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#25 Boise State Dominates New Mexico 45-14 Behind 3 Turnovers
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Alex Mattison is Bronco’s 10th Consecutive 1.000-yard Rusher
The Boise State Broncos are coming into this game on a hot streak, winners of their last five including wins over both Fresno State and BYU and with their record-setting quarterback Brett Rypien. New Mexico is coming in on the flip side of the coin, losers of their last 5 and playing quarterback roulette starting three different quarterbacks this year. Even with that being said, New Mexico has played Boise State tough in recent years and the Broncos could be looking forward to their matchup against Utah State Next week so this game could be closer than most think.
1st Quarter
Stop us if you have heard this one before; Boise State scored a touchdown on their opening possession of the game. It took the Broncos only 6 plays, 5 of which were for 10+ yards, to move the ball 75 yards down the field culminating in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Brett Rypien to Sean Modster.
The Lobos capitalized on Boise State’s struggles against the run moving the ball well against the Bronco defense to start their drive. Most of their hard work was negated by an unnecessary roughness call and the Bronco defense putting repeated pressure on Sheriron Jones.
The next Bronco possession was a little more methodical but the result was the same, a Boise State touchdown. The Broncos went 80 yards in 13 plays and got into the end zone on a 16-yard touchdown pass for the Rypien-Modster combo. 8 of the plays during the drive were on the ground with Alex Mattison gaining 27 yards on 4 carries. Through their 2 possessions, the Broncos are nearly equal gaining 87 yards on the ground and 78 through the air in their 2 possessions in the first quarter
Boise State 14, New Mexico 0
2nd Quarter
New Mexico got the ball rolled on their next drive which began in the 1st quarter. Opening the drive with Bryson Carrol in at QB, the Lobos gained 13 yards in 2 plays to finish out the 1st. The start of the 2nd brought back Sheriron Jones at quarterback and the move didn’t slow New Mexico at all. Moving the ball almost exclusively on the ground the Lobos set up a 1-yard scoring run from Daevon Vigilant with a contested 20-yard completion from Sheriron Jones to Delane Hart-Johnson.
In what has been a trend against New Mexico, the Broncos continued to flatten out against the Lobos. In a drive that was riddled with penalties, the Broncos only netted 34 yards on the following drive and were forced to punt the ball over to the Lobos, pinning them on their own 5-yard line.
The Bronco defense stepped up and took the momentum back on the second play of the drive. After a 5 yard gain on first down, Desmond Williams forced and recovered a Zahneer Shuler fumble, returning it 9 yards for a Bronco touchdown.
Staying true to form, New Mexico came out running against the Broncos. Outside of a 16-yard pass, all of the Lobos 55 yards came on the ground. Boise State had a bend but not break mentality on the drive allowing New Mexico to get down to the Boise State 20 yard line but holding them to a field goal attempt.
Seeing something he didn’t like New Mexico’s coach Bob Davey called a timeout but Lobo kicker Andrew Shelley was unable to convert, pulling his kick hard to the left of the goal posts.
Looking to open up a bit more of a lead before halftime, the Broncos took over started their way down the field. With time being a factor, the Broncos went to the air getting from their own 20 to the New Mexico 24 in just 3 plays. Alex Mattison added a 7-yard run but the drive stalled out on the New Mexico and the Broncos settled for a 34-yard field goal from Haden Hoggarth.
Boise State 24, New Mexico 7