Fresno State grinds down Miami (Ohio) to win Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl

The next episode of the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop was a low-scoring game, but it was a closer contest than the previous year. 

Fresno State outlasted Miami (Ohio), 18-3, in a low-scoring game and dethroned the Redhawks as the Arizona Bowl champion on Saturday at Casino Del Sol Stadium.

FSU ended the season winning four of its last five games and the Bulldogs finished their first season under head coach Matt Entz with a 9-4 record. 

Miami, which has appeared in the last three MAC championships, finished the season with a 7-7 record. 

Fresno State's postgame celebration included Snoop Dogg delivering the Arizona Bowl trophy in a 1963 Chevy Impala and handing out "Death Row Records" chains to FSU players and coaches. 

"A guy from Northeast Ohio probably looks unique with a Death Row necklace on," Entz joked.

Entz said the Bulldogs are "super excited about the win" and "nine wins isn't easy."

"When you finish with a win in December, that's a good year," Entz said. "Period. ... When you're winning a game after Christmas, with these type of young men, that's a win for the administration, that's a win for the program, that's a win for Fresno State, that's a win for our administration and all of our coaches and support people." 

Added Entz: "For them to walk out being a winner, being a champion of the Arizona Bowl, that's exciting. I'm excited for them. That's what it should be about." 

Fresno State, which ranks 14th in college football in total defense, is the first team in Arizona Bowl history to not allow a touchdown. The 21 total points on Saturday marked the lowest-scoring Arizona Bowl in the bowl game's history. 

After Miami kicker Dom Dzioban kicked a 33-yard field goal to grab a 3-0 lead, Fresno State outscored the Redhawks 18-0 to finish the game. Following Miami's field goal on its opening drive, the Redhawks had drives result in two turnovers, two turnover on downs and five punts. 

"Their defense outplayed our offense by a large margin," said Miami head coach Chuck Martin. 

Turning point

Miami was without long snapper Hudson Powell, who is expected to enter the transfer portal on Jan. 2. The Redhawks turned to backup long snapper Gray Maultsby, who sailed a snap over the head of punter Pierse Stainton in the second quarter.  

Instead of giving up a potential safety or touchdown, Stainton picked up the dribbled snap in the end zone and attempted a punt that was blocked by Fresno State's Ethan Thierney and recovered by FSU's Jonathan Arceneaux at the Fresno State 10-yard line. A stuffed run, an incomplete pass and a short run by Fresno State quarterback and Phoenix native E.J. Warner forced the Bulldogs to settle for a 23-yard field goal to tie the game, 3-3.

Miami's longest drive of game, a seven-play, 53-yard possession, was cut short after Fresno State linebacker forced Miami running back Jordan Brunson to fumble, which was recovered by cornerback Jakari Embry at the FSU 22-yard line. Miami only had one trip to the red zone the entire game.  

"That definitely shifted momentum and gave them some life," Martin said of the fumble. "We just weren't going to get in the plus territory many times against that defense, so we knew we had to cash in. ... Big shift right there." 

Fresno State kicker Dylan Lynch made a 25-yard field at the end of the first half and the Bulldogs led 9-3 at halftime. Fresno State out-gained Miami 156-40 in the second quarter. 

Even though former Arizona Wildcat and Fresno State running back Rayshon "Speedy" Luke suffered an injury in the first half and was limited throughout the game, FSU out-gained in total offense, 391-192 yards, and controlled time of possession, 38:40-21:20. Fresno State had 72 offensive plays to Miami's 48. 

Fresno State's only touchdown of the game was a 2-yard pass from Warner to sophomore tight end Richie Anderson III. 

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"Maybe we didn't score touchdowns, but we leaned on people and we imposed our will," Entz said. "We got our run game going at different times. The gap-scheme stuff was really good." 

Offensive MVP

Warner, who's the son of Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner, was named MVP for the Arizona Bowl after completing 16 of 23 passes for 214 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. 

Warner's top target was senior wide receiver Josiah Freeman. Fresno State's leading receiver had seven catches for 143 yards — 109 yards after catch (YAC). Freeman had receptions of 51, 47 and 21 yards.

"Definitely the most (YAC) I've had," Freeman said.  

Defensive MVP

Embry entered Saturday with one career interception and he doubled it with an interception on a deep ball near the left sideline in the first quarter. 

Embry, who recorded two tackles, had the momentum-shifting fumble recovery.

"The energy from that point went up," Embry said of the fumble. "Ain't nothing better on defense than getting a takeaway. That's the best thing." 

Unsung hero

Lynch was 4-for-5 on field goals on Saturday. Lynch was a combined 8-for-9 in Fresno State's final two games of the season. 

Fresno State was 5-for-7 scoring in the red zone. 

Extra points

— Announced attendance for the Arizona Bowl was 37,232. The attendance for the Arizona Bowl last season was 40,076.

— Miami had three players finish with double-digit tackles on Saturday: Safety Eli Blakey and linebacker Malcolm McCain each had 13 tackles and defensive back Silas Walters had 12 tackles.

— Luke, who had four carries for 14 yards, on his return to Tucson: "It felt great, seeing things I haven't seen in almost a year. It's a little shocking, because I never thought I'd be back here. It's amazing."  

— Martin, on the experience at the Arizona Bowl over the last two years: "Amazing. It's a great bowl. All the bowls are great, I've been around all of them, but this is as good as it gets for me, personally. Everybody treats you great, but it is above and beyond here. Everywhere you turn, someone wants to help you if you need something. ... The interaction with Snoop, it's a big deal to a lot of people, not just the players. There's a lot of adults that are starry-eyed to be close to Snoop. ... It's the funnest football game you've ever been a part of."

— Snoop Dogg is contracted to sponsor the Arizona Bowl through 2026. The Mountain West and MAC tie-ins expire after this season.   

Photos: Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl tailgate presented by Gin & Juice

Photos: Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl youth football clinic returns