Boise State didn’t need fireworks to get past South Dakota on Saturday night. It needed patience, discipline and a whole lot of snaps.
At Albertsons Stadium, the Broncos leaned into a grind-it-out formula and walked away with a 38-24 win that never felt easy. Boise State controlled the game with long possessions and steady gains, while South Dakota kept swinging for the bigger strike through the air.
That contrast showed up everywhere, but especially in the clock. Boise State held the ball for 39 minutes and 25 seconds, while South Dakota had it for 20:35.
Even with less than two minutes left, the Coyotes still had a shot to tie it at 31-31 when they got the ball in BSU territory. They went for it on downs, came up empty, and then Dylan Riley slammed the door with an 83-yard touchdown run - Boise State’s lone explosive dagger of the night.
Before that final burst, the Broncos had already built their day on a string of patient scoring drives:
Nine plays, 65 yards, 3:52 - TD
12 plays, 70 yards, 5:49 - TD
Nine plays, 70 yards, 4:53 - TD
11 plays, 54 yards, 6:27 - FG
Nine plays, 75 yards, 4:08 - TD
Boise State also had a seven-play, 51-yard march that ended with a turnover on downs instead of a field-goal try.
Take away Riley’s late touchdown, and the Broncos averaged 5:01 of possession on those five scoring drives. That’s more than 25 minutes spent methodically chipping away.
South Dakota was the opposite. Its four scoring drives - three touchdowns and a field goal - averaged just three plays each and lasted an average of 1:16.
“We went in knowing South Dakota is one of the best defenses in regard to not giving up explosive plays,” Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said. “They’re elite at making teams be committed to five yards, six yards, eight yards.”
Boise State was more than willing to take those chunks. The rushing attack kept wearing on the Coyotes in the second half, even though the passing game didn’t produce many chunk gains.
The Broncos had only three plays of at least 15 yards through the air, and the biggest was a 31-yard throw down the middle to freshman receiver Rasean Jones. That one was nearly picked off, but Jones stayed with the ball after it slipped through a defender’s hands.
“I think they showed us different coverages,” Jones said. “We adjusted fairly well, and we put together some good drives.”
The final numbers were still impressive. Boise State piled up 533 total yards after putting up 578 against Memphis last weekend.
On the ground, the Broncos rolled for 325 yards against South Dakota, with Riley running for 198 yards and two touchdowns and Sire Gaines adding 102 yards and a score. Boise State had gained 357 rushing yards in the win over the Tigers.
Jones finished with 95 receiving yards on eight catches. Quarterback Maddux Madsen went 22-for-31 for 208 yards and two touchdowns.
“We’re doing some really good things on offense, and we’re always going to nitpick to make sure that we continue to grow, because that’s what we have to do as coaches,” Danielson said. “There are some drives that sputtered that we got to get fixed. So, as coaches, we’re going to focus on those things.”
In Other News...
Boise State Heads Into Western Michigan With Troubling Lineup Questions
Boise State left its win over South Dakota with the kind of lingering concerns that can follow a solid afternoon on the scoreboard. The Broncos handled the Coyotes 38-24, but the injury list grew long enough to make the next week feel a lot less comfortable, with running back Sire Gaines, offensive guard Roger Carreon and edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan all leaving the game hurt.
Head coach Spencer Danielson said Gaines is still being evaluated, and his availability for the upcoming trip to Western Michigan is uncertain. Boise State is already working without starting safety Derek Ganter Jr., so the Broncos are suddenly dealing with lineup questions on both sides of the ball as they try to keep their early-season momentum intact. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Faces An Early Road Test Fans Cant Ignore
Boise State heads to Waldo Stadium on Saturday for a non-conference matchup with Western Michigan, bringing a 2-1 record into a game that already feels like a useful measuring stick early in the season. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. Mountain time on ESPN2, and the Broncos are a seven-point favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook as they try to handle a road assignment against a fellow 2-1 team.
It is the kind of September game that can tell you a lot about where both programs really stand, especially with each considered a contender in its own conference and in the College Football Playoff Group of Six race. Boise State is listed at -290 on the moneyline, Western Michigan at +235, but the bigger question is whether the Broncos can leave Michigan with the kind of performance that keeps them moving in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]