SAN DIEGO - Behind a career-high three rushing touchdowns from sophomore running back Josh Hokit, Fresno State dominated San Diego State 27-3 in a Mountain West showdown at SDCCU Stadium on Saturday evening. "The guys worked real hard tonight and it is nice to get some validation defeating a great team like San Diego State on the road," said head coach Jeff Tedford. 

Fresno State (5-2, 4-0 MW) won its fourth straight game on Saturday by discarding San Diego State (6-2, 2-2 MW) with a balanced attack of running the ball (199 yards) and taking strikes through the air when needed (176 yards), outgaining the Aztecs 375-255 on the night. It was the third time this season that the Bulldogs have held their opponents to less than 300 yards of total offense.

With starting running back Ronnie Rivers sidelined by injury, fellow freshman running back Jordan Mims ran for a season-high 112 yards on 21 carries, also a season-high, while Hokit rushed for a season-best 77 yards on 14 carries and became the first Fresno State player since Ryan Mathews in 2009 to score three rushing touchdowns in a game.

Marcus McMaryion went 10-of-16 through the air for 176 yards as he won his fourth straight start, a feat that has not been accomplished in more than 30 years, spreading the ball to four receivers as junior KeeSean Johnson led the charge with four receptions for 47 yards. Senior Da'Mari Scott had a team-high 57 yards on three catches while junior Jamire Jordan tallied 56 yards on two receptions. The offensive line did not allow a tackle for loss for the first time since September 10, 2011 when the Bulldogs traveled to Nebraska.

On the defensive side of the ball, sophomore linebacker Jeffrey Allison notched a team-high 10 tackles, nine solo, and added a tackle for loss and a forced fumble. Junior linebacker George Helmuth posted nine tackles, six solo, and a tackle for loss. The Bulldog defense totaled nine tackles for a loss, four sacks and four pass break ups, and held Rashaad Penny to 69 yards rushing and the SDSU passing game to 90 yards.

"We were trying to play physical and the defensive staff did a great job of putting in a great game plan and offensively we were able to run the ball downhill at them and make them stop the run," Tedford said. "The offensive line did a nice job up front and we threw the ball when we needed too to make some big plays, but really the offensive and defensive lines did a great job."

How It Happened
After SDSU won the toss and elected to receive to begin the game, the Aztecs went on a 16-play, 83-yard drive only for Allison to jar the ball loose from Penny's hands at the Fresno State 14-yard line. The 'Dogs forced a turnover for a fifth straight game and the sixth time this season.

Starting its second drive of the game at its own 39-yard drive, McMaryion connected with Jordan for a 48-yard gain getting down to the SDSU 1-yard line where Hokit punched in his first score of the game with 15 seconds remaining in the opening quarter to give the 'Dogs a 7-0 lead.

With the Aztecs leading 94-76 in total yards after the opening frame, SDSU added to their total with a eight-play, 61-yard drive to begin the second quarter. Aztec kicker John Baron nailed a 37-yard field goal for San Diego State's lone points of the contest to cap that drive.

The Bulldogs responded with a six-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a career-long 26-yard touchdown run by Hokit to push the Bulldogs' lead to 14-3. After a quick three-and-out by the Aztecs, held to negative five yards, the 'Dogs took over at their 37-yard line and went on an 11-play, 42-yard drive finished off by a 38-yard field goal by senior kicker Jimmy Camacho to increase the Bulldogs' lead to 17-3.

Leading 17-3 heading into the locker room, the fifth time this season the 'Dogs have led at the break, Fresno State added a 43-yard field goal by Camacho on the second drive of the third quarter to extend its lead to 20-3. 

Another three-and-out forced by the Bulldog defense, one of five on the night, gave the ball back to the 'Dogs at their own 49-yard line and five plays later, Hokit punched in a four-yard touchdown score to give the 'Dogs its final margin of victory, 27-3.

Notables Team Marks
• Fresno State stays in first place of the West Division of the Mountain West defeating the Aztecs for the fourth time in six meetings as MW opponents.
• Fresno State defeated San Diego State for the 24th time in the two teams' 57th all-time meeting. It was the 11th win for the 'Dogs on the road.
• The Bulldogs won back the "Battle for the Old Oil Can" Trophy, given to the winning team for the 4th time in the seventh meeting that the programs have played for the trophy.
• Good omen: The winner of tonight's game has played in the MW championship game in each of the last four seasons. The Bulldogs currently own a two-game lead over SDSU in the West standings.
• San Diego State converted only the second fourth down against the 'Dogs this season in 11 attempts.
• Fresno State forced its 14th turnover of the season forcing its seventh fumble in 2017 in the first quarter.
• Fresno State is 4-0 in Mountain West play for the first time since 2013.
• Fresno State held San Diego State to 90 passing yards as the 'Dogs held an opponent under 100 yards through the air for the second time this season. The Bulldogs also held San Jose State to 97 yards on Oct. 7, 2017.
• The Bulldogs outgained the Aztecs 199-165 on the ground as it is the 15th time in the last 18 meetings (since 2000) the team with the most rushing yards won the game.
• The 24-point margin of victory was the Bulldogs' largest over the Aztecs since 1993 when Fresno State won 63-37.
• The Bulldogs won the turnover battle for the fifth time this season improving to 4-1 in those games.
• It was the third time this season the 'Dogs have not committed a turnover. Fresno State is 3-0 in those games.
• The Bulldogs' nine tackles for loss are the second-most this season.
• San Diego State had not lost its homecoming game since 2013, when the Bulldogs defeated SDSU in overtime 35-28.
• Fresno State averaged 6.9 yards per play against a San Diego State squad that entered the game leading the Mountain West in total defense and ranking 17th nationally.
• Fresno State limited Rashaad Penny to 69 yards rushing (4.6 yards per play).
• Fresno State broke SDSU's 12-game win streak against MW West Division opponents.
• Jeff Allison led the team in tackles for the third time this season.

Notables Individual Marks
• McMaryion remained unbeaten as the starting signal caller, improving to 4-0 on the season.
• Senior defensive lineman Robert Stanley recorded his first-career sack.
• Johnson has now caught a reception in 29 straight games.
• Camacho has now made a field goal in every game this season and has 13 field goals this season and 15 in his career.
• Nathan Madsen entered tonight's game with four tackles on the season and doubled that total during the game.
• Jaron Bryant tied his career-high in tackles with seven.

Up Next
The Bulldogs return home next week to begin a two-game homestand, welcoming UNLV (2-5, 1-3 MW) to Bulldog Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff.