Bulldogs off to 3-0 start in MWC

Fresno State football took care of business again on Saturday at home in shutting out New Mexico 38-0 on homecoming night.

It was the Bulldogs’ second shutout of the season — the first time Fresno State has had multiple shutouts since 1988.

“Our defense played excellent tonight,” said head coach Jeff Tedford after the ‘Dogs first-ever shutout over a MW opponent. “That is a hard offense to stop. Our defense did an awesome job with the game plan. We had the guys in the right position and they played really hard.”

Fresno State (4-2) is also alone atop the West Division of the Mountain West Conference with a 3-0 record, a game ahead of then No. 19-ranked San Diego State (6-1, 2-1 MWC) which lost to Boise State 31-19 on Saturday, and is two wins shy of becoming bowl-eligible. The last time Fresno State was 3-0 in Mountain West play was 2013.

Boise State (4-1, 2-0 MWC) is a game behind Mountain Division leader Colorado State (5-2, 3-0 MWC).

Fresno State junior quarterback Marcus Mcmaryion, making his third-straight start, finished 13-of-23 through the air for 299 yards, spreading the ball around to six receivers in the contest.

Junior Keesean Johnson had his third 100yard receiving game of the season totaling 105 yards on five receptions while scoring his fourth touchdown of the season. Fellow junior wideout Jamire Jordan added his first 100-yard contest of the season with a team-high 108 yards on three catches, including a pair of touchdowns, for his first career multi-touchdown game of his career. It was the first time since Oct. 28, 2016 against Air Force that the Bulldogs have had two 100-yard receivers as Johnson and Jordan each went over 100 yards in that contest.

On the defensive side of the ball, reining Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week Juju Hughes had another standout game in the defensive backfield finishing with a career-high 11 tackles (nine solo) and added two tackles for a loss and two pass breakups. Sophomore safety Mike Bell, making his first start of the season and second of his career, finished with a careerbest 10 tackles (eight solo), his first career interception and a pass breakup.

The Bulldogs offense totaled 526 yards of offense, including 299 yards through the air and 227 yards on the ground, while limiting New Mexico to 322 yards, including only 109 yards on the ground for the Lobos’ fewest rushing yards since Sept. 15, 2012 when they were held to 84 yards at Texas Tech.

The Bulldogs hit the road next week traveling to San Diego State (6-1, 2-1 MW) for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at SDCCU Stadium.