Final: Boise State 42, New Mexico 9; third-string QB leads Broncos to win
Third-string quarterback Jaylon Henderson threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns Saturday night at Albertsons Stadium as the No. 19 Boise State football team beat New Mexico 42-9.
The Broncos improved to 9-1 overall and 6-0 in the Mountain West. They can clinch the Mountain Division title with a win next Saturday at Utah State.
[Related: Jaylon Henderson shines but QB situation murky; Instant Analysis: Battered Broncos can clinch division next week; Lui scores unexpected touchdown; scoring summary]
The Broncos opened with a touchdown from defensive tackle Sonatane Lui on a 24-yard fumble return on the first play from scrimmage and a 97-yard touchdown drive led by Henderson, who was making his first start as a Bronco.
True freshman Hank Bachmeier missed Boise State’s win last weekend over Wyoming. He started the Broncos’ win at San Jose State, but exited with a potential shoulder injury. He returned to finish the game. Sophomore Chase Cord started against Wyoming and took several big hits, one of which was followed by a brief trip to the medical tent. He finished that game.
Bachmeier and Cord were in uniform but didn’t participate in early warmups.
Boise State hadn’t started three quarterbacks in a season since 1993. That year, Danny Langsdorf started the opener, Lee Schrack started the second game, Langsdorf returned to the lineup for the third and fourth games and true freshman Tony Hilde took over in the fifth game.
After beginning his college career at University of Texas-San Antonio, Henderson spent a year at Trinity Valley Community College before joining the Broncos in 2018. He has appeared in four games this season and threw his first career touchdown pass against Hawaii.
Redshirt freshman walk-on Zach Matlock was Henderson’s backup but never appeared in the game.
Note: This is our live blog from the game. Click on the links above for full coverage.
SCORING SUMMARY
First quarter
BSU — Sonatane Lui 24 fumble return (Eric Sachse kick), 14:51. Key play: New Mexico quarterback Tevaka Tuioti tried to run a keeper up the middle on the first play from scrimmage but was stuffed by defensive end Chase Hatada, who forced a fumble. Lui grabbed the ball and dashed to the end zone. Boise State 7, New Mexico 0
BSU — Octavius Evans 17 run (Sachse kick), 7:53. Key plays: Quarterback Jaylon Henderson rolled out on first down at his own 3-yard line and hit wide receiver John Hightower for 16 yards. Hightower also made an adjustment on an underthrown deep ball for 47 yards and wide receiver Khalil Shakir made a nice catch along the sideline for 11 yards on third-and-8. Drive: 8 plays, 97 yards, 3:42. Boise State 14, New Mexico 0
BSU — Shakir 18 pass from Henderson (Sachse kick), 3:24. Key plays: Tailback George Holani broke a 50-yard run and Evans gained 7 yards on a screen. Drive: 5 plays, 82 yards, 2:15. Boise State 21, New Mexico 0
BSU — Hightower 51 pass from Henderson (Sachse kick), :07. Key plays: The Broncos stopped New Mexico on fourth-and-1 to get the ball back, and Henderson made an athletic play on the first snap to throw the ball away as he was being tackled to avoid a sack. Drive: 2 plays, 51 yards, :16. Boise State 28, New Mexico 0
Third quarter
NM — Andrew Shelley 40 field goal, 9:17. Key plays: Tuioti completed passes of 17, 11 and 16 yards but Kyle Jarvis was flagged for a blindside block at the Broncos’ 9-yard line, which stalled the drive. Drive: 13 plays, 55 yards, 5:21. Boise State 28, New Mexico 3
BSU — Andrew Van Buren 8 pass from Henderson (Sachse kick), 3:03. Key plays: Robert Mahone ran for 13 yards, Henderson gained 5 yards on third-and-2 and Shakir made a 10-yard catch on third-and-7. The touchdown came on fourth-and-2. Drive: 13 plays, 74 yards, 6:08. Boise State 35, New Mexico 3
BSU — Garrett Collingham 2 pass from Shakir (Sachse kick), :00. Key plays: The Broncos opened the drive with a 50-yard completion from Henderson to a wide-open Shakir, who used a series of open-field moves to get nearly to the goal line. On the TD, Shakir was the quarterback and he pitched the ball forward to an in-motion Collingham. Drive: 2 plays, 52 yards, :40. Boise State 42, New Mexico 3
Fourth quarter
NM — Micah Gray 1 run (Shelley kick failed), 3:53. Key plays: Bobby Cole and Gray contributed 13-yard runs. Drive: 11 plays, 67 yards, 5:20. Boise State 42, New Mexico 9
NEWS AND NOTES
Boise State bag policy changes in 2020
Boise State will implement a clear bag policy at Albertsons Stadium following the 2019 football season, the school announced. Fans will be able to bring one clear plastic or vinyl bag, package or container that does not exceed 12-by-6-by-12 inches; a 1 gallon clear plastic freezer bag; or a purse, bag or clutch no larger than 4.5-by-6.5 inches. The policy, which is similar to many others around the country, is a safety measure that also will help move fans through security checkpoints more quickly, the school says.
