Fresno State’s Jake Haener leads stunning game-winning drive while enduring hip pain

Fresno State’s Jake Haener with a remarkable performance against UCLA on Pac-12 After Dark

Jake Haener of Fresno State dreamed of playing a game in the Rose Bowl. The quarterback never would have believed the script he wrote Saturday night against UCLA if you showed it to him.

Haener was taking a beating from the Bruins’ defense. It appeared as if the Bulldogs would absorb a brutal loss when UCLA scored to take a four-point lead with less than a minute left.

Haener was barely able to remain upright, grasping his hip after every play and before every snap.

Somehow, someway, he led a 6-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Cooper that gave Fresno State a memorable 40-37 victory over the 13th-ranked Bruins.

Haener, who dropped to his knees after the final throw, hit 39-of-53 passes for 455 yards with two TDs and one INT. Cropper caught 14 balls for 141 yards.

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