Washington State 25-17 Fresno State (Oct. 12, 2024) Game Recap

FRESNO, Calif. – Redshirt freshman Ethan O'Connor returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, helping Washington State to a 25-17 victory over Fresno State on Saturday night.

Washington State (5-1) was trailing 17-16 when O'Connor stepped in front of a pass from Mikey Keene and stormed into the end zone, giving the Cougars a five-point lead after the two-point conversion 6:52 failed to play before the end. Dean Janikowski scored the final lead with a 23-yard field goal with 1:46 left.

John Mateer scored on a 1-yard run on the game's first drive, but his 2-point pass failed and Washington State led 6-0.

Keene responded with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Josiah Freeman to give Fresno State (3-3) a 7-6 lead.

Kris Hutson capped a 75-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run with 34 seconds left in the first quarter and the Cougars took a 13-7 lead that lasted until halftime after a scoreless second period.

Midway through the third quarter, Fresno State regained the lead by one point on a 6-yard touchdown run by Elijah Gilliam. Janikowski hit a 34-yard field goal with 5:16 left and Washington State took a 16-14 lead in the fourth quarter.

Dylan Lynch, who had previously missed field goals of 36 and 52 yards, hit a 27-yarder with 11:04 to play and the Bulldogs took a one-point lead.

Mateer completed 17 of 34 passes for 172 yards for the Cougars. He carried 18 times for 46 yards.

Keene finished the game with 220 yards on 24-for-35 passing and a costly pick for the Bulldogs. Gilliam rushed 20 times for 120 yards.

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