Boise State’s Collingham has a career day; Henderson leads Broncos to another win
Boise State completed its first undefeated regular season in Mountain West play Friday at Colorado State thanks in part to a career day from a local product.
Broncos tight end Garrett Collingham went into the regular-season finale with two touchdowns on the season. He ended the first half Friday with his first career two-touchdown game to help Boise State head into the Mountain West title game on Dec. 7 against Hawaii on the heels of a 31-24 victory.
“I’m sure he’s grown up watching the Broncos and loved it, and being able to make plays like that on a big-time stage in a big-time game has to be a surreal feeling for him,” Boise State safety Kekoa Nawahine said.
Collingham has only touched the ball 13 times this season, but he’s made the most of his opportunities with four touchdowns (three receiving, one rushing) and a two-point conversion.
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He played quarterback at Mountain View High in Meridian and helped the Mavericks finish as the 5A state runner-up in 2015. Collingham walked on at Boise State the same year and began a journey that has included stops at quarterback, wide receiver, linebacker and tight end and even a few practice reps at punter. But the 6-foot-4, 242-pound redshirt senior may have found his home at tight end. He was put on scholarship earlier this year.
He got back into quarterback mode for a second on Boise State’s first touchdown, though. Working out of a bunch set on the left side of the line, Collingham came back across the formation and took a handoff on what looked like an end-around. He pulled up a couple yards behind the line of scrimmage, though, cocked his right arm and scanned the end zone before tucking the ball and running it in himself to tie the game, 7-7.
“We trust Garrett,” Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said. “He’s a good decision-maker, and he’s a guy who has earned those opportunities. And we know in those situations, he’s going to do things in the right way, and it showed up today. We needed him in a big way.”
Collingham took part in another lead-changing touchdown late in the second quarter, and this time he was on the receiving end of it. After Boise State quarterback Jaylon Henderson converted a fourth-and-1 from inside Colorado State’s 10-yard line, he found Collingham on a slant for a 3-yard touchdown and a 21-14 lead with 1:16 left in the first half.
Henderson starts again
Henderson made his third start in a row, and he led the Broncos to their third straight win.
Henderson finished the game 26-of-36 for 253 yards and two touchdowns. He didn’t turn the ball over for the second game in a row, and he converted a pair of key fourth downs with his legs.
“Jaylon has continually worked hard for games like this and to be successful,” Harsin said. “Jaylon’s done a good job and I feel good with Jaylon.”
Henderson’s first two starts resulted in 98 points. Against New Mexico, he threw touchdowns to three different receivers and led the Broncos to a 42-9 win. He wasn’t quite as crisp in the passing game last week at Utah State, but he didn’t turn the ball over, made plays with his legs and helped Boise State clinch its third straight Mountain Division title with a 56-21 win.
True freshman Hank Bachmeier started the first six games of the season, but he hasn’t played since he suffered what appeared to be a shoulder injury at San Jose State — a game he exited after taking a hit on a scramble and returned to finish.
Sophomore Chase Cord started at BYU and against Wyoming, but he hasn’t played since the Broncos’ 20-17 win in overtime against the Cowboys. Cord also took a hit in that game that briefly sent him to the medical tent, but he returned to finish.
Bachmeier and Cord have now been in uniform for the past three games, but they haven’t played. On Monday, Harsin suggested both could play if needed.
“There’s no season-ending injuries. Guys are all available to play,” Harsin said. “If guys need to play, they can play.”
CBS Sports Network reported that Harsin told its announcers Bachmeier and Cord “probably” would play and are healthy. But neither played. After the game, Harsin wouldn’t comment on which quarterback would get starting reps heading into next weekend’s conference championship. He simply continued with the mantra that all three quarterbacks are ready and he’s comfortable with whoever takes the snaps against Hawaii.
“I’m very proud of Jaylon,” Harsin said. “… Jaylon’s done a good job, and I feel good with Jaylon and I feel like he’ll prepare himself. And I feel good about Hank and Chase, and those guys will be ready to go, too.”
Happle, Quevedo, Reed out
After starting the past two games, safety Jordan Happle missed Friday’s finale with an undisclosed injury. Tyreque Jones started in his place. Reserve cornerback Markel Reed, who has seen extensive playing time in place of Avery Williams in recent weeks, also was out.
Right guard Eric Quevedo missed his second straight game. He left the Broncos’ win over New Mexico in the second half after getting his legs trapped under a pile of bodies and going down awkwardly. Redshirt junior Jake Stetz started at right guard.
First-half finishing
The Broncos offense continued a streak of hot finishes to first halves Saturday. STUD Curtis Weaver tipped an interception to himself with 40 seconds left in the half to set up kicker Eric Sachse’s 39-yard field goal, which sent Boise State into halftime with a 24-14 lead.
Boise State has scored in the final 30 seconds of the first half in all six road games this season and in the final minute of 10 straight road games.
Quick hits
Boise State wore all white with the orange helmet logo. ... Colorado State wore all green. ... The game-time temperature was 28 degrees. ... Colorado State won the coin toss and took the ball. ... Boise State has trailed in eight of its 12 games this season.
This story was originally published November 29, 2019 at 7:30 PM.
