Chasing records, Boise State kicker reflects on ‘tougher’ season while team thrives
For Boise State’s all-time points leader, it’s been an oddly quiet season.
Boise State football fans have been accustomed to cheering on fifth-year kicker Jonah Dalmas multiple times per game. The Boise native, who graduated from Rocky Mountain High School, has scored 493 points and counting across his years with the Broncos — earlier this season, he became the all-time scorer in Mountain West history.
In many cases, as a player matures, more points follow. But that’s not been the way it’s gone for Dalmas this year, who, as a kicker, is at the whim of the offense’s efficiency.
And considering how well the offense has been playing for Boise State, that’s made opportunities other than extra points scarce for Dalmas. The Broncos are 40-for-52 on scoring touchdowns when in the red zone. As a result of that performance and countless explosive touchdown runs from junior running back Ashton Jeanty, Dalmas is just 11-for-14 on field goals.
Dalmas also has been 56-for-56 on extra points — the most he’s kicked in a season. But those 11 made field goals are less than half of his total from last season: 24.
Dalmas’ only other season with fewer field goals was his freshman year of 2020, when he made just seven. That was also the COVID-shortened year, when Boise State played just seven games.
“It is a little tougher,” Dalmas told reporters Tuesday. “And that’s something I’ve been figuring out this year, because I’m used to averaging at least two or three field goals a game from the previous seasons that I’ve had.”
Dalmas would have played his final season with the Broncos last year, but the COVID eligibility changes afforded to student-athletes allowed him to return. He had a chance to break the all-time NCAA record for points in his final year, held by former Alabama kicker Will Reichard (547 points). But the quiet season kicker-wise has meant Dalmas will likely have to settle for the top five.
Heading into Friday’s final regular-season game, where No. 11 Boise State (10-1, 7-0 Mountain West) hosts Oregon State (5-6), Dalmas sits seventh in all-time scoring. But he’s just seven points away from cracking the top five, and eight points would secure him the No. 4 spot.
“The way that I look at it is I’m just kind of putting it all in God’s hands,” Dalmas said. “If God wants me to break that record, then we’ll find a way to make that happen. If not, then that’s OK. We keep focusing on every practice, focusing on each kick at a time.”
Although Dalmas may not break the NCAA record, he might find himself being needed for some big-time kicks in the coming weeks.
After the Oregon State game, attention will turn to the Mountain West championship contest on Dec. 6. Both games are crucial if Boise State wants to make the expanded College Football Playoff.
“I’m excited for the pressure. I’m excited for the atmosphere and the environments that come with those bigger games,” Dalmas said. “And I feel like that’s what I was born to do: being in those environments, being under that pressure.”
Boise State vs. Oregon State
When: 10 a.m. Mountain time Friday
Where: Albertsons Stadium (36,363, turf)
TV: Fox
Radio: KBOI 670 AM and KBOI 93.1 FM/Sirius XM Ch. 162 or 201 (Bob Behler, Pete Cavender)
Records: Boise State 10-1, 7-0; Oregon State 5-6
Series: Oregon State leads the series 6-4
Vegas line: Boise State by 20.5 points
Weather: High of 37, low of 18, humidity 70%, sunny, 5% chance of rain or snow
This story was originally published November 27, 2024 at 4:00 AM.
