Boise State walked into SoFi Stadium believing the LA Bowl could end differently than it did two years ago against the UCLA Bruins. For a stretch, it looked like it might.
The Broncos traded punches with Washington through the first half before one blown coverage flipped the game on its head, opening the door for a late second-quarter surge that Boise State never recovered from in a 38–10 loss.
The game was tied 3-3 with under five minutes left in the second quarter when Washington quarterback Desmond Williams Jr. found his star receiver, Denzel Boston, running free down the seam for a wide-open 78-yard touchdown. The score snapped the game open, and Washington poured on points before halftime, turning a tight contest into a steep uphill climb.
“That missed communication on the wide open play for the touchdown — it pretty much opened the floodgates there late in the second quarter,” veteran linebacker Marco Notarainni said.
Washington scored three unanswered touchdowns in a span of just over four minutes, capitalizing on defensive breakdowns and short field drives. What had been a defensive stalemate turned into a 24–3 deficit by the break.
Boise State’s defense showed flashes early, forcing stops and limiting explosive plays, but the mistakes proved costly against a Washington offense built to punish them. The Huskies repeatedly found space over the top, turning small errors into chunk plays.
“You make a mistake as a defense, and they throw one over the top,” Notarainni said. “We had 21 unanswered points, and as a defense, we can’t let that happen.”
Washington pulled away in the second half as Williams Jr. connected with Quentin Moore for a 32-yard touchdown early in the third quarter, extending the Huskies’ lead and pushing momentum further out of reach.
Boise State’s miscues piled on as the game progressed. The Bronco quarterbacks finished the night with five interceptions, as missed reads and pressure forced hurried throws that repeatedly gave Washington the upper hand. The Huskies converted those turnovers into points and controlled field position for the remainder of the game.
Washington capped the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 6-yard touchdown run by Jonah Coleman. Combined with penalties that extended drives, Boise State’s turnovers allowed Washington to dictate the final two quarters and close out the game.
Boise State never found a consistent rhythm, managing just one garbage-time touchdown to tight end Matt Lauter.
Still, the story of the night extended beyond the scoreboard, especially for the seniors wearing blue and orange for the final time.
Lauter, one of the most productive tight ends in program history, hauled in the lone touchdown on the final play of his Bronco.
“Getting a screen pass on the last play of my career was pretty cool,” Lauter said. “Just to leave a legacy and know the guys behind me are going to take over and own it.”
Head coach Spencer Danielson pointed to that breakdown as the turning point, emphasizing the importance of technique and communication against high-level offenses.
“The biggest part of playing elite defense is eliminating explosive plays,” Danielson said. “That first touchdown was just a blown coverage. We were too high of a shell, didn’t play the technique and that turned into a big-time play.”
Danielson also reaffirmed confidence in quarterback Maddux Madsen, who battled through injuries late in the season. Despite the result, the coaching staff never wavered in its belief in Madsen or the quarterback room.
“I believe in Maddox Madsen. That’s our quarterback,” Danielson said.
The loss closed a season defined by resilience. Boise State navigated injuries, lineup changes and expectations, finishing as conference champions and making a bowl appearance.
As the Broncos walked off the field at SoFi Stadium, the loss stung, but they’ve learned a lot throughout the season. The night belonged to Washington. The foundation, Danielson insists, still belongs to Boise State.
