Final: Boise State 45, New Mexico 14; Modster, Mattison lead blowout

By Dave Southorn

Updated November 17, 2018 1:05 AM

Boise State wide receiver Sean Modster scored two first-half touchdowns against New Mexico. John Kelly Boise State Photo Services

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.

The Boise State football team rolled to a 45-14 win Saturday night at New Mexico — setting up one of the biggest games in Albertsons Stadium history.

No. 23 Boise State (9-2 overall, 6-1 Mountain West) will face No. 14 Utah State (9-1, 6-0) on Nov. 24 in Boise. The winner of that game will get the Mountain Division title. Boise State would host the Mountain West championship game Dec. 1 if it wins the division.

Utah State, if it beats Colorado State on Saturday, will be the highest-ranked opponent to play in Boise.

Boise State wide receiver Sean Modster made nine catches for 129 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Broncos against New Mexico. Tailback Alexander Mattison added 20 carries for 145 yards and a 41-yard touchdown as he eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the season.

The defense chipped in a fumble return for a touchdown by Desmond Williams.

SCORING SUMMARY

FOURTH QUARTER

BSU — Andrew Van Buren 8 run (Haden Hoggarth kick), 1:14. Key plays: With the second unit in the game, the Broncos held the Lobos on fourth down. The backup offense came in and was aided by a pass interference penalty to move the ball downfield. On third down, Van Buren plowed in for his second career TD. The freshman had just one carry in the previous three games. Drive: 7 plays, 51 yards, 4:01. Boise State 45, New Mexico 14

BSU — Alexander Mattison 41 run (Haden Hoggarth kick), 8:18. After DB Kekaula Kaniho intercepted QB Sheriron Jones, Mattison took it to his left, waited for a lane to develop and raced for the end zone. He crossed 1,000 yards on the season in the process on the run, his longest of the year. Drive: 1 play, 41 yards, 0:09. Boise State 38, New Mexico 14

UNM — Marcus Hayes 86 punt return (Andrew Shelley kick), 10:50. Key plays: Boise State’s drive stalled out near midfield, and Hayes took Quinn Skillin’s punt to his left, broke a tackle, found a lane and took it up the other sideline for the score. It was the Lobos’ first punt-return TD since 2002. Boise State 31, New Mexico 14

Break some tackles, reverse the field, beat the punter, get the TD.

Marcus Hayes with the punt return TD for @UNMLoboFB! #MWFB pic.twitter.com/M7WIXRA05W
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) November 17, 2018

THIRD QUARTER

BSU — Sean Modster 5 pass from Brett Rypien (Haden Hoggarth kick), 11:07. Key plays: The Broncos got the ball deep in UNM territory thanks to a forced fumble by LB Zeke Noa that S Kekoa Nawahine recovered. The drive stalled out at the UNM 11, and though Hoggarth made the field goal, the Lobos ran into him, drawing a penalty. On the next play, the Broncos scored the touchdown. Drive: 7 plays, 29 yards, 3:13. Boise State 31, New Mexico 7

SECOND QUARTER

BSU — Haden Hoggarth 34 field goal, 0:39. Key plays: Boise State got the ball after New Mexico’s first missed field goal of the season. QB Brett Rypien had 17- and 23-yard passes to RB Alexander Mattison, plus a 16-yard pass to TE Chase Blakley, to get into field goal range. His final pass, on third-and-3, was batted down by Rhashaun Epting with a receiver open for a likely first down. Drive: 7 plays, 63 yards, 1:02. Boise State 24, New Mexico 7

BSU — Desmond Williams 9 fumble return (Haden Hoggarth kick), 9:38. Key plays: With the Lobos pinned back in their own territory, STUD end Curtis Weaver tackled RB Zahneer Shuler by his ankles, and Williams came in, stripped the ball and ran in untouched for the touchdown. Boise State 21, New Mexico 7

UNM — Daevon Vigilant 1 run (Andrew Shelley kick), 13:07. Key plays: The speedy Vigilant helped key the scoring drive, rushing for 19 yards, and QB Sheriron Jones had an 18-yard run plus a 20-yard pass to Delane Hart-Johnson to the 1 that set up the TD. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:14. Boise State 14, New Mexico 7

FIRST QUARTER

BSU — Sean Modster 16 pass from Brett Rypien (Haden Hoggarth kick), 2:21. Key plays: The Broncos once again marched downfield, and once again did not face a third down. Rypien was 4-of-5 for 47 yards on the drive, the last past a perfect bullet to Modster in the back of the end zone. Drive: 13 plays, 80 yards, 6:26. Boise State 14, New Mexico 0

Rypien to Modster for a second TD. pic.twitter.com/Id08AHFina
— Boise State Football (@BroncoSportsFB) November 17, 2018

BSU — Sean Modster 15 pass from Brett Rypien (Haden Hoggarth kick), 12:38. Key plays: Boise State absolutely rolled down the field, the first four plays going for more than 10 yards apiece. The Broncos’ touchdown came on their only second down of the drive as Rypien hit an open Modster in the UNM end zone. Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:22. Boise State 7, New Mexico 0

News and notes

Injuries pile up

Once again, the Boise State football team was dealing with a handful of injuries Friday at New Mexico.

Wide receiver Octavius Evans, receiver Khalil Shakir, receiver John Hightower, safety Tyreque Jones, tight end Matt Pistone and defensive tackle Chase Hatada were held out with injuries.

Shakir and Jones are new additions to the injury report. Shakir, a true freshman, scored a go-ahead 49-yard touchdown a week earlier in a 24-17 win over Fresno State. Jones has started five games this season but was replaced in the lineup by sophomore Jordan Happle in the previous game.

Evans has not played since Oct. 19 against Colorado State. Coach Bryan Harsin said Wednesday the injury he had in fall camp has not properly healed, but did not say he won’t play the rest of the season. He has two receptions for 12 yards in five games.

“As far as the amount of time he’s been able to play, yeah, it’s really disappointing. I know it is for him,” Harsin said. “... He’s been able to play, it’s just not where he wants to be. He’s still working, he’s still preparing. It’s not like all hope is lost, that there’s not a chance for him to play.”

Hightower also did not play against Fresno State. He is second on the team with 163 yards rushing and third with 496 yards receiving and has eight total touchdowns. Hatada missed Nov. 3’s game against BYU, but played last week, though he was taken off the field with an apparent injury during the win.

Quick hits

Junior running back Alexander Mattison, who rushed for 144 yards the previous week against Fresno State, was selected as the single-game captain. … The Broncos are wearing all white. ... Freshman wide receiver Billy Bowens is switching his number from No. 27 to 18. ... Sophomore linebacker Bruno DeRose carried the Hammer.