Fresno State 24-21 Nevada (Oct. 18, 2024) Game Recap

RENO, Nev. – Elijah Gilliam had two touchdown runs and converted a screen pass into a long go-ahead gain as Fresno State earned a 24-21 victory over Nevada in a thrilling Mountain West Conference matchup Friday night.

Mikey Keene threw a screen pass that Gilliam converted into a 71-yard gain to the Nevada 17-yard line. Three plays later, Joshua Wood scored on a 7-yard run to cap a 95-yard drive, and the Bulldogs had a three-point lead with 4:13 left in the third quarter. It was the only goal of the second half.

Nevada (3-5, 0-2) took the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards in six plays, capped by Savion Red's 3-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead. Fresno State (4-3, 2-1) responded with Dylan Lynch's 44-yard field goal.

The Bulldogs took a 10-7 lead on Gilliam's 10-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. The Wolfpack took advantage of Brendon Lewis' 46-yard strike to Nate Burleson II to regain the lead by four yards. Gilliam scored on a 4-yard run for a 17-14 lead after a botched punt gave Fresno State the ball at the Nevada 16-yard line. With ten seconds left, Lewis scored from second to start the third, giving the Wolf Pack a 21-17 lead at halftime.

Keene completed 13 of 20 passes for 190 yards with one interception for Fresno State. Gilliam carried 20 balls for 66 yards and caught two passes for 74 yards.

Brendon Lewis finished the game with 158 yards on 13 of 19 passes for Nevada. Backup Chubba Purdy completed 3 of 5 for 53 yards. Jaden Smith had nine receptions for 134 yards. ——

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