San Jose, Calif. ? Rodney Davis’ phone rang in the locker room just before Fresno State took the field for the Silicon Valley Classic.

It was his brother and teammate, calling to wish the Bulldogs good luck. Starting receiver Marque Davis was at home, one of seven players who couldn’t participate because of academic problems.

So Rodney Davis ran for them. He carried 37 times for 153 yards and two touchdowns as Fresno State won its first bowl game in 10 years, defeating Georgia Tech 30-21 on Tuesday.

“This win was for the guys who couldn’t make it,” Davis said.

The Bulldogs (9-5) had not won a postseason game since beating Southern California in the 1992 Freedom Bowl, a string of four straight losses.

And they were even more proud they did it with a depleted roster. Fresno State suited only 45 players, and was missing five starters.

A new Western Athletic Conference rule requires athletes to pass at least six credits to play in a bowl game, and seven didn’t meet the requirement. They may have had incompletes or grades that had not yet been finalized, for example.

“For the nation to think we played with ineligible players is a misconception,” coach Pat Hill said. “We were playing with non-certified players. … I’m so proud of this football team. We had some adversity this season.”

Three seniors stayed home, some because their grades weren’t posted.

“That drives me nuts,” Hill said. “But we persevered.”

Asen Asparuhov kicked a 33-yard field goal with 3:43 left, one of his three in the game, and Davis clinched the victory with a 28-yard TD run just more than a minute later for the Bulldogs.

And the Fresno State defense did an impressive job after halftime of weathering a strong second-half comeback attempt by Georgia Tech freshman backup quarterback Damarius Bilbo.

Bilbo passed for a touchdown and ran for another after replacing the ineffective A.J. Suggs, but Bilbo also threw four interceptions as the Yellow Jackets (7-6) committed seven turnovers.

Georgia Tech was the only team in the ACC to throw more interceptions (14) than touchdowns (13) this season.

“I’m disappointed with the execution,” coach Chan Gailey said.