Final: Boise State 27, Utah State 3; Broncos hold Aggies to single field goal in MW opener

Ron Counts, Rachel Roberts
·6 min read

This is our live blog. For complete game coverage, click on the links below:

Boise State jazzes up offense, stymies Utah State drives to open league play with win

‘Fat-guy touchdown’: Boise State’s Matlock thrills team with score. Shakir appeases mom

Instant analysis: Boise State offense gets creative, defense bends but doesn’t break

SCORING SUMMARY

First quarter

BSU — Jonah Dalmas 28 field goal, 10:17. Key plays: Safety Tyreque Jones got this drive started with an interception of Utah State QB Logan Bonner. The Broncos were forced to settle for a field goal when the drive stalled on third-and-8 at the Utah State 15-yard line. Drive: 9 plays, 47 yards, 3:48. Boise State 3, Utah State 0

BSU — Andrew Van Buren 2 run (Dalmas kick), 0:56. Key plays: Riding the momentum of DT Scott Matlock’s blocked field goal, Hank Bachmeier hit Khalil Shakir with a 69-yard pass on the first play to get to the Utah State 7-yard line. Drive: 3 plays, 76 yards, 0:56. Boise State 10, Utah State 0

Third quarter

BSU — Khalil Shakir 3 pass from Hank Bachmeier (Dalmas kick), 9:32. Key plays: Utah State gifted the Broncos great field position after attempting a fake punt that resulted in an 8-yard loss. The Broncos took over on the Utah State 18-yard line. Shakir also caught a 16-yard pass on the first play. Drive: 3 plays, 18 yards, 1:21. Boise State 17, Utah State 0

Fourth quarter

USU — Connor Coles 20 field goal, 14:03. Key plays: Linebacker Ajani Carter set up this Utah State drive with an interception of Hank Bachmeier. The Aggies reached the BSU 7-yard line courtesy of a 28-yard pass play followed by a 41-yard run. Drive: 8 plays, 85 yards, 2:54. Boise State 17, Utah State 3

BSU — Dalmas 32 field goal, 10:29. Key plays: On third-and-5 from their own 30, Bachmeier connected with CT Thomas for a 24-yard reception. On the next play, George Holani broke off a 19-yard run, and a USU personal foul was added to the end of the run. Drive: 8 plays, 60 yards, 3:34. Boise State 20, Utah State 3

BSU — Scott Matlock 3 pass from Hank Bachmeier (Dalmas kick), 5:09. Key plays: Jackson Cravens’ strip-sack of Utah State QB Andrew Peasley, which was recovered by Demitri Washington, put the Broncos on the Utah State 15-yard line. George Holani’s 15-yard TD run on the first play of the drive was called back because of a holding penalty. Drive: 9 plays, 15 yards, 4:23. Boise State 27, Utah State 3

NEWS & NOTES

Jones leaves with injury

Redshirt senior safety Tyreque Jones picked off Utah State quarterback Logan Bonner on the Aggies’ third play of the game.

It was Jones’ second interception of the season and third of his career. The pick set up Jonah Damas’ 28-yard field goal.

But Jones left the field and entered the injury tent on Utah State’s second possession, and he was later shown on the CBS broadcast walking to the locker room.

Broncos without starting offensive lineman

Boise State was without one starting offensive lineman Saturday against Utah State, and the Broncos don’t have any players out because of COVID-19, the program announced a little before kickoff.

Center Kekaniokoa Holomalia-Gonzalez missed his fourth straight game for undisclosed reasons. Sixth-year center Donte Harrington started in his place.

Defensive tackle Divine Obichere, who joined the program last year as a junior college transfer, was also out for undisclosed reasons.

Pass rusher Aisa Kelemete (Highland High) is also on the inactive list. He announced on social media earlier this week that after the fifth surgery of his career, he’s stepping away from football.

Nose tackle Scale Igiehon remains absent after taking a leave of absence from the team for personal reasons.

Crowe, Herberg announce NIL deals

A pair of Boise State players from local high schools have had a pretty good week.

Running back Tyler Crowe (Skyview) and pass rusher Dylan Herberg (Timberline) — both of whom joined the Broncos as walk-ons — announced Wednesday that they earned full scholarships.

On Friday, they both announced endorsement deals with Ridley’s Family Markets.

Crowe was named 5A SIC Player of the Year in his final season at Skyview after racking up 69 tackles on defense and posting 1,830 rushing yards, 495 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns on offense. He led Boise State with 45 rushing yards against UTEP.

Herberg earned all-state honors after posting 105 tackles, five interceptions and 15 tackles for loss in his final season at Timberline.

College football players can monetize their name, image and likeness after the NCAA passed an interim policy in July as NIL laws went into effect in several states.

Shakir adds another deal

Boise State wide receiver Khalil Shakir also announced his latest endorsement deal on Friday.

Shakir announced a deal with Crave Delivery by posting a photo on Instagram of him and his teammates seated around a picnic table for a meal.

Shakir announced his first endorsement deal with Pro Image Sports last week.

Quick hits

The Broncos wore white jerseys, white pants and white helmets. ... Team captains Khalil Shakir and Kekaula Kaniho were joined by Shane Irwin and Jake Stetz as game captains. ... Boise State won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. ... Boise State was led onto the field by safety JL Skinner, who carried the Dan Paul Hammer.... The Boise State defense went five straight scoreless quarters between the second half of Oklahoma State and the first three quarters against Utah State. The last time that happened was 2017 over the second through fourth quarters against BYU and the first half against SDSU.

▪ ▪ ▪

The Boise State football team has won 21 consecutive conference openers. The Broncos are trying to make it 22 when they play Utah State today. And they will be seeking their sixth straight win against the Aggies in Mountain West action.

Boise State’s most recent loss in a league opener was a 17-10 setback against North Texas in 1999, when the Broncos were a member of the Big West. The Broncos are 38-13 all-time in conference openers.

WHERE TO FIND THE TV BROADCAST

Saturday’s game will air on CBS. That’s channel 2 on Sparklight and DirecTV and 5251 on Dish Network.

BOISE STATE AT UTAH STATE

When: 10 a.m. Saturday

Where: Maverik Stadium (25,513, AstroTurf), Logan, Utah

TV: CBS (Rich Waltz, Aaron Taylor, Sherree Burris)

Radio: KBOI 670 AM/KTIK 93.1 FM (Bob Behler, Pete Cavender)

Records: Boise State 1-2; Utah State 3-0

Series: Boise State is 20-5 all-time against Utah State. The Broncos have won the past five, including a 42-13 victory last fall in the season opener.

Vegas line: Boise State by 9

Weather: 56 degrees at kickoff, sunny, 0% chance of rain, 3 mph winds

THIS WEEK’S COVERAGE

Boise State puts 21-game streak on the line; Mountain West’s Thompson on realignment

Kickoff time set for Boise State’s home tilt vs. Nevada, featuring preseason favorites

Idaho ties in the NFL: Browns acquire Pocatello native; LVE has strong showing for Cowboys

Ask a Utah State writer: Battled-tested Aggies await Boise State in Mountain West opener

These walk-ons from local high schools just earned Boise State football scholarships

Keys to victory, betting line and prediction for Boise State’s road game at Utah State

Boise State scraps plan to require COVID-19 vaccine or negative test for football fans

A Twitter List by ByRachelRoberts

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