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Boise State picks up key road win, 34-21
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Boise State’s (7-1, 4-0) match-up at Fresno State (5-3, 4-1) Friday had been tabbed as a gateway to an undefeated Western Athletic Conference showdown against the University of Hawaii. With a 34-21 win, the Broncos aren’t looking at their game with the Warriors just yet, but they are in the driver’s seat for an undefeated match-up in their WAC finale.
Both BSU and Fresno State entered the game with undefeated conference records. This set up major implications in the midseason showdown, making the winner the only undefeated WAC team other than Hawaii. Both teams also entered the game with many unanswered questions.
The Bronco defense morphed over the past three weeks from the No. 3 overall defense in the nation to a worn down shadow of its former self. After allowing 302 rushing yards per game in the past two outings, the Broncos were faced with stopping a Bulldog rushing attack that averaged 204.4 rushing yards per game.
What transpired over 60 minutes of football was a Bronco defensive lockdown and an overwhelming BSU rushing attack. Fresno State standout freshman Ryan Mathews rushed for just 49 yards on 15 carries after averaging more than 85 yards per game in his first seven outings. He did score the Bulldogs’ first touchdown of the night 4:56 into the game, but failed to find the end zone again.
The Broncos struck first on a 24-yard touchdown run by red-shirt freshman running back Jeremy Avery 2:53 into the game on their second offensive possession. Avery followed up his 110-yard performance at Louisiana Tech with 124 rushing yards on 18 carries against Fresno State. Avery scored three touchdowns with one score coming on a 10-yard run and another 24-yarder in the fourth quarter.
However, the spotlight shone brightest on Avery’s counterpart. True freshman D.J. Harper had the first big game of his career, rushing for 153 yards on 19 carries with a 22-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter. Harper entered the game with 162 total rushing yards this season on 48 carries. By halftime he was already well over three-quarters of the way to his season total.
The Bulldogs fought to answer the first BSU score with Mathews’ five-yard touchdown run and a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown with 7:04 to play in the first quarter. Harper’s score and a 43-yard Kyle Brotzman field goal in the second quarter gave BSU a 17-14 halftime lead.
Defense began to dictate the tempo of the game after intermission with BSU scoring the only touchdown of the third quarter. Avery scored his second touchdown of the game with 4:41 to go in the third. Avery struck again with 11:35 to go in the fourth, extending the Bronco lead to 31-14.
The Bulldogs mounted a threat late, scoring on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brandstater to Marlon Moore with 8:31 to play. A 47-yard Brotzman field goal and a Brandstrater interception late would seal the Bulldogs’ fate.
Harper and Avery combined for 282 total rushing yards and four touchdowns, which more than filled the void of injured starter Ian Johnson. Johnson missed his second consecutive game of the season with a kidney bruise.
Senior quarterback Taylor Tharp failed to throw a touchdown pass in the game, but also managed not to turn the football over. He completed 18-of-29 passes for 158 passing yards. His favorite target on the night was sophomore Jeremy Childs. Despite being overshadowed by the Broncos’ rushing success, Childs managed to grab nine passes for 82 receiving yards.
Most importantly, the Bronco defense managed to hold Fresno State to just 14 offensive points, 352 total offensive yards and forced one turnover. Brandstater completed 21-of-39 passes with one touchdown and an interception.
The Broncos return home next weekend, Nov. 4, to host San Jose State. The Broncos have four WAC games remaining on their schedule, including a trip to currently-undefeated Hawaii, Nov. 23.
Jake Garcin