Final: Boise State 52, Colorado State 21; Broncos score 3 TDs on special teams
Boise State scored three special teams touchdowns and offensive lineman Nick Crabtree made a rare trip to the end zone on Thursday in a 52-21 win over Colorado State.
Special teams ace Avery Williams blocked two punts, one of which he recovered in the end zone for the game’s first touchdown. The other was plucked out of the air by reserve linebacker DJ Schramm, who scored to give the Broncos (3-1) a 42-7 lead, which they took into halftime.
The Broncos also got a blocked field goal attempt from Homedale product Scott Matlock. Nickel Kekaula Kaniho recovered the ball and returned it 91 yards for a touchdown.
Crabtree was in the right place at the right time late in the third quarter. Wide receiver Khalil Shakir looked like he was going to score but fumbled at the goal line and the Broncos’ right tackle plucked the ball out of the air for the final touchdown of the game.
Boise State quarterback Hank Bachmeier returned to the starting lineup and completed 16-of-28 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver CT Thomas caught six passes for 103 yards. It was his second straight game with more than 100 receiving yards.
Broncos lose two defensive linemen
Nose tackle Keeghan Freeborn and defensive tackle Herbert Gums will both miss the rest of the season, Boise State coach Bryan Harsin confirmed after Thursday’s game.
Freeborn, a redshirt sophomore from Rocky Mountain High School, is out with a broken ankle. Gums, one of the highlights of Boise State’s 2020 recruiting class, will miss the rest of the year with a torn ACL. Both injuries were suffered this week in practice.
Freeborn led the Broncos with nine tackles during a 49-30 win at Air Force, and Gums made his collegiate debut last Friday against BYU.
They were two of four defensive linemen who missed Thursday’s game, joining nose tackle Scale Igiehon and Utah transfer Jackson Cravens. Igiehon has been limited the past two games by an ankle injury suffered in the season opener. Boise State did not specify why Cravens was out.
Matlock, junior college transfers Divine Obichere and Shane Irwin took the majority of the snaps. Irwin finished with seven tackles and Obichere added five.
Broncos without 14 players
Bachmeier made his return to the starting lineup Thursday in Boise State’s win over Mountain West foe Colorado State.
Bachmeier missed the past two games for undisclosed reasons. He was back, but the Broncos were without several other impact players, including quarterback Jack Sears, who started the past two games but left last week’s loss to BYU with a potential head injury.
In all, 14 Boise State players were ruled out because of COVID-19 protocols, the university announced before kickoff: nine because of positive tests and five as a result of contact tracing.
Boise State did not identify the players who are missing because of the protocols.
Punter Joel Velazquez, linebacker Brock Miller, cornerback Tyric LeBeauf and wide receivers Octavius Evans and Shea Whiting were out for the second week in a row for undisclosed reasons.
New additions to this week’s list of inactive players included defensive tackles Jackson Cravens, Keeghan Freeborn and Herbert Gums, leaving the Broncos pretty thin on the interior of the defensive line.
Quarterback Chase Cord was also listed as officially out for the first time this season. He was limited in fall camp while still recovering from injuries suffered last season and offseason ankle surgery. He has not played this season.
More new additions to Thursday’s list of inactive players: cornerback Rodney Robinson, offensive lineman Dallas Holliday, safety Evan Tyler and linebacker Brandon Hawkins.
Only 74 players can dress for games this season, according to the Mountain West, and Boise State listed 35 as inactive.
SCORING SUMMARY
First quarter
BSU — Avery Williams blocked punt recovered in end zone (Jonah Dalmas kick), 14:08. Key play: After the Boise State defense forced a three-and-out on the Rams’ opening possession, special teams ace Williams got the Broncos on the scoreboard early by blocking the punt of CSU’s Ryan Stonehouse. Boise State 7, Colorado State 0
BSU — Riley Smith 5 pass from Hank Bachmeier (Dalmas kick), 6:06. Key plays: On second-and-20 from the CSU 32, Bachmeier completed a 14-yard pass to Andrew Van Buren. The Broncos then earned the first down on a 7-yard pass from Bachmeier to Maclaine Griffin. Drive: 10 plays, 48 yards, 4:54. Boise State 14, Colorado State 0
BSU — Kekaula Kaniho 91 blocked field goal return (Dalmas kick), 1:14. Key play: After blocking a PAT against BYU last week, Scott Matlock got a paw on the 27-yard field-goal attempt by CSU’s Robert Liss. Kaniho grabbed the football and sprinted along the sideline for the score. Boise State 21, Colorado State 0
Second quarter
CSU — Patrick O’Brien 1 run (Robert Liss kick), 13:40. Key play: The Rams got down to the BSU 1-yard line courtesy of a 38-yard pass from O’Brien to Dante Wright. Drive: 8 plays, 76 yards, 2:26. Boise State 21, Colorado State 7
BSU — Andrew Van Buren 1 run (Dalmas kick), 9:12. Key plays: Khalil Shakir ate up 28 yards on a shifty run to the CSU 35. Bachmeier later found CT Thomas on a 33-yard toss on third-and-13 to get to the CSU 5. Drive: 10 plays, 85 yards, 4:23. Boise State 28, Colorado State 7
