Instant analysis: Boise State’s conference title hopes diminished after loss at Fresno State
Boise State gave up two turnovers and a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown Saturday in a 37-30 loss to Fresno State.
The loss marks the first time since 1997 that the Broncos (4-5, 3-2 Mountain West) have had a sub-.500 record this late in the season. It’s also the first time Fresno State has won the Milk Can Trophy since 2017.
Quarterbacks Taylen Green and Maddux Madsen both threw interceptions. The coaching staff cycled the quarterbacks in and out at a dizzying pace early on, but Madsen ended up playing the majority of the time for the fourth game in a row. He finished the game 22-of-42 for 258 yards. He also scored on a 27-yard touchdown run to cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 30-27 with 4:40 to play.
The Broncos looked like they had all the momentum after a touchdown pass by Madsen cut Fresno State’s lead to three late in the first half. That changed in a hurry when Fresno State running back Malik Sherrod fielded a bouncing kick and returned it 96 yards for a touchdown to send the Bulldogs into halftime with a 20-10 lead.
Sherrod finished the game with 132 rushing yards and sealed the Bulldogs’ win with a 52-yard TD run with 1:49 to play that made it a 10-point game again.
Main takeaway: The loss leaves Boise State way behind the 8 ball in terms of the Mountain West title race. If the Broncos are going to make the championship game, they’re going to have to win their final three games and get some help.
Air Force lost to Army on Saturday, but the Falcons are still 5-0 in conference play. They have a big game at home against UNLV (7-2, 4-1 MW) on Nov. 18 before ending the regular season at Boise State on Nov. 24. Fresno State now owns head-to-head wins over Boise State and UNLV, and the Bulldogs don’t play Air Force. They have San Jose State, New Mexico and San Diego State left on the schedule.
UNLV still has Wyoming, San Jose State and Air Force on the schedule. There’s a good chance the Rebels lose at least one of those, but Boise State needs Air Force to lose twice and Fresno State once more to have any shot at making the championship game on Dec. 2.
Player of the game: Boise State running back George Holani finished with 79 rushing yards and scored a 1-yard touchdown to cut Fresno State’s lead to 27-17 in the third quarter. He also had 61 yards receiving on six catches.
Stat of the game: Big plays continue to haunt Boise State’s defense. Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene completed five passes of 25 yards or more Saturday and finished the game 24-of-38 for 290 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Play of the game: The Broncos were forced into a punting situation on fourth down early in the fourth quarter, but Aussie punter James Ferguson-Reynolds pulled up and found edge rusher Jayden Virgin on the fake for a 22-yard completion to keep the drive alive.
A few plays later, kicker Jonah Dalmas hit a 38-yard field goal to cut Fresno State’s lead to 27-20. It was the 68th field goal of Dalmas’ career, breaking former Boise State kicker Kyle Brotzman’s program record of 67.
What’s next: Boise State hosts Mountain West foe New Mexico (8 p.m., FS1). The Broncos are 12-1 all-time against the Lobos (3-6, 1-4 MW), and they’ve won six straight games in the series. New Mexico lost 56-14 to UNLV on Saturday.
This story was originally published November 4, 2023 at 11:36 PM.
