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Game recap, analysis: Fresno State stuns rival Boise State, 30-7

Broncos quarterback Maddux Madsen leaves with leg injury
Bob Lundeberg|
Boise State
Boise State | Boise State Athletics

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Boise State BroncosFresno State Bulldogs

Boise State’s 16-game home winning streak came to an unceremonious end on Saturday with a stunning 30-7 loss to Mountain West rival Fresno State at Albertsons Stadium.

It was the Bulldogs’ (6-3, 3-2) third straight victory over the Broncos (6-3, 4-1). 

Boise State, which entered the game as a 17.5-point favorite over the Bulldogs, lost starting quarterback Maddux Madsen to a right leg injury in the first quarter. 

Without Madsen, Boise State compiled just 193 yards of total offense. 

The Broncos had won 16 consecutive games against MWC opponents since a 37-30 loss to Fresno State in November 2022.

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

FINAL STATS

The Broncos finished with just 11 first downs and three turnovers.

Backup quarterback Max Cutforth completed 14 of 29 passes for 106 yards with one touchdown, two interceptions and a lost fumble. 

The Bulldogs mustered just 224 yards of total offense.

Carson Conklin went 10 of 21 passing for 35 yards in a winning effort. 

Fourth quarter recap

FINAL: Fresno State 30, Boise State 7. Wow. 

Turnover on downs: Boise State marches to the Fresno State 30, but the drive stalls. Fresno State takes over with 2:36 left and can run out the rest of this clock. 

FSU field goal: Lynch boots through a 33-yard field goal to extend the Fresno State lead to 30-7. Just a stunning result at Albertsons Stadium. 

Turnover on downs: It’s hard to comprehend just how bad the BSU offense has been today. Broncos turn it over on downs deep in their own territory. Fresno State will keep the Milk Can Trophy. Four minutes left in this one with the Bulldogs leading 27-7. 

FSU punt: The Boise State defense forces a punt, but it’s getting late at Albertsons Stadium. The Broncos take over at their own 22 with 6:58 to go. 

BSU punt: Boise State’s offense is a complete mess without Madsen. Broncos have no choice but to punt it back after losing massive yardage on a Cutforth fumble. Fresno State, leading 27-7, has it back at its own 34 with 9:11 remaining. 

Bulldogs field goal: Dylan Lynch connects from 43 yards to extend Fresno State’s lead to 27-7, 10:36 remaining. That was a 15-play, 50-yard drive by the Bulldogs that chewed up 8:08 of clock. Impressive stuff from Fresno State.

Third quarter recap

End of quarter: Fresno State 24, Boise State 7. Bulldogs are driving for another score as the Broncos limp to a much-needed bye week. 

BSU punt: Cutforth and the offense promptly go three-and-out, and the drive opened with another near-interception. Boise State’s 16-game home winning streak is in serious jeopardy. Bulldogs take over at their own 25 with a 17-point lead. 

Touchdown Bulldogs: Bryson Donelson punches it in from two yards out with a physical run. Fresno State 24, Boise State 7, 4:30 left in this one. It’s hard to see how the Broncos get back into this game with what we’ve seen from the BSU offense so far. 

Self-inflicted wounds: A’Marion McCoy gets called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to give Fresno State a first down at the BSU 25. The Broncos are simply an undisciplined team. No way around it. 

BSU punt: Broncos run three plays and lose four yards deep in their own territory. Fresno State does not respect the Broncos’ passing game. Bulldogs get it back at the Boise State 42 and can deliver a knockout punch on the upcoming drive. 

FSU punt: This time the BSU defense holds after a Cutforth turnover, keeping the deficit at 17-7. Broncos will have it at their own 7 when play resumes. 

Cutforth picked: Cutforth throws it right to Tytus Khajavi sitting in zone coverage for an easy interception. That’s his third turnover of the day in relief of Madsen. Bulldogs, leading 17-7, get it right back at the BSU 49. 

Touchdown Bulldogs: Brandon Ramirez scores from three yards out and Fresno State takes control of this one, silencing Albertsons Stadium. Fresno State 17, Boise State 7, 10:47 remaining in the quarter. Wow. 

Turnover Broncos: Cutforth is stripped on first down by Simeon Harris, and the Bulldogs fall on it at the BSU 27. A disastrous start to the half for the Broncos. Harris is having a monster day for FSU with three tackles for loss, a forced fumble and an interception. 

FSU punt: Fresno State kills its own drive with a dumb late hit penalty. Boise State takes over at its own 32 with backup quarterback Max Cutforth still in the game for the injured Maddux Madsen. 

Underway: Fresno State, which leads 10-7 despite putting up just 60 yards of offense in the first half, begins the third quarter with the ball at its own 5 following a poor kickoff return and a holding penalty. Par for the course in this sloppy game. 

Halftime recap

BSU stats: The BSU defense did its job, holding Fresno State to 60 yards of total offense and six first downs. The Broncos have more penalty yards (seven penalties, 64 yards) than the Bulldogs do total yards. Boise State only has 122 total yards of offense with starting quarterback Maddux Madsen and starting left guard Jason Steele out of the game due to injury. 

Second quarter recap

Halftime: Fresno State 10, Boise State 7. Bulldogs will get the ball to start the second half.

FSU field goal: Dylan Lynch converts a 36-yard field goal to give Fresno State a 10-7 lead with 5 seconds remaining in the half. 

