Fresno State Bulldozes Southern University 56-7 in Season Opener Thriller

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FRESNO, CA — Fresno State rolled to a dominant 56-7 victory over Southern University on Saturday at Valley Children’s Stadium, marking their third consecutive win and closing out their non-conference schedule with a 3-1 record. Quarterback E.J. Warner was in top form, completing 20 of 24 passes for 240 yards and four touchdowns, marking his first touchdown passes of the season. Warner’s precision and poise kept the Southern defense off balance throughout the night. Running back Bryson Donelson, returning from injury, proved he’s fully healthy, rushing for 90 yards on just nine carries and finding the end zone once. Meanwhile, Rayshon “Speedy” Luke made his presence felt both in the air and on the ground, scoring a rushing and receiving touchdown to bring his season total to six touchdowns in four games.

Fresno State’s defense was equally impressive, holding Southern to just 142 total yards, including a mere 11 on the ground. The Bulldogs’ stifling performance forced multiple turnovers and allowed Fresno State to control the pace from start to finish.

“This was a complete team effort,” said Fresno State head coach Jeff Tedford. “Offense, defense, special teams — everyone contributed tonight. We’re building momentum heading into Mountain West play.” Looking ahead, the Bulldogs will open Mountain West Conference play against Hawaii next Saturday at 9:00 p.m. PT. After this commanding win, Fresno State will aim to carry its non-conference momentum into conference action.

With a balanced offense and a lockdown defense, the Bulldogs have signaled to the Mountain West that they are a team to watch this season.