Boise State Broncos ON SI

Game recap, analysis: Defense carries Boise State to road victory over Nevada

Broncos force five turnovers in 24-3 win
Bob Lundeberg|
Boise State linebackers Marco Notarainni and Boen Phelps.
Boise State linebackers Marco Notarainni and Boen Phelps. | Michael Caterina-Imagn Images

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Boise State BroncosNevada Wolf Pack

Boise State shook off a slow start on Friday to secure a 24-3 Mountain West road victory over Nevada.

The Broncos (6-2, 4-0) had five takeaways on the night, including two interceptions by cornerback Jeremiah Earby. 

Nevada (1-7, 0-4) freshman quarterback Carter Jones tossed three interceptions in the loss. 

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

FINAL STATS

Sire Gaines paced the Boise State rushing attack with 17 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown. The Broncos ran for just 134 yards as a team on 47 carries (2.9 yards per attempt). 

Maddux Madsen finished 15 of 28 passing for 174 yards with no touchdowns and an interception.

The Broncos out-gained Nevada 308-247. 

Fourth quarter recap

FINAL: Boise State 24, Nevada 3

Touchdown Broncos: Riley’s first touchdown was called back, but the sophomore finishes it off with a one-yard TD run. That was a 15-play, 80-yard drive that took 8:18 off the clock. BSU 24, Nevada 3, 3:09 remaining. 

Touchdown Broncos: Dylan Riley puts this one away with a nine-yard touchdown run. It hasn’t been pretty, but Boise State will take it. BSU 23, Nevada 3, 3:31 to go. The play is under review and could be coming back.

BSU interception: Earby grabs his second interception of the game — BSU’s third as a team — in the end zone. Nevada just can’t get out of its own way tonight. Broncos, leading 17-3, will look to add to their lead with 11:27 remaining in the game. 

BSU punt: Broncos go three-and-out with another off-target Madsen pass. Just a really poor night all-around for the BSU offense. Nevada, trailing 17-3, takes over at its own 28. 

Third quarter recap

End of quarter: Boise State 17, Nevada 3. Broncos force a three-and-out and will have it at their own 21 when play resumes. 

Touchdown Broncos: On fourth-and-goal from the 1, Madsen sneaks it in for a touchdown. Boise State’s offensive line is getting minimal push, but fullback Troy Grizzle was able to finish off the play by pushing Madsen in. Boise State 17, Nevada 3, 1:41 left in the quarter. 

Special teams blunder: Nevada forces a punt, but the pooch punt hits a Nevada defender. Boise State emerges with the ball at the bottom of the pile. What a break for the Broncos, who have a first-and-goal from the 6. 

Nevada punt: Ty Benefield nearly records BSU’s third interception of the day. Broncos have it at their own 26 with 7:24 remaining in the quarter following the Nevada punt and another Wolf Pack personal foul. 

BSU punt: Broncos get one first down before the drive stalls. It’s been a sleepy offensive performance so far by BSU. Nevada takes over at its own 15 following the Oscar Doyle punt. 

Underway: Boise State, leading 10-3, begins the third quarter at its own 25. 

Halftime recap 

Stats: After running for 294 yards last week against UNLV, Boise State has just 73 rushing yards on 23 attempts (3.2 yards per carry) at the half. Broncos have 169 total yards of offense to Nevada’s 138.

Second quarter recap

End of half: Boise State 10, Nevada 3. Broncos will get the ball to start the third quarter.

Nevada punt: BSU’s defense forces its second straight punt. Broncos will have 57 seconds to add to their lead. 

Touchdown Broncos: After an unnecessary roughness penalty on Nevada gives BSU a fresh set of downs, Gaines punches it in from one yard out. Boise State 10, Nevada 3, 1:35 left in the half. 

Big play Broncos: Cam Bates makes a terrific catch on a jump ball that easily could’ve been intercepted, setting BSU up with a first down at the Nevada 17. That was a 37-yard reception by Bates. 

BSU injury: Center Mason Randolph is down with what appears to be a left leg injury. He is being attended to on the field. 

BSU marching: Broncos are near midfield after Malik Sherrod moves the chains on third-and-three. 

Wolf Pack punt: The BSU defense holds and forces a punt. Broncos take over at their own 7 with 7:28 left in the half. We are still locked in a 3-3 tie. 

Madsen picked: Madsen throws a terrible pass across his body into triple coverage, and Bishop Turner catches the easy pick. No clue what Madsen was thinking there. Wolf Pack get it right back in BSU territory. 

Fake field goal disaster: For some reason, Nevada tries a fake field goal on fourth-and-17. It does not go well. Broncos blow up the ill-advised fake and take over at their own 24. That was wild. 

BSU injury: A’Marion McCoy is getting his right leg looked at. He is back in the game.

Broncos three-and-out: BSU fails to capitalize on the Earby pick and punts it back to the Wolf Pack. Nevada takes over at midfield following a poor kick. 

BSU interception: Nevada tries a deep ball, and Jeremiah Earby makes a great play to haul it in. Broncos get it right back at their own 13. 

BSU field goal: Sire Gaines gets stuffed on three consecutive carries from inside the 5. Colton Boomer splits the uprights from 22 yards out to make it a 3-3 game with 13:13 remaining in the half. Very disappointing for BSU to not punch it in there.  

First quarter recap

End of quarter: Nevada 3, Boise State 0. Broncos will have it first-and-goal from the 4 when play resumes. 

Third-down conversion: Madsen hits Chris Marshall for an 11-yard gain on third-and-long to move the sticks. BSU has a fresh set of downs at the Nevada 30. 

Nevada field goal: Joe McFadden converts a 40-yard field goal to give the Wolf Pack a 3-0 lead with 3:50 remaining in the quarter. 

Wolf Pack marching: Jones connects with Dakota Thomas for a 14-yard gain, and Nevada has a first down at the Boise State 39. 

BSU punt: Maddux Madsen is badly off target on a third-down throw, and BSU opts to punt on the edge of field goal range. Nevada survives the interception and will begin at its own 20. 

BSU interception: On the third play of the game, A’Marion McCoy picks off Nevada quarterback Carter Jones. Jones was under pressure and threw a poor pass. First-and-10 Broncos from their own 39. 

Coin toss: Boise State wins the toss and defers to the second half. Nevada will get the ball first before a sparse homecoming crowd at Mackay Stadium.

Pregame recap

Weather update: It’s a pleasant evening in Reno. Mid-60s at kickoff with a slight chance of some light precipitation. 

Injury update: Five Broncos will miss tonight’s game: Starters Ben Ford (wide receiver) and Zion Washington (safety) and reserves Davon Banks (nickelback), Chase Martin (linebacker) and Hall Schmidt (offensive tackle). Ford suffered a season-ending injury last week against UNLV. 

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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