiel Avit (FS): 6 catches, 96 yards, 2 TD
- K’Vion Thunderbird (FS): 13 tackles
- Dylan Riley (BS): 23 touches, 214 total yards, 2 TD
- Sire Gaines (BS): 20 rushes, 120 yards, TD
What happened
The Bulldogs got the ball to start the game and did something they hadn’t done all year: score a touchdown. Quarterback Jayden Mandal worked a 10-play, 75 yard drive ending in an 8-yd run up the middle by Mandal for six.
Boise State returned the favor though. The nation’s leading rusher Dylan Riley found a hole on the left side and ran 72 yards for a touchdown. A two-point conversion gave Boise State an 8-7 lead.
After surrendering a 24-yard run to Bryson Donelson, the Broncos defense made three straight stops to get the ball back. A 15-play, 90-yard drive ended with a 22 yard pass from Quarterback Maddux Madsen to Wide Receiver Terrious Favors to give them a 15-7 lead.
Mandal lasted all but one play on the next drive, getting taken out on a late hit. Khristian Martin came in and on the second play found Wide Receiver Ezekiel Avit open on the left, made a man miss and ran 59 yards down the sideline for a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 15-13 (missed two-point conversion) to close out the first quarter.
“He’s been an integral part all year,” Entz said. “What I get excited about is we’re taking some access throws, we’re taking some, second-level throws and turning them into explosive plays because we’re making people miss.”
Boise opened the second quarter with an 18-play drive going 75 yards and ending in a touchdown run by Sire Gaines. It also took eight minutes off the clock.
After trading punts, Fresno State took over on its own 41-yd line. On third and 11, Mandal threw deep to Josiah Freeman. A pass interference call gave Fresno State a massive first down. Mandal made key first down completions to Jahlil McClain and Gavin Correia before finding Avit open over the middle of the end zone to make it 22-20. Boise State closed the half with a 49-yard field goal from Canaan Moore.
The Broncos rushing attack really came alive in the second half, wearing down an exhausted Bulldog defense that spent most of the half on the field trying and failing to slow Riley and Gaines down.
Fresno State did score a touchdown in the quarter. Two plays after a Boise State facemask penalty, awarding the Bulldogs a much-needed first down, Mandal needled a dart to tight end Gavin Correia for a 15-yard score, his first career touchdown. Correia finished with three catches for 36 yards.
The two teams traded field goals before Fresno State attempted a last resort onside kick, but it was unsuccessful. The loss dropped Fresno State to 4-2 (1-1) on the year.
“I think we’re better than what we played tonight. It’s frustrating, and I know the kids across the hallway are frustrated too because you know when you get beat, you want to get beat playing your best,” Entz said.
Injury update
- RB Rayshon Luke (concussion), OL Marquise Thorpe-Taylor, Gino Quinones, Jonah Leaupepetele, LB Justin Johnson did not suit up due to various injuries. Logan Studt also did not play.
- WR Resean Jones (concussion) was among the inactive players for Boise State.
What’s next
Fresno State will travel to San Diego State this next week to play the Aztecs on Oct. 17th at Snapdragon Stadium.
“The next one is the most important one,” Entz said.
The Oil Can matchup will be the 3rd and potentially final rivalry game (possible SDSU rematch for flex game on Nov. 28) of the 2026 season.
Fresno State will then have a bye before returning home to Valley Children’s Stadium on Saturday, October 31, for a late night Halloween battle with the Oregon State Beavers.
Game recap written by Al Scott, photos captured by Ryan Sepulveda (Fresno Sports Magazine). For more pictures and updates on Fresno State Athletics, follow @AlScott1998 on Twitter (X) or @AlScottSports on IG.