Instant analysis: Boise State puts together complete game for interim coach, routs Aggies
Finally healthy at the same time, Boise State running backs George Holani and Ashton Jeanty combined for 263 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and the Broncos became bowl-eligible Saturday with a 45-10 thrashing of Utah State.
Holani, a senior who posted 1,157 rushing yards last season, missed six games this season because of an injury he suffered in the season opener. Jeanty, Boise State’s leading rusher this season, missed the past two games with a lower-body injury.
Utah State jumped out to a 10-0 lead, but the Broncos scored 31 points in the second quarter and ended the game with 45 unanswered points. They ground out 207 rushing yards in the second quarter and finished the game with 346 on the ground.
Boise State’s defense posted six sacks and forced three turnovers in the first half. The Broncos finished the game with nine sacks and four turnovers, both of which are season highs. In defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson’s first game as interim head coach, they tied a mark for the most sacks they’ve recorded in a game since joining the FBS in 1996.
Main takeaway: This season hasn’t gone to plan for the Broncos, but don’t overlook how impressive their streak of bowl-eligible seasons is. Boise State (6-5, 5-2 Mountain West) is now eligible for a bowl for the 26th consecutive season. That’s the second-longest streak in the country, behind Georgia, which extended its streak to 27 straight seasons this year.
Boise State also did its part to stay alive in the Mountain West title race. UNLV moved into first place in the conference Saturday with a 31-27 win over Air Force. Most simply, the Broncos need to beat the Falcons at home next week and need Fresno State to lose one of its last two games.
Player of the game: Holani tied his career high of 178 rushing yards, which he set against Utah State in 2019. The senior posted his first 100-yard game of the season and looked as explosive as he has in both of his previous 1,000-yard seasons. He racked up 1,014 yards as a freshman in 2019. Holani also found the end zone twice on Saturday. His 75-yard touchdown run was a career long, and he scored from 33 yards out to put the Broncos up 21-10 in the second quarter.
Stat of the game: Boise State forced four turnovers, which had to make Danielson happy. It was the first time the Broncos forced more than three turnovers in a game since 2021. Defensive tackle Braxton Fely was credited with two forced fumbles, safety Rodney Robinson recovered a fumble and snagged his first interception of the season, and cornerback A’Marion McCoy intercepted a pass in the end zone. Nose tackle Herbert Gums also recovered a fumble.
Play of the game: Holani burst through a huge hole created by offensive linemen Mason Randolph and Garrett Curran and outran the defense on a 75-yard touchdown burst in the second quarter. It was the Broncos’ first points of the night and part of 14 points the team scored in 13 seconds. On the ensuing drive, Green found tight end Matt Lauter on a 26-yard touchdown pass after a fumble. That was the first of Lauter’s two touchdown catches in the first half.
What’s next: Boise State wraps up the regular season Friday at 2 p.m. at home against Air Force (8-3, 5-2 MW), which has lost three straight games after starting the season 8-0. The Broncos are 7-4 all-time against Air Force, including a 19-14 win on the road last season.
This story was originally published November 18, 2023 at 8:34 PM.
