Field Level Media
Nov 4, 2018
Marcus McMaryion passed for 274 yards and two touchdowns and Asa Fuller kicked two field goals as No. 23 Fresno State cruised to its seventh straight victory, 48-3 over UNLV on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
McMaryion, named a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award earlier in the week, completed 26 of 35 passes and also rushed for 39 yards on seven carries in a little more than three quarters of action as the Bulldogs (8-1, 5-0 Mountain West) won in Las Vegas for the first time since 1996. It also was the 100th career NCAA head coaching win for Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford, 82 of which came at Cal.
McMaryion, who also threw just his third interception in the season, had touchdown passes of 12 yards to Jamire Jordan and 9 yards to tight end Kyle Riddering and now has thrown 20 touchdowns this season.
Ronnie Rivers, Josh Hokit, Derrion Grim and Saevion Johnson each rushed for a touchdown as the Bulldogs rolled up 466 yards in total offense, including 192 rushing. Fuller chipped in with field goals of 35 and 47 yards.
Senior wide receiver KeeSean Johnson caught eight passes for 97 yards for the Bulldogs, his 45th consecutive game with at least one reception, tops in the nation.
Junior cornerback Jaron Bryant had an interception for Fresno State, which increased its FBS-leading total for interceptions to 15. The Bulldogs also extended their streak in limiting opponents to fewer than 30 points to 20 consecutive games, tops in the nation.
Fresno State took advantage of a partially blocked punt by Mykal Walker to set up its first score, a 12-yard touchdown pass from McMaryion to Jordan at the 10:39 mark of the first quarter.
Rivers made it 14-0 five seconds into the second quarter when he took an option pitch and went in untouched from 2 yards out. Fuller then added a 35-yard field goal to give Fresno State a 17-0 halftime lead.
The Bulldogs then blew the game open with 17 third-quarter points -- the 9-yard scoring pass from McMaryion to Riddering, a 5-yard run by Hokit one play after Bryant's interception, and a Fuller 47-yard field goal.
Grim made it 41-0 on the first play of the fourth quarter with a 10-yard touchdown run and Saevion Johnson added a 2-yard score seven minutes later.
Max Gilliam completed 14 of 30 passes for 98 yards and one interception and Charles Williams rushed for 121 yards on 16 carries for UNLV (2-7, 0-5), which lost its sixth straight game. Starting quarterback Armani Rogers dressed and warmed up for the second straight week but did not play because of a broken toe.
Evan Pantels kicked a 28-yard field goal with 10:13 remaining for UNLV's only points.
--Field Level Media