‘Able to finish,’ Boise State puts away pesky Rainbow Warriors behind Jeanty, defense
Boise State flew halfway across the Pacific Ocean this week having scored at least four touchdowns in every game — and in a ridiculous show of offensive might, having scored eight in three different games.
The Broncos will fly back after scoring just three touchdowns at Hawaii on Saturday night.
They’ll also fly back quite happy.
Even with its lowest point total of the season, No. 17 Boise State (5-1, 2-0 Mountain West) did plenty offensively and got an excellent game from its defense to carve out a 28-7 conference win over Hawaii (2-4, 0-2).
Junior running back Ashton Jeanty was his usual superb self, running for 217 yards on 31 carries and scoring two of the touchdowns, including his first receiving TD of the season. He pushed his nation-leading totals to 1,248 yards rushing and 18 TDs, while tying a Boise State record with his sixth straight 100-yard game.
Jeanty also had three catches for 20 yards, including a 5-yard score that, coupled with a 2-point conversion, made it 21-7 early in the fourth quarter and gave the Broncos some much-needed breathing room over a pesky Rainbow Warriors squad that was a three-touchdown underdog.
“Tough team,” Jeanty told CBS Sports Network after the game. “They fought with us for four quarters. We played a great game, we were able to finish.”
Quarterback Maddux Madsen made sure the offense was balanced, completing 17-of-25 passes for 217 yards and a pair of scores, including a 44-yard strike to Austin Bolt on a fourth-down play with 3:39 left in the game to ice the victory.
Receiver Cam Camper was Madsen’s favorite target, catching seven passes for 111 yards, including two that were highlight-reel worthy.
The Broncos’ defense was dynamic, getting eight sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Hawaii and its gunslinging quarterback, Brayden Schager, had trouble sustaining drives, and managed just 188 total yards outside of a 91-yard scoring drive in the second quarter. That possession was aided by a targeting penalty on Boise State safety Alexander Teubner, who was ejected.
Schager completed 21-of-36 passes for 264 yards but was constantly under pressure, and the Rainbow Warriors had only 15 rushing yards.
Despite that, Hawaii was hanging in with the heavily favored Broncos. The score was 13-7 at halftime, with Boise State settling for field goals at the end of 57- and 73-yard drives, which were sandwiched around an 81-yard TD drive.
The third quarter then was scoreless, making for some anxious moments for the Broncos before they pulled away.
The first-half touchdown drive for the victors was capped by a 54-yard run by Jeanty, who rushed for 110 yards on 15 carries in the first two quarters. He took a handoff from Madsen on the play, made a nice cut into wide-open space off right tackle and did not get touched until he was about 30 yards downfield.
“Just back there relaxed, I know my O-line, my receivers, my tight ends, they are all gonna make great blocks,” Jeanty said. “I’m just waiting on the play to develop.”
Boise State now has its second bye week of the season before a huge game at UNLV (5-1, 2-0) on Friday, Oct. 25, that very well could decide the Mountain West regular season title, even though it comes before the calendar turns to November.
This story was originally published October 12, 2024 at 8:50 PM.
