Boise State’s Mattison has breakthrough game vs. Air Force’s stingy run defense

The Boise State football team’s run game is back in business.

For only the second time this season, junior Alexander Mattison eclipsed 100 yards rushing to ignite the Broncos in a 48-38 victory over Air Force on Saturday in U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado. It is Boise State’s first ever win at Falcon Stadium.

Mattison totaled a season-best 136 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, and he did so against an Air Force squad that entered the game ranked No. 13 in the nation in rush defense at 106.6 yards per game.

“We knew that in the past they’ve been the type of team to kind of stack the box and bring those blitzes,” Mattison said. “We just did an amazing job of being dialed up front and, the offensive line, I can’t tell you how proud I am of them for really sticking their nose in there and just mashing downhill.”

The 5-foot-11, 211-pound Mattison averaged 6.2 yards per carry, which is his second-best mark this season behind the 10.45 average he posted against the porous Connecticut defense on Sept. 8. Mattison finished that game with 115 yards on 11 carries.

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“It’s that controlled anger that really can push you forward, so I took that and I had fun with the offensive line,” Mattison said. “I was out there smiling on the field. I wasn’t really too locked in. I wasn’t too serious, but at the same time I did have some angry runs in there.”

Through eight games, Mattison has 637 yards rushing and eight touchdowns on 150 carries — an average of 4.24 yards per carry. He’s going for back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns after collecting 1,086 yards and 12 TDs in 2017.

Only five Bronco running backs have back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons since 2001: Brock Forsey (2001-02), Ian Johnson (2006-07), Doug Martin (2010-11), Jay Ajayi (2013-14) and Jeremy McNichols (2015-16).

Mattison’s effort on the ground coincided with another hot night for Boise State quarterback Brett Rypien. The senior signalcaller completed 20-of-34 passes for 399 yards and five touchdowns without an interception.

“Once we got the run game going a little bit, that opened up some one-on-ones for us,” Rypien told ESPN. “I trust my receivers to win those every time.”

HIGHLIGHT-REEL HIGHTOWER ONCE AGAIN

Boise State junior wide receiver John Hightower had season highs of eight catches, 182 yards and three touchdowns Saturday.

Hightower scored on touchdowns of 44, 18 and 61 yards. Seven of the eight touchdowns he’s scored this season have been from more than 30 yards out.

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“He was awesome,” Rypien said. “He did exactly what we expect John to do there, caught some tunnel screens, was able to score on those and get some big plays there and then run by guys when he needed to. He’s got game-breaking speed and that’s all there is to it.”

The 61-yard touchdown, which came with 3:21 remaining, sealed the win for the Broncos.

“It came down to the O-line blocking, Brett just making a wonderful pass and I tried to do what I can,” Hightower said.

RYPIEN MOVES UP THE RANKS

With 399 yards on Saturday, Rypien now has 12,441 career yards passing, which moved him past the likes of USC’s Matt Barkley and Cal’s Jared Goff for 27th in FBS history.

Rypien also tied the Mountain West record with his 20th 300-yard game and passed Ryan Dinwiddie for second on Boise State’s all-time list with 83 career touchdown passes.

QUICK HITS

LB Bruno DeRose, who is from Pueblo, Colo., was the Broncos’ single-game captain. ... The Broncos wore their Fiesta Bowl color scheme: orange pants, white jerseys, blue helmets. ... Punt returner Avery Williams carried the Hammer. ... Boise State won the coin toss and elected to receive. ... Boise State kicker Haden Hoggarth hit both field goal attempts, including a career-best 47-yarder. He’s made his last five attempts. ... Senior defensive end Durrant Miles left the game with an injury, but Harsin was not sure of its severity after the game. ... Boise State played without defensive lineman Sonatane Lui, offensive lineman Eric Quevedo, kickoff specialist Joel Velazquez and wide receiver Octavius Evans because of injuries. All but Evans were out last week, too. Junior Emmanuel Fesili and sophomore Donte Harrington started for Lui and Quevedo, respectively.

This story was originally published October 27, 2018 at 9:37 PM.