Broncos, Lobos honor Nahje Flowers
The Boise State and New Mexico teams lined up on their sidelines for a moment of silence for New Mexico’s Nahje Flowers. New Mexico captains held up his jersey at the coin toss. This was the Lobos’ first game since his death. Their previous game against Air Force was rescheduled as the Lobos dealt with the tragedy.
How Henderson’s start compares
The list below does not include the Senior Day start by Bush Hamdan, who was intercepted on his only pass.
▪ Ryan Dinwiddie (2001, loss at South Carolina): 18-of-31, 162 yards, 1 TD, 1 int., 106.15 rating
▪ B.J. Rhode (2001, win vs. Central Michigan): 13-of-27, 191 yards, 1 TD, 1 int., 112.39 rating
▪ Jared Zabransky (2004, win vs. Idaho): 11-of-16, 234 yards, 0 TDs, 1 int., 179.10 rating
▪ Taylor Tharp (2007, win vs. Weber State): 14-of-19, 184 yards, 1 TD, 0 ints., 172.40 rating
▪ Kellen Moore (2008, win vs. Idaho State): 14-of-19, 274 yards, 2 TDs, 0 ints., 229.56 rating
▪ Joe Southwick (2012, loss at Michigan State): 15-of-31, 169 yards, 0 TDs, 1 int., 87.73 rating
▪ Grant Hedrick (2013, loss at BYU): 25-of-42, 232 yards, 1 TD, 1 int., 109.02 rating
▪ Ryan Finley (2015, win vs. Washington): 16-of-26, 129 yards, 0 TDs, 1 int., 95.52 rating
▪ Brett Rypien (2015, win at Virginia): 24-of-35, 321 yards, 3 TDs, 0 ints., 173.90 rating
▪ Montell Cozart (2017, win vs. New Mexico): 15-for-19, 137 yards, 2 TDs, 0 ints., 174.25 rating
▪ Hank Bachmeier (2019, win at Florida State): 30-of-51, 407 yards, 1 TD, 1 int., 128.40 rating
▪ Chase Cord (2019, loss at BYU): 18-of-31, 185 yards, 2 TDs, 2 ints., 116.58 rating
▪ Jaylon Henderson (2019, win vs. New Mexico): 15-of-28, 292 yards, 3 TDs, 1 int., 169.39 rating
Quick hits
Boise State wore all blue. ... The Broncos honored 17 seniors before the game because it was their final regular-season home game. ... Avery Williams carried the Hammer. ... Senior tight end Garrett Collingham of Meridian was the single-game captain. ... Boise State won the coin toss and deferred. ... Octavius Evans became the fourth Broncos wide receiver to score a rushing touchdown this season. ... The Broncos scored 28 points in the first quarter — their most in a quarter this season. It was their first 28-point first quarter since the 2010 game against Idaho. ... The 97-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter was the Broncos’ longest since 2015 against San Jose State. ... Attendance was 31,492. The Broncos have averaged 33,488 fans per home game this season. They averaged 33,068 last year, but that included the relatively lightly-attended Mountain West championship game.
THIS WEEK’S COVERAGE
Meet the seniors who will be honored
Players to watch, matchups, who gets the edge
It’s OK to nitpick the Broncos — and three score predictions
QB Jaylon Henderson could see a larger role
Pierce out for rest of regular season
Boise State kicker craves the spotlight
‘Papa Moa’ grew up at Boise State
Boise State loses ground in Group of Five race
This story was originally published November 16, 2019 at 7:38 PM.
