Boise State football notebook: McNichols ties conference record
Boise State sophomore tailback Jeremy McNichols tied a Mountain West record by rushing for a touchdown in his ninth straight game Saturday night against New Mexico. He scored on a 25-yard run in the third quarter.
McNichols has rushed for a touchdown in every game in which he has appeared. He added an 18-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.
McNichols has rushed for at least 100 yards in five straight games.
Rausa misses chip shot
Boise State senior kicker Tyler Rausa hadn’t missed a field-goal attempt from inside 50 yards in the first nine games of the season, but he missed wide right from 22 yards in the first quarter Saturday. Rausa had been 16-for-16 from inside 50 yards.
Rausa made a 32-yarder in the second quarter, his 18th field goal of the season. That’s tied for the fifth-most in school history. Tyler Jones holds the school record with 24 in 2004.
Lineup changes for Broncos
Boise State shifted junior nickel Chanceller James to safety and started three linebackers against New Mexico’s option offense. Junior middle linebacker Tanner Vallejo returned to the starting lineup after missing two games with an injury. Junior Ben Weaver and senior Tyler Gray also started at linebacker. True freshman Tyler Horton made his second start at cornerback, where the Broncos still are missing senior Donte Deayon (knee).
Red-zone stumbles
Boise State quarterback Brett Rypien threw an interception at the goal line in the first quarter — the Broncos’ first red-zone turnover since the Air Force game on Sept. 27, 2014.
Rausa’s missed field goal added another missed opportunity in the red zone. Then in the second quarter, McNichols dropped a pitch and New Mexico recovered on the Lobos’ 1-yard line.
Quick hits
Boise State wore its black uniforms with the orange logo on the helmets and orange facemasks. ... Tight end Jake Hardee and James were single-game captains. ... A moment of silence was held before the game in honor of the victims of the Paris attacks. ... Linebacker Darren Lee and his wife welcomed a daughter, Adalyn Rose, on Nov. 6. Lee carried the Hammer on Saturday. ... New Mexico won the coin toss and took the ball. ... Attendance: 32,780. ... Boise State senior wide receiver Shane Williams-Rhodes left the game with an apparent leg injury in the first half and didn’t return.
Chadd Cripe: 208-377-6398, @IDS_BroncoBeat
This story was originally published November 15, 2015 at 1:21 AM with the headline "Boise State football notebook: McNichols ties conference record."