DiLeva’s 53-yard field goal lifts San Diego State past Fresno State, 26-23

Cooper DiLeva made a career-long 53-yard field goal with 57 seconds remaining, and San Diego State stopped Fresno State's final possession to finish a 26-23 win Saturday night at Snapdragon Stadium.

DiLeva's fourth successful field goal broke a tie that the Bulldogs had created on Julius Gillick's second touchdown run. Fresno State missed the extra point after that score, leaving the Aztecs an opportunity to win with a kick rather than needing a touchdown.

San Diego State improved to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in Pac-12 play and kept the Old Oil Can trophy. The result gave the Aztecs a response to their 66-14 loss at Oregon State a week earlier. Fresno State fell to 4-3 and 1-2 in conference games.

The official SDSU Athletics Spanish radio broadcast is available below.

Saunders moves the winning drive

The Aztecs finished with Stone Saunders at quarterback after Jayden Denegal left injured in the second quarter. Denegal had completed seven of 10 passes for 112 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown to Jaylon Hawkins.

Saunders completed six of 11 passes for 61 yards in relief. His 26-yard completion to Jordan Napier on third down during the last scoring drive moved San Diego State into Fresno State territory. The Aztecs then worked the clock before sending DiLeva out for the winning attempt.

Fresno State still had 57 seconds to answer. Kai Wallin sacked Jayden Mandal on the first play of that possession, and the Bulldogs eventually turned the ball over on downs. Saunders took a knee to close out the game.

A long run and a different passer

San Diego State had led 13-0 and 16-10 before Gillick's seven-yard touchdown run put Fresno State ahead 17-16 in the third quarter.

Lucky Sutton supplied the biggest gain of the Aztecs' response, running 67 yards to help set up a 92-yard touchdown drive. The scoring play came from another passer: receiver Bert Emanuel Jr. took a handoff from Saunders and delivered a seven-yard pass to Napier for a 23-17 lead with 12 minutes remaining.

Gillick answered with a two-yard touchdown run, but the missed extra point kept the game tied. DiLeva, who had missed from 43 yards in the third quarter, got another opportunity and converted from 10 yards farther away.

Hawkins finished with six catches for 84 yards and the early touchdown. DiLeva's other field goals came from 32, 30 and 40 yards, with the last of those arriving just before halftime.

Mandal completed 13 of 25 passes for 141 yards for Fresno State. The Bulldogs scored all three of their touchdowns on the ground, including Bryson Donelson's four-yard run in the second quarter, but their final passing series could not extend the game.