Boise State Falls To Fresno State In Overtime, 19-16
Lyle was seen in a boot during the New Mexico football game on Saturday
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Broncos Special Teams Struggle Against Fresno State
The time has finally come. We have reached the championship game that many of us predicted at the beginning of the year. Utah State and San Diego State did all that they could to put themselves into the biggest game of the year but fell just short when it counted most.
This is the 4th matchup in 2 years between Boise State and Fresno State and their 2nd consecutive title game matchup, but with both teams being ranked, this one feels a bit bigger. With the predicted weather in Boise this game is moving closer and closer to a toss up.
First Quarter:
Boise State opened up with the ball and they didn’t look sharp to open up the game. It quickly looked like the Bulldogs were going to force a 3 and out but a targeting call on Linebacker Arron Mosby and subsequent ejection extended the drive for a few more plays. The Broncos were unable to capitalize on the penalty and were forced to punt 3 plays later. The penalty did allow the Broncs to pin the Bulldogs deep in their own territory to start their first drive.
The Bulldogs started off well, getting a couple of first downs, one on a 13-yard pass from Marcus McMaryion to Michiah Quick and the other on a McMaryion 6 yard run. The Broncos defense stepped up and prevented much additional yardage and forced Fresno State to punt.
The Bronco offense continued with their less than stellar start as the wet conditions made the ball difficult for Brett Rypien to hold onto. He attempted to get a pass off but the ball had slipped out of his hand before his throwing motion had begun, which made him fumble it forward, which was recovered by the Fresno State’s Mykal Walker on the Boise State 20. The Bulldogs wasted little time capitalizing on the mistake, using only 3 plays to get into the end zone on a 16-yard pass from McMaryion to Quick.
It seemed the early mistake woke Boise State’s offense up. The Broncos moved the ball primarily through the air as they moved 75 yards down the field and into the end zone. On 3rd and 9 form the Fresno 10 yard line Rypien threw the ball towards the back of the end zone towards Sean Modster. Normally a Rypien to Modster pass is a sure thing, but this instance found Jaron Bryant in the passing lane. A slick football work in Boise State’s favor however as the pass slipped through Bryant’s hand and dropped into Modster’s while he kept his toes just inside the end line.
Boise State 7, Fresno State 7
Second Quarter
With the rain switching to snow and starting to come down a little harder, both teams had a bit of trouble putting together drives. After a punt from each team, Fresno State started with the ball on their 20-yard line. Looking to convert on 3rd and 6, McMaryion completed a pass to Quick for 17 yards. Before getting Quick to the ground, Avery Williams stripped the ball from Quick and recovered it to give Boise State the ball on the Fresno 41 yard line.
Boise State got rolling for the first time in the 2nd quarter getting deep into Bulldog territory. The drive came down to a 4th and 8 on the Fresno State 23 where Coach Harsin selected to go for it instead of relying on a clean snap, hold, and kick in the snowy conditions. This was almost an incredible call as Rypien slid out of the pocket and targeted Akilian Butler in the end zone. The pass slipped just through Butler’s outstretched hands and fell incomplete, giving the ball to Fresno State on their 23.
The Bulldogs were able to push their way down the field fairly quickly picked up a couple of a couple of 10+ plays from Ronnie Rivers and a Pass Interference penalty on the Broncos. Although he didn’t have a catch Keesean Johnson saw his first taverns of the game on the drive as he drew the PI call and had a 3rd and 14 pass drill him right in the chest before he even got his hands up. Fresno called on Asa Fuller to pull ahead of the Broncos with a 44-yard field goal.
Boise State 7, Fresno State 10
