Rocky Mountain low: Boise State blows 30-10 lead, loses on Hail Mary to Colorado State
By the time Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty scored his third touchdown of the game with 6:12 remaining in the fourth quarter, most of the 34,901 fans at Colorado State’s Canvas Stadium gave up and went home.
If they had stayed, they would have hardly believed their eyes.
The Rams scored three touchdowns over the final 4 minutes to stun Boise State 31-30 on Saturday night in Mountain West play. It was Colorado State’s first victory over the Broncos in 13 tries, and it couldn’t have been more improbable.
“It’s just unacceptable,” Jeanty said. “I mean, we’ve got to finish games off. I don’t know how to explain it, but we’ve got to do better. As a team we’ve got to figure out a way to make a change to be able to finish games when we’re up like that.”
The Broncos, up 17-0 at halftime and in control nearly the whole game, led 30-10 after Jeanty’s third touchdown and appeared on their way to an easy win. Then the unthinkable unfolded.
Colorado State went 75 yards in six plays to score a TD with 4:01 left to cut the lead to 30-17. The Rams then recovered an onside kick at the Boise State 38-yard line after the ball scooted through wide receiver Eric McAlister’s hands. They scored another touchdown with 1:53 remaining to make it 30-24.
“We just didn’t get the job done,” Boise State linebacker Marco Notarainni said. “They made plays towards the end of the game that we didn’t make.”
The Rams recovered yet another onside kick after making it a one-score game, but that was nullified by a penalty. Finally, on the game’s third onside kick, Jeanty recovered at the Colorado State 41. Boise State had the ball back with 1:50 left just needing a first down to run out the clock, because the Rams still had two timeouts, but the Broncos were forced to punt.
That set up Colorado State’s game-winning drive, which started at its own 12-yard line with 33 seconds left and no timeouts.
After one completion, Colorado State quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi hit receiver Tory Horton on a 44-yard strike to the Boise State 33-yard line, and the Rams raced up to spike the ball and stop the clock with 6 seconds left, leaving time for one final play.
Colorado State scored the winning points with no time on the clock as Rams tight end Dallin Holker caught a batted Hail Mary pass in the end zone, and after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty moved the extra point back 15 yards, kicker Jordan Noyes nailed it anyway.
One week after storming back from a 20-point deficit to defeat San Jose State, the Broncos blew a 20-point lead to have the tables turned, and they are now 12-1 instead of 13-0 in their series with the Rams. They also now have a bye week for the defeat to linger, before hosting Wyoming at Albertsons Stadium on Oct. 28.
“It’s tough looking some of these guys in the eye knowing that we didn’t do as much as we could,” Notarainni said. “It’s tough heading back to Bronco Nation like that, too. I know it’s a community that cares a lot about this team, and we care a lot about the community. Behind closed doors I know we put a lot of work in. We’re intentional and we care about each other. It’s just frustrating. All I can say is sorry.”
Boise State built its 17-0 halftime lead against Colorado State by feeding the beast — that beast being Jeanty, who wasn’t even touched while scoring his 13th and 14th touchdowns of the season in the first half, when he rushed for 167 yards on 20 carries.
That lead could have been bigger had the Broncos not also fed the turnover beast. Colorado State did not force a first-half punt, but two Boise State interceptions and a lost Riley Smith fumble ended possessions. Every other drive ended in points.
Jeanty finished with 212 yards rushing and three TDs, giving him 15 on the season, and also had 42 yards on five receptions.
“There’s nothing that we’re gonna say that makes it any better,” Boise State coach Andy Avalos said. “... We had every opportunity to win that game, and the bottom line is we didn’t get it done, and that’s a hard one to swallow.”
Scary moment for CSU defensive lineman
Colorado State defensive lineman Kennedy McDowell was injured on the opening kickoff of the second half.
Both teams took a knee as trainers attended to the freshman on the field. He was eventually put on a back board and carted off the field.
In a statement released Saturday night on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Colorado State said that McDowell was responsive and moving his extremities. He was transferred to UC Health Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins for further evaluation.
Third-quarter scuffle leads to ejection
The Rams and Broncos got chippy on Colorado State’s first drive of the third quarter.
After a 5-yard pass play by the Rams, CSU offensive lineman Jacob Gardner pushed down Boise State nickel Seyi Oladipo, setting off a scrum that resulted in four personal fouls.
Gardner, fellow offensive lineman Oliver Jervis and Rams coach Jay Norvell all received personal fouls, while Boise State safety Alexander Teubner was flagged.
Teubner received a second unsportsmanlike penalty on the same drive, resulting in his ejection from the game.
Holani, Schramm still missing time
The Boise State football team was without the services of two offensive players and three defensive players for Saturday’s game.
Sixth-year senior edge Demitri Washington and linebacker DJ Schramm — both starters — were out, and backup defensive end Tyler Wegis was as well. Washington was injured last week against San Jose State, while Schramm last appeared in a game for the Broncos against San Diego State.
On offense, redshirt senior running back George Holani continued to be absent from the lineup. He has not played since the Broncos’ season-opening loss at Washington. Backup wide receiver Chase Penry also was out.
QUICK HITS
The Broncos wore white jerseys, white pants and white helmets. ... Team captains Schramm and Riley Smith were joined by quarterback Taylen Green and safety Alexander Teubner as game captains. ... Boise State won the coin toss and elected to defer. ... Boise State was led onto the field by punter James Ferguson-Reynolds, carrying the Dan Paul Hammer. ... Running back Ashton Jeanty carried the American flag and nickel Seyi Oladipo the Bleed Blue flag.
This story was originally published October 14, 2023 at 7:37 PM.
