SAN DIEGO – A last minute career-long 53-yard field goal by Cooper DeLiva lifted the Aztecs to a 26-23 win over Fresno State inside Snapdragon Stadium.
After the Bulldogs tied it up at 23 with 4:45 remaining, backup quarterback Stone Saunders, who was in for the injured Jayden Denegal, marched the Aztecs down the field and into field goal range in the final minute. SDSU then turned the Bulldogs over on downs in their final possession to ice the game and secure the Old Oil Can.
The Aztecs started fast, scoring the first 13 points, which came on three consecutive drives, and outgained the Bulldogs 135-33 in the first quarter.
SDSU’s took advantage of a short field for their first score. After Sione Hala forced a fumble (recovered by Malachi Finau), the Aztec drive started at the Fresno State 32-yard line. Six plays later, SDSU’s Cooper DeLiva connected on a 32-yard field goal.
On the Aztecs’ next drive Jayden Denegal connected with Jaylon Hawkins for a 52-yard touchdown. The pass was the longest of the season for Denegal and put SDSU up 10-0 with just under two minutes remaining in the first quarter.
SDSU was able to go up 13-0 on their next offensive possession after a nine-play 61-yard drive ended in a DeLiva 30-yard field goal.
The Bulldogs would score the next 10 points after scoring on back-to-back drives. Their touchdown drive was set up by an Aztec fumble that gave Fresno State the ball on the 38-yard line.
Fresno State took the lead midway 17-16 through the third quarter after a 10-play 75-yard drive ended with a Julius Gillick seven-yard touchdown run.
A career-long 67-yard run by Lucky Sutton set up SDSU’s next touchdown which gave them a 23-17 lead with 12 minutes remaining.
The Bulldogs responded with an 11-play 75-yard touchdown drive, but they missed the extra point, which kept the game at a 23-23 tie to set up Saunders and SDSU’s game-winning drive.
SDSU outgained the Bulldogs 384-276 and racked up 204 rushing yards, led by Lucky Sutton’s 119 yards on 18 carries. Javion Kinnard added 81 yards on 14 carries.
Jayden Denegal was 7-for-10 for 112 yards and had a touchdown before exiting the game. Stone Saunders had 6-for-11 with 61 yards in relief.
Jaylon Hawkins led the Aztecs with six catches for 84 yards and a touchdown.
Cooper DeLiva was 4-for-5 on field goals, including the game-winner.
The Aztecs held the Bulldogs to 141 yards passing and 4-for-13 on third downs. Tano Letuli led the SDSU defense with 11 tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss.
With the win, SDSU improves to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in Pac-12 play ahead of a date at Colorado State next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. PT.
Longer recap to follow