Boise State defeats Utah State on Senior Day

BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Boise State avoided an Aggie scare to defeat Utah State 42-23, sending the Broncos faithful riding high heading into championship week.

Not needing a win (BSU already clinched a championship berth with home-field advantage), Boise State still had a few things to play for. First, the Broncos had Senior Day, with 25 seniors being honored for their commitment to the program.

Secondly, the team played in honor of the four students killed at U of I, and for the three football players killed at UVa. A moment of silence was held before the game and the team wore ribbons on the back of its helmets, the yellow signifying U of I and the dark navy blue signifying UVa.

"The people that were involved in the losses of you know, students, young adults, whether they're young adults or whatever age they may be, it's just, it's tragic," Boise State head coach Andy Avalos said when asked about the tragedies.

Early in the game, both offenses couldn't get much going. Neither team scored on its first two drives, and the Aggies third drive was stalling out. But Utah State did have a hidden trick up its sleeve.

The Aggies faked a punt, and while it wasn't complete, they caught a break in the form of a defensive penalty. J.L. Skinner, a cornerstone of the Bronco's defense, was ejected for targeting on the hit. Skinner was able to stay on the field in street clothes and he helped cheer on the team the rest of the way.

Skinner voiced his frustrations in a now-deleted tweet, saying "Game's gone soft." He will still be able to play next week in the championship.

Boise State got retribution later that drive. Utah State attempted a field goal, but it was swatted to keep the game scoreless.

The Broncos marched down the field to close out the first quarter, and at the top of the second quarter, Taylen Green found Eric McAlister in the back of the end zone to finally put points on the board.

Boise State's momentum continued on its next possession. Green launched a bomb to Latrell Caples for 50-yard score, and two possessions later, he found McAlister again for a 25-yard touchdown.

It was all Boise State in the first half, until the very final play of the second quarter, when Terrell Vaughn rushed into the end zone as time expired to give the Aggies their first points.

Boise State led 21-7 at half.

Utah State marched down the field at the start of the third quarter, and nearly came away with six points. The Aggies ran a trick play where Vaughn, the running back, threw to Broc Lane, but Lane couldn't corral the pass. Still, the Aggies made a field goal.

The Broncos had a strong ensuing drive to counter the Aggies. George Holani took the snap in the wildcat formation, going 27 yards to get the Broncos to the 1-yard line. Unfortunately for Boise State, Holani came off injured in that play, holding his shoulder.

Holani would be seen on the sidelines, icing his shoulder. He did not return to the game, although it might have been out of precaution, with the team potentially wanting to save their 1000-yard rusher for the championship game.

Two plays after Holani's exit, Boise State deployed its Clydesdale package, and redshirt senior defensive tackle Scott Matlock, from Homedale Idaho, caught a pass, the 2nd touchdown of his career. Interestingly, Matlock's only other touchdown was in similar circumstances, against Utah State last season. Matlock mentioned after the game that this touchdown was more special than the one he'd scored the year prior.

"I was very happy for him," Caples said. "It's crazy, because the same exact play happened last year and they couldn't stop it... he pops wide open and then (it's) just catch it at that point."

After this, however, Boise State's offense cooled off, punting on its next three drives. Conversely, Utah State's offense roared to life, with the Aggies scoring two straight touchdowns, one being a 75-yard catch and run by Vaughn.

Amidst all this, Boise State's Tyreque Jones went down injured. He was carted off with many in the stadium clearly concerned for their star player, but he did return to the sideline in a walking boot.

While the coaching staff feared the worst initially, Avalos mentioned that it looked like Jones' injury was less severe than originally anticipated.

The Aggies got the ball back with 5:28 to go, down 28-23, but with all the momentum.

Utah State marched down the field and hoped to take the lead with under two minutes remaining. The Broncos' defense had surrendered 77 yards already on the drive, but the unit clamped down to force 4th down.

Cooper Legas' pass was intercepted by Gabe Hunter on 4th down, giving the Broncos the ball with 1:28 to go. Boise State could now win with a first down.

Instead of 10 yards, it was 91-yards however. Taylen Green took off down the left sideline, going untouched into the end zone to make it 35-23.

Effectively out of it, Utah State desperately went all-out but BSU's Seyi Oladipo snatched a ball out of the air, returning it for a pick-six. 42-23 Boise State.

The Boneyard Boys, the defense's nickname this season, added a second skull onto their spear (their turnover prop this year), and Boise State celebrated as they took home victory.

Boise State won 42-23, moving to 9-3 and 8-0 in conference play.

The team's next outing is its most important one, the Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game. Boise State owns home-field advantage for the crucial contest.

Boise State's opponent from the West Division is Fresno State. The Bulldogs lost badly earlier this season to Boise State, but the team now has its starting quarterback back (he was out vs. BSU).

The championship game is December 3 at 2:00 p.m. in Albertson's Stadium. It's televised on FOX.

ncG1vNJzZmihlJa1sLrEsKpnm5%2BifLS8zqurrGeSpLa0sYysq5qslWSvsLXSnmSsrJGpsm6wxJ%2BcmqyjYsK1rcdmqq2ZpJp6sLqMrJynoZ%2BneqWt2A%3D%3D