Fresno St. beats SDSU 23-14, clinches berth in MW title game
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Ronnie Rivers had 22 carries for 78 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown that gave Fresno State the lead for good, and the Bulldogs beat San Diego State 23-14 on Saturday night to clinch the Mountain West Conference's West Division title.
Fresno State (9-2, 6-1), which has won the division twice in a row and four times in the last six season, will play either No. 23 Utah State or No. 25 Boise State in the conference championship game on Dec. 1.
Marcus McMaryion hit KeeSean Johnson for a 32-yard gain to the 18 to set up Rivers' TD run that capped an eight-play, 75-yard drive to open the second have and give the Bulldogs a 17-14 lead. The teams traded punts before San Diego State (7-4, 4-3) missed a 47-yard field-goal attempt and, on the ensuing possession, McMaryion ran 13 yards on third-and-4 and then, on third-and-12, hit Johnson for a 37-yard gain to the 2. Two plays later, Jordan Mims scored on a 1-yard run and the Bulldogs led 23-14 with 12:40 to play after the PAT was blocked.
The Aztecs offense didn't cross midfield the rest of the way.
Fred Trevillion had four receptions for 189 yards and two touchdowns for SDSU.