Fresno, Calif. – Junior quarterback Mitchell Guadagni threw for 59 yards and ran for 55 in one half of action but it wasn't enough to counter a strong offensive effort by Fresno State as the Bulldogs knocked off Toledo, 49-27, at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno Saturday night.
     Gudagni was shaken up on a play late in the second quarter. Although he did return to action after missing one play, he did not play in the second half. He finished with 6-of-10 passing for 59 yards and one TD. Sophomore Eli Peters took over for Guadagni, completing 10-of-21 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns
     Toledo (2-2) held a 13-7 lead early in the second quarter but Fresno State controlled the game after that. The Bulldogs (3-1) led 28-13 at halftime, then effectively put the game out of reach with touchdowns on their first three possessions of the second half. Fresno held the edge in total offense, 554-375.
First Quarter
     Fresno State got on the board first with a sustained drive of 75 yards in 12 plays, capped by a four-yard run by Jordan Mims. The Rockets answered with a 75-yard drive of their own, tying the score at 7-7 on a 19-yard screen pass from Guadagni to Shakif Seymour.
Second Quarter
     Fresno State outscored Toledo 21-3 in the second quarter. The Rockets took the lead early in the period on a 46-yard field goal by Jameson Vest. The drive started after Fresno State pinned UT on the two-yard line with a 45-yard punt. The big play on the drive was a 36-yard run by Guadagni on third-and-six combined with 15-yard FSU personal foul that put the ball at the 30-yard line. The Rockets' defense then forced a turnover when senior defensive end Reggie Howard hit the quarterback's arm, jarring the ball loose for an interception by freshman defensive end Jamal Hines that was returned to the FSU 38-yard line. UT had to settle for another Vest field goal, this time from 43 yards, to make the score 13-7 with 10:22 left in the half. Fresno struck back quickly, taking a 14-13 lead on a seven-yard TD pass to Keesean Johnson from QB Marcus McMaryion. The score was set up by a 55-yard catch and run by Mims on a third-and-seven play. The Bulldogs extended the lead to 21-13 on a two-yard roll-out pass from McMaryion to tight end Kyle Riddering in the back of the end zone. Moments later, FSU struck again on another catch and run by Mims, this one from 47 yards out to put the Bulldogs up, 28-13. Fresno missed a chance to add to its lead when Asa Fuller's 43-yard attempt sailed wide left on the final play of the half.
Third Quarter
     Fresno State scored on its first possession on a 12-yard pass from McMaryion to Johnson, then scored again moments later on a 38-yard pick-six from defensive end Mykal Walker to extend its lead to 42-13 with 10:22 left. Eli Peters, replacing the injured Guadagni at quarterback, drove Toledo to the FSU 18-yard line but the Rockets were stopped on fourth-and-three when Peters was sacked. Fresno followed with another TD on a six-yard run by McMaryion.
Fourth Quarter
     Peters connected with Jon'Vea Johnson on 54- and 25-yard yard scoring strikes for the only scoring of the quarter.
Up Next
     The Rockets host Bowling Green in their annual Homecoming game at the Glass Bowl next Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Highlights from UT's game against Fresno State.
