FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Giving up a touchdown with just 15 seconds left, Fresno State lost 21-20 to Hawaii on Saturday night at Valley Children’s Stadium.

With the last-minute loss, the Bulldogs fall to (5-4, 3-2 MW) on the season.

Fresno State scored on its first two drives of the game, but was ultimately held to just 95 yards the rest of the night.

OFFENSIVE WOES

Fresno State finished the night with just 176 total yards of offense against the Rainbow Warriors. It’s the first time they’ve been held to fewer than 200 yards since a 2022 loss to UCONN on the road.

On the ground, the Bulldogs were held to just 19 rushing yards on 21 carries (0.9 yards per carry).

Junior quarterback Mikey Keene went 25/31 for 157 yards, 1 TD. Keene was also sacked 4 times for a total loss of 28 yards.

PHOENIX JACKSON SHINES IN LOSS

Junior LB Phoenix Jackson was a bright spot in Saturday’s loss to Hawaii, hauling in an 89-yard pick-and-roll late in the third quarter to give the ‘Dogs a 20-7 lead.

The Modesto native’s 89 all-purpose yards were more than those of WRs Jalen Moss (74), Raylen Sharpe (48) and RB Elijah Gilliam (42).

WHAT’S NEXT

Fresno State travels to Colorado Springs to take on Air Force (1-7, 0-4 MW) next Saturday.

Kickoff from Falcon Stadium is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. PT.

With three games remaining, Fresno State needs one more win to become bowl eligible.

FULL GAME RECAP

After receiving the kickoff, Hawai’i used nearly eight minutes of a 14-play, 75-yard drive. A 5-yard touchdown pass from Brayden Schager to Pofele Ashlock on third base put the Rainbow Warriors up 7-0.

Fresno State responded with a 12-play drive. With the drive seemingly stalling, Mikey Keene found Raylen Sharp for a 21-yard completion on third-and-11 at the UH 43-yard line. Two plays later, a Hawaiian personal foul nullified a ‘Dogs fumble. Elijah Gilliam completed the handoff 10 yards down the middle in the end zone to tie the game.

As Hawai’i attempted a fourth-and-1 for the second time on the drive on its own side of the field, Malachi Langley stripped Schager of the ball to force a turnover on downs at his 28-yard line. It took Fresno State seven plays before Keene found Sharpe in the end zone for a 5-yard score. The Bulldogs’ lead was 13-7 with 10:21 on the clock after the PAT was blocked.

After the early scores, the game turned to defenses as seven straight punts were forced.

While Hawaii put together the longest drive since the first two drives of the game, the Bulldogs defense held strong when it counted. After a false start pushed UH into a third-and-11 from the 25-yard line, Schager’s pass attempt was knocked back into the air by Tuasivi Nomura. Phoenix Jackson pulled it out of the air and raced 89 yards for a touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 20-3 lead with 3:58 left in the third quarter.

As the fourth quarter began, Hawai’i resumed its offense. But on fourth-and-9, Fresno State appeared to end the run. A pass breakup by Cam Lockridge was ruled a target, however, extending the drive. Three plays later, Schager made it 20-14 with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Nick Cenacle with nine minutes remaining.

The Bulldogs were forced to punt from their own 43-yard line on the next drive. Hawai’i moved the ball into Fresno State’s field, but just after the two-minute timeout, Jackson released the ball and Jadyen Davis recovered the fumble.

After two rushes, a sack on third and fifth left the ‘Dogs launching a seventh straight drive, this time from their own end zone.

UH began its final drive at Fresno State’s 47-yard line. On fourth-and-10 at the 18, Nomura was whistled for pass interference in the end zone, moving the ball to the 3-yard line. Three plays later, Schager hit Cenacle for the go-ahead touchdown with 15 seconds left.

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