Fresno State’s defense turned the Boise State blue turf red.

The Bulldogs (6-3, 3-2) played their best game of the season, upsetting Boise State (6-3, 4-1) on the road, 30-7. Oddsmakers had Fresno State as 17½ point underdogs.

Fresno State retains the Milk Can trophy with the win. With the their third consecutive win over the Broncos, the Bulldogs are bowl eligible.

“We just kept leaning on the things that we’ve preached since day one when I got here and that’s we’re going to be tough we’re going to be physical,” Fresno State coach Matt Entz told the Bulldog Sports Network after the game.

The defense hit harder, missed fewer tackles, and forced three straight turnovers. The running game found itself.

Simeon Harris Fuels Bulldogs Defense

Defensive back Simeon Harris led the way, directly responsible for two turnovers that led to 10 points. He had a fumble-inducing sack, one of three tackles for loss, and an interception late in the first half that set up a field goal.

Jahzon Jacks recovered his nation-leading fourth fumble and blocked a field goal.

The defense limited Boise State to 193 yards on offense, with four sacks.

The running game, absent for several weeks, returned. The Bulldogs scored three short rushing touchdowns by three different backs and finally found holes up the middle that had been missing.

Boise State standout quarterback Maddux Madsen left the game with an injury in the first quarter. He was seen with crutches and wearing a boot on the sideline in the second half. Backup Max Cutforth came in but was under constant pressure and never found a rhythm.

Fresno State’s defense forced seven Boise State punts.

The loss snapped Boise State’s nation-leading streak of 16 straight home wins.

“It hits more when its against Boise,” running back Bryson Donelson told the Bulldog Sports Network after the game.

Bulldogs On the Scoreboard

The Bulldogs scored for the first time in nearly 81 minutes of game time, on their third drive of the first quarter. Seldom-used running back Elijah Gilliam took a direct snap at the 1-yard line and powered his way across the goal line. Gilliam entered the game with only 18 carries as the fourth-string back.

The nine-play, 55-yard drive was aided by 24 yards in unnecessary roughness penalties by Boise State. Rayshon Luke showed something that the running game and offensive line had trouble for several weeks — a big run, 12 yards, up the middle.

Fresno State was shut out last week by San Diego State — its first home shutout since 1980 and its first ever at Valley Children’s Stadium.

After a Boise State touchdown tied the score at 7-7, the Bulldogs took advantage of the Harris interception, for a field goal moments before halftime. Harris forced a fumble in the third quarter, and Fresno State scored on three bruising running plays later for a 17-7 lead.

Rayshon Luke led the Bulldogs’ running game with 88 yards on 16 attempts. The team rushed for 189 yards overall.

“As a team, we had to come and redeem ourselves,” running back Luke told the Bulldog Sports Network after the game. “We just did our show.”

Quarterback Carson Conklin threw for just 35 yards, completing 10-of-21 passes. But he commanded the offense without a turnover.

Title Game Optimism Returning?

With UNLV’s loss at home to New Mexico on Saturday, Fresno State may have found a path to the Mountain West title game. The Bulldogs need to win out and get some help, especially with tiebreakers. The first tiebreaker is head-to-head results.

Boise State would need to lose one more game. The Broncos play Nov. 15 at San Diego State. If Fresno State ties with Boise State and UNLV (or just UNLV), the tiebreaker would likely go to computer rankings. Fresno State’s road win at Boise can only help. Fresno State and UNLV do not meet this season.

Bulldog Notes

Fresno State played without defensive lineman Deijon Laffitte, who was out with an injury and listed as questionable on the pregame report. Linebacker K’vion Thunderbird is out for the season with a broken arm.

Former Bulldog running back Malik Sherrod transferred to Boise State this season. He was the Broncos’ offensive bright spot, leading them with 113 all-purpose yards (67 rushing, 43 on returns and three receiving yards).

The Bulldog defense forced a three-and-out on the opening drive for the second time this season. They also did so against Georgia Southern.

Boise State had more yards in penalties (64) than Fresno State’s total offense (60) in the first half.

Both teams move to the Pac-12 Conference next year. It will be the third conference in which they’ve faced each other, following matchups in the WAC and Mountain West.

The Bulldogs have their third and final bye week next week before returning for back-to-back home games starting Nov. 15 against Wyoming.