Boise State Broncos ON SI

Game recap, analysis: Boise State opens Mountain West play with 49-37 win over Air Force

Dylan Riley scores five touchdowns for Broncos 
Bob Lundeberg|
Boise State running back Dylan Riley (24) celebrates with quarterback Maddux Madsen.
Boise State running back Dylan Riley (24) celebrates with quarterback Maddux Madsen. | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

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Boise State BroncosAir Force Falcons

In its Mountain West opener, Boise State’s offense piled up 592 total yards in a 49-37 road victory over Air Force on Saturday. 

Dylan Riley had a breakout game with 19 carries for 171 yards and four touchdowns while also catching two passes for 84 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown that made it a 35-24 game late in the third quarter. He scored both of Boise State’s (2-1, 1-0) fourth-quarter touchdowns. 

The five TDs were a career-best for Riley, a sophomore who played sparingly behind Ashton Jeanty last season. 

Read our game recap, with in-game analysis and big play highlights from start to finish.

FINAL STATS

Riley finished with 255 yards of total offense. 

Maddux Madsen suffered a left leg injury on the second play of the game but returned for Boise State’s third series. He finished 13 of 23 passing for 276 yards with two TDs and one interception. 

Air Force’s Liam Szarka completed 13 of 18 passes for 242 yards with two TDs and one pick.

The Falcons (1-2, 0-2) had 269 yards on the ground. 

Fourth quarter recap

Final: Boise State 49, Air Force 37. 

Interception: Ty Benefield seals this one with a red zone interception. It wasn’t a good day for the BSU defense, but Benefield had a strong game. 

Touchdown Broncos: Dylan Riley, again! On third-and-three, Riley rips off a 43-yard touchdown up the middle to put this one away. I think it’s clear Riley is Boise State’s No. 1 back now. Boise State 49, Air Force 37, 2:08 to go. 

Onside kick attempt: Air Force’s onside kick goes out of bounds. Boise State takes over at midfield, 2:24 remaining. Falcons do have all three timeouts and the two-minute warning. 

Touchdown Falcons: BSU’s porous pass defense allows a pair of big completions, and Bruin Fleischmann hauls in a five-yard touchdown from Szarka to finish the drive. Boise State 42, Air Force 37, 2:26 to go. For as good as BSU’s offense has been, the pass defense remains a glaring concern. 

Touchdown Broncos: Boise State goes right down the field for another touchdown. Eight plays — all runs — 69 yards. Riley finishes it off with an eight-yard run, his fourth touchdown in the game. Boise State 42, Air Force 30, 5:18 to play. 

Touchdown Falcons: Air Force won’t go away as Liam Szarka connects with Quin Smith for a 12-yard touchdown on a very nice throw and catch. The two-point conversion fails, leaving Boise State with a 35-30 lead with 9:44 remaining in the game. 

Falcons driving: Following an injury timeout, Air Force must convert a third-and-three from its own 49. Boise State defensive end Braxton Fely was the injured player, but he walked off under his own power. 

Third quarter recap

End of quarter: Boise State 35, Air Force 24. Ty Benefield with a huge hit on the final play of the quarter to set up a third-and-long for Air Force.

Touchdown Broncos: Have a day, Dylan Riley. The sophomore takes a screen pass 75 yards to the house up the left side, extending the Broncos’ lead to 35-24. Riley has some serious, serious juice. 

Falcons field goal: Jacob Medina is good from 25 yards out, cutting Boise State’s lead to 28-24 with 1:10 remaining in the quarter. That was a 19-play, 67-yard Air Force drive that took nearly 11 minutes off the clock. Impressive to watch. 

Falcons driving: Air Force has converted two long third downs with the option. Falcons have it first-and-10 just outside the red zone. 

Touchdown Broncos: Sherrod takes a pitch and races around the left side for a 40-yard touchdown. A huge answer for the Broncos, who regain the lead at 28-21. 

Touchdown Falcons: On first down, Liam Szarka scores on a quarterback sneak. We’ve got a new ballgame in Colorado Springs. Boise State 21, Air Force 21, 13:52 remaining in the third quarter. 

Call overturned: After review, Harris’ foot was out of bounds just before he crossed the goal line. Falcons will have a first-and-goal from inside the 1 after the 74-yard play. Terrible start to the half for the BSU defense. 

Touchdown Falcons: On the second play of the half, Cade Harris outruns the Boise State defense for a 75-yard touchdown reception. The play is under review. 