Broncos turnover: A perfect throw from Cutforth is dropped by Matt Lauter and intercepted by Simeon Harris. Bulldogs are in business with the ball at the BSU 46 late in the half. 

FSU punt: Bulldogs QB Carson Conklin is now 3 for 10 passing for three yards. I know E.J. Warner kept turning the ball over, but Conklin looks overmatched in this one. Boise State takes over at its own 36 with 1:41 remaining in the half and all three timeouts. 

Two-minute timeout: Fresno State will be facing a third-and-10 when play resumes. Broncos could have a chance to take the lead before halftime. 

Touchdown Broncos: Cutforth hits a wide-open Chase Penry in the back of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown. Very nice throw and catch there. Boise State 7, Fresno State 7, 2:07 left in the half. 

Another injured Bronco: Sire Gaines is down after a three-yard gain. Gaines, unlike Steele and Madsen, is quickly helped back to his feet and trots off the field. It looks like he’s going to be OK. 

Broncos marching: On fourth-and-one from the Fresno State 31, Cutforth easily sneaks it for a first down. 

FSU punt: We have six first downs and eight punts so far, it’s been that type of game. Just really, really poor offensive play by both teams against two solid defenses. Boise State has excellent field position at midfield with 8:23 remaining in the half. 

BSU punt: Broncos get one first down but the offense appears lifeless without Madsen, Chris Marshall and Ben Ford. Fresno State gets the ball back at its own 16. 

FSU punt: A’Marion McCoy nearly comes up with his fourth interception in four games on third-and-long. The BSU defense is doing its job today, but the offense needs to step up. Broncos, trailing 7-0, take over at their own 22. 

Field goal block: The drive stalls after Sherrod’s explosive run, and Colton Boomer’s 45-yard field goal attempt is blocked. The nightmare start continues for Boise State. 

First quarter recap

End of quarter: Fresno State 7, Boise State 0. Broncos will be facing a third-and-10 when play resumes. 

Big play Broncos: Malik Sherrod, a Fresno State transfer, rips off a 44-yard run to set Boise State up with a first down at the Bulldogs 28. BSU really needed that play. 

Injured Bronco: Now left guard Jason Steele is down with a lower leg injury. 

Touchdown Bulldogs: Elijah Gilliam punches it in from one yard out to give Fresno State a 7-0 lead on The Blue. A terrible start for the Broncos, who could be without their quarterback for the remainder of the day. Bulldogs 7, Boise State 0, 2:26 left in the first quarter. 

More mistakes: Braxton Fely commits a killer roughing the passer penalty, turning what would’ve been a third-and-15 into a fresh set of downs for Fresno State. A really, really bad penalty. Two plays later, Jaden Mickey is called for a late hit to set Fresno State up with a first-and-goal from the 8. 

A first down!: On third-and-inches, Brandon Ramirez gets just enough for the game’s first first down. Bulldogs have it at the Boise State 45. 

Madsen injured: Madsen is sacked on second down and has to be helped off the field, putting almost no weight on his left leg.. It looked like Madsen’s ankle got twisted on the play. Not good. Max Cutforth in at quarterback for the Broncos. 

FSU punt: Four drives, zero first downs in this one. These are two of the better defenses in the MWC, but we’ve seen a lot of sloppy offensive play so far. Broncos take over at their own 15 with 7:52 remaining in the first quarter. 

BSU punt: Penalties ended BSU’s drive before it began. Spencer Danielson has to be furious with all the early mistakes. Fresno State will begin its second dive at its own 30. 

Sloppy Broncos: After a holding call, two false starts, a blown-up passing play and a stuffed run, Boise State is facing a third-and-34. Not good!

FSU punt: Fresno State, which didn’t score a point last week against San Diego State, also goes three-and-out with quarterback Carson Conklin making his second start of the season. The Boise State defensive front dominated that series. Broncos have it back at their own 38.

BSU punt: Broncos go three-and-out as Cam Bates drops a perfect throw from Maddux Madsen that would’ve gone for major yardage, maybe even a touchdown. Fresno State takes over at its own 27 following the Oscar Doyle punt. 

Underway: Following a touchback, Boise State begins the game at its own 25. 

Coin toss: Fresno State wins the toss and defers to the second half. Boise State will get the ball first in this one on a perfect day in the Treasure Valley. 

Pregame recap

Broadcast schedule: West Virginia is kneeing out the clock to secure a 45-35 upset win over No. 22 Houston. The Boise State/Fresno State game will begin on FS1.

TV coverage: The Boise State/Fresno State game may not start on FS1. West Virginia and Houston are currently finishing up with the Mountaineers holding a surprising 45-35 lead. 

Betting update: The betting line for the Boise State/Fresno State game has remained at 17.5 points since Monday. The over/under is down to 47.5 points. Bettors are expecting a low-scoring game in Boise. 

Weather update: Conditions could not be better in Boise. The sun is out and temperatures are in the 60s. We should top out just shy of 70 degrees, about as good as it gets for November in the Treasure Valley.

Injury update: Seven Boise State players will miss today’s game: Chris Marshall (wide receiver), Ben Ford (wide receiver), Zion Washington (safety), Chase Martin (linebacker), Demetric Whitlock Jr. (wide receiver), Seth Knothe (running back) and Hall Schmidt (offensive tackle). Ford suffered a season-ending injury last week against UNLV. Marshall, the Broncos’ leading receiver, is suspended for the game. 

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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