BSU — Van Buren 1 run (Dalmas kick), 3:48. Key plays: Safety JL Skinner returned an interception 21 yards to set up this drive. CT Thomas then kept the drive alive with a pair of third-down catches of 19 and 11 yards. Drive: 10 plays, 36 yards, 4:02. Boise State 35, Colorado State 7
BSU — DJ Schramm 20 blocked punt return (Dalmas kick), 1:23. Key play: For the second time in the game, Avery Williams blocked a punt, which Schramm scooped up for the score. Boise State 42, Colorado State 7
Third quarter
CSU — Trey McBride 21 pass from Todd Centeio (Liss kick), 11:01. Key plays: The Rams managed three consecutive first downs on runs of 21, 10 and 10 yards to reach the BSU 23. Drive: 7 plays, 64 yards, 2:03. Boise State 42, Colorado State 14
CSU — A’Jon Vivens 17 run (Liss kick), 10:44. Key play: CSU’s E.J. Scott forced a fumble by BSU’s Avery Williams on the kick return. One play later, the Rams were in the end zone. Drive: 1 play, 17 yards, 0:06. Boise State 42, Colorado State 21
BSU — Dalmas 38 field goal, 8:52. Key play: Bachmeier connected with Shakir on a 39-yard pass to reach the CSU 26. The Broncos had to settle for a field goal. Drive: 6 plays, 44 yards, 1:52. Boise State 45, Colorado State 21
BSU — Nick Crabtree fumble recovery in end zone (Dalmas kick), 5:21. Key play: CSU’s Tywan Francis forced Khalil Shakir to fumble just as he was crossing the goal line. The football conveniently landed in the hands of BSU’s right tackle. Drive: 4 plays, 33 yards, 1:45. Boise State 52, Colorado State 21
NEWS & NOTES
Boise State hopes to have AD in place by March
Boise State hopes to have a new athletic director in place by March 2021, university President Dr. Marlene Tromp said in a statement on Thursday.
“A thorough and exhaustive process will ensure our next leader is poised to build on our program and help it achieve even greater excellence,” Tromp said. “I am pleased, and certainly not surprised, at the level of interest we already have had in this important position.”
In October, Boise State announced former Athletic Director Curt Apsey was stepping down and moving into a university-level fundraising position.
Bob Carney was named interim athletic director, and a national search was initiated.
A search committee will be named in the coming weeks, and an executive search firm will be selected by Dec. 1 to assist in the search.
Tromp selected former Missouri Athletic Director Mike Alden to advise the committee and university leadership throughout the transition, according to Thursday’s release.
“We are profoundly proud of our athletic department, and are seeking an AD who can continue to elevate our programs,” Tromp said in Thursday’s press release. “There are, of course, challenges ahead, but Boise State always has been known for boldly facing and rising to such challenges — and the amazing opportunities that lie before us make this an exciting time for Boise State.”
Kaniho named finalist for William V. Campbell Trophy
Boise State nickel Kekaula Kaniho was named to the 2020 NFF National Scholar Athletes Class and one of 12 finalists for the William V. Campbell trophy on Thursday.
The William V. Campbell trophy honors the best football scholar-athlete in the country for combined success on the field and in the classroom and for exemplary leadership.
As a finalist, Kaniho will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship. If he wins the award, his scholarship will increase to $25,000.
Kaniho is the second Boise State player in four years honored as a finalist, joining Mason Hampton, who made the cut in 2017.
In the classroom, Kaniho boasts a 3.94 GPA and is pursuing a health science degree.
On the field, he was a first-team All-Mountain West pick last season with 61 tackles and 11 tackles for loss.
Quick hits
The Broncos wore orange jerseys, orange helmets and orange pants. ... Senior receiver CT Thomas was the Broncos’ honorary fourth game captain. ... Cornerback Avery Williams represented the Broncos in the coin toss. ... Colorado State won the coin toss and elected to receive. ... OL Donte Harrington carried out the Dan Paul Hammer, TE Tyneil Hopper carried the Bleed Blue flag, and DE Shane Irwin carried the American flag. ... Left tackle John Ojukwu had to be helped off the field on the Broncos’ first drive of the second quarter. He appeared to have a left ankle injury. ... Borah High grad Austin Bolt made his Boise State debut at tight end in the second quarter. ... Rocky Mountain graduate Jonah Dalmas took over punting duties for the Broncos. He is now tasked with PATs, field goals, kickoffs and punting with Joel Velazquez out. ... Thomas had four catches for 82 yards in the first half. All of them came on third down. ... Boise State running back Danny Smith made his season debut late in the third quarter. He had a 2-yard run. ... Redshirt sophomore receiver Maclaine Griffin had his first career reception for the Broncos and finished with two catches for 12 yards.
THIS WEEK’S COVERAGE
Keys to victory, matchups and predictions for Boise State’s home game vs. Colorado State
2nd Boise State player confirms he tested positive for COVID-19; Fans to attend CSU game
Boise State coach Harsin remains vague on QBs; Broncos fall in rankings after BYU loss
This story was originally published November 12, 2020 at 5:39 PM.