Underway: Air Force, trailing 21-14, begins the second half at its own 25.

Halftime recap

Air Force stats: Falcons have -3 yards passing but have 25 carries for 175 yards, including explosive plays from Dylan Carson (64 yards) and Liam Szarka (38 yards). 

Penalties: Boise State must clean up the penalties in the second half. Broncos have been called for 11 penalties for 97 yards. 

BSU stats: Boise State torched Air Force for 310 yards of total offense in the first half. Madsen, who sat out one series after taking a hit to his left leg, is 11 of 21 passing for 170 yards with one TD and one pick. Dylan Riley has 10 carries for 75 yards and two TDs. 

Second quarter recap

Halftime: Boise State 21, Air Force 14. Falcons will get the ball first in the second half.

Falcons interceptions: Madsen forces a ball in on third-and-goal from the 15 and Max Mustell picks it off. Errant throw into a ton of traffic. Broncos really could’ve used points there. 

Air Force punt: Broncos force a three-and-out and get the ball back at their own 43. Boise State will have 65 seconds to add to its seven-point lead. 

BSU punt: Two penalties on Boise State’s offensive line kill the drive. Doyle unleashes another good punt, and Air Force will begin at its own 14 with 2:12 remaining before the break. 

Touchdown Falcons: Kemper Hodges punches it in from three yards out for a much-needed touchdown for the Falcons. Boise State 21, Air Force 14, 4:52 left in the half. 

Touchdown Broncos: Madsen connects with Matt Wagner for a 24-yard gain on third-and-long, and then hits the other tight end — Matt Lauter — for a three-yard touchdown. Boise State 21, Air Force 7, 10:25 remaining in the half. Broncos are rolling after a tough start in Colorado Springs. 

BSU defense holds: The Boise State defense stuffs Carson to force a turnover on downs. Broncos take over at their own 48. 

First quarter recap

End of quarter: Boise State 14, Air Force 7. Falcons will have a fourth-and-two from just inside Boise State territory when play resumes.

Broncos touchdown: Dylan Riley may be Boise State’s No. 1 running back. The sophomore rips off his second touchdown of the game — this time from 34 yards out — to make it a 14-7 game, 2:38 left in the quarter. 

Madsen’s return: Madsen will lead the offense for the upcoming drive. The injury didn’t look good, but he’s going to tough it out. That is one big brace on his left leg.

Falcons punt: Air Force gets one first down via penalty but Boise State’s defense forces a punt. Broncos take over at their own 32. 

Touchdown Broncos: Dylan Riley punches it in from four yards out to get Boise State on the board. Broncos 7, Falcons 7, 7:09 remaining in the first quarter. 

Madsen warming up: Madsen is back on the sideline and getting loose with a big brace on his left knee/leg. Broncos have a first-and-goal from the 8 following a roughing the passer penalty. 

First-down Broncos: Cutforth delivers a dart to Latrell Caples for a 13-yard gain on third down to move the sticks. The Broncos needed that conversion. 

No Madsen: As Boise State begins at the 25 on its second drive, Cutforth remains in the game.

Touchdown Falcons: Carson punches it in from two yards out to put Air Force up 7-0 early. A nightmare start for the Broncos, who could also be down Madsen.

Big play: Dylan Carson rips off a 64-yard run to set Air Force up with a first-and-goal at the 10. 

Broncos punt: Cutforth’s third-down throw is incomplete, and Oscar Doyle punts it away to the Falcons. Air Force takes over at its own 26. 

New QB: Backup quarterback Max Cutforth is in the game for Madsen. 

Madsen down: Madsen takes a low hit on second down, gets up and immediately goes back down. It looks like an ankle injury, and it does not look good. He is able to walk off with some assistance. 

Underway: Boise State will begin at its own 24. 

Coin toss: Air Force wins the toss and defers to the second half. Boise State will get the ball first. 

Pregame recap

Matchup predictor: According to ESPN FPI, Boise State has an 82.9 percent chance to win.

Weather: It’s a cloudy day in Colorado Springs. Temperatures will be in the mid-60s at kickoff with a small chance of showers. 

Injury update: Boise State has three inactive players for today’s game: running back Breezy Dubar and edge rushers Bol Bol and Sterling Lane II. 

Odds are courtesy of FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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Bob Lundeberg
BOB LUNDEBERG

Bob Lundeberg is a reporter for Boise State Broncos On SI. An Oregon State graduate, Bob has lived in Idaho since 2019 and is an avid hiker and golfer.

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