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MADERA – Madera South High School celebrated its ninth homecoming Friday night with a 21-14 win over Mission Oak of Tulare. There was also a parade, a crowning of a new Homecoming King and Queen, and the whole event was led off by former Madera Unified educator Carles Beckett.

The parade began on Stadium Road at Olive Avenue. The Stallion band stepped off first followed by the club and class floats. The Fashion Club won first place with their club float which included a fully restored 1963 Split Window Volkswagen Van. The Class of 2022 won first place for their 1980’s theme float.

FRESNO - A pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns on Saturday night lifted Fresno State to a 34-20 win over Sacramento State at Bulldog Stadium for win No. 1 of 2019 in front of more than 30,000 fans. Senior running back Josh Hokit was key in the Bulldogs' late surge, totaling nine carries for 65 yards and a touchdown during the Bulldogs' final two possessions.

Fresno State totaled a season-high 471 yards of offense with 312 yards passing and 159 yards on the ground. Defensively, the 'Dogs held Sacramento State to 245 yards of offense with only 12 yards coming on the ground. The Bulldogs held a 30-14 advantage in first downs and were able to control the ball with nearly 38 minutes of possession on offense.

FRESNO -  Fresno FC clinched its first-ever trip to the playoffs Saturday night, delivering a smashing upset of top-ranked Phoenix Rising FC with a 2-1 victory in front of 4,523 fans at Chukchansi Park. It was a tight contest as both sides had four shots, but none of which finished on target in the first half. 

Phoenix eventually had the first attempt on target, as Junior Flemmings tested goalkeeper CJ Cochran at the 67th minute, but Cochran was able to block it away. Moments later, Fresno struck first on the counter, taking the lead at the 68th minute after substitute Qudus Lawal - eight minutes after coming on to the pitch - found enough space to move through two Phoenix defenders and fire one past Phoenix goalkeeper Zac Lubin.

WACO, Texas - The National Collegiate Equestrian Association announced its preseason rankings ahead of the 2019-20 season on Wednesday afternoon. The Bulldogs checked in at No. 9 in the preseason rankings, holding steady since their last appearance in the team rankings on Mar. 12, 2019.

Auburn secured the No. 1 spot after a historic undefeated season and national championship crown. SEC teams Texas A&M and Georgia came in at No. 2 and 3, respectively.

FRESNO - A phrase well-known to Fresno State Bulldog fans everywhere, one does not need to look too far to see how appropriately it fits the Rivers family. With a father who is the second-leading rusher in Fresno State football history, a mother who is a Fresno State graduate and a sister who was a softball student-athlete, Fresno State is all junior running back Ronnie Rivers knows.

Born on Jan. 31, 1999, Super Bowl Sunday, Ronnie has been around the game of football his entire life. His father, Ron Rivers, a Bulldog running back from 1991-93 and a longtime NFL player gave Ronnie a unique perspective on the game of football.

FRESNO - Fresno State battled to the bitter end with Big Ten foe Minnesota in its home opener, falling in double overtime 38-35 in front of 34,790 Saturday night at Bulldog Stadium. Trailing by three points after holding the Gophers to a field goal in the second overtime period, the Bulldogs aired it out on the first play from scrimmage with its next possession, only to be intercepted in the end zone to silence the home crowd to drop Fresno State to 0-2 for the first time since 2014.

In his first start at home, Jorge Reyna went 24-of-35 passing, throwing for 288 yards, along with three touchdowns and two interceptions, the latter being the costly one that sealed the game for the Gophers. Junior running back Ronnie Rivers produced 124 total yards offense (76 rushing/48 receiving) and a career-high two receiving touchdowns.