Bulldogs survive, win 55-54 in Double OT

The letdown that a lot of us talked about and feared, happened in Toledo on Saturday night, but thankfully Fresno State stopped a Toledo 2-point conversion in double overtime and hung on for a 55-54 win over the Rockets.



The Bulldogs came out quickly, getting a defensive touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead, but that was short lived as Toledo would match the Bulldogs score for score and would eventually take a 21-17 lead into half time. Remember my blog on the eve of this game, don't let Toledo stick around and believe they could win? Well, Toledo hung around and hung around, scoring at will on a Fresno State defense that gave up just 13 points to then 13th ranked Wisconsin just a week prior.

Fresno State would score on its first four possessions of the 2nd half and it looked as if the Bulldogs would put the game away after taking a 41-31 lead and getting the ball back after Toledo went three and out. Toledo wouldn't go away, however, and would score ten unanswered including a game tying field goal with just under a minute to play in regulation.

The Rockets would get the ball first in overtime and only needed two plays before taking a 48-41 lead, but the Bulldogs would answer right back as QB Tom Brandstater would hook up with Isaac Kinter from seven yards out and with the extra point would send the game into a second overtime with the game tied 48-48.

Fresno State would get the ball to start the 2nd overtime and would take a 55-48 lead on a QB sneak from Brandstater. Toledo would answer right back when QB Aaron Opelt would hit John Allen for a 3-yard touchdown pass to pull the Rockets to within one. Instead of going for the tie, Toledo wanted the win, but Aaron Opelt's pass was knocked down and the Bulldogs survived a monumental scare and would squeak away with a 55-54 win.

The offense was there for Fresno State, they put points on the board but the defense was as bad as they've been all season. In their first 2 games (Rutgers, Wisconsin) they gave up a total of 20 points, they more than doubled that tonight against Toledo and were lucky to come away with a win. With UCLA up next, Pat Hill better get this defense in line or they'll be in for a long day next Saturday.