SAN DIEGO – San Diego State opened its Mountain West schedule on a sour note Friday, dropping a hard-fought 34-31 decision to Boise State at Snapdragon Stadium.
Missed tackles, untimely penalties and two crucial fumbles ultimately contributed to the Aztecs' downfall, despite the host school maintaining the edge in total offense (439-403) and time of possession (32:10 to 27:50).
However, SDSU was unable to contain the exploits of Bronco running back Ashton Jeanty, who rushed for 205 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries, adding 49 yards on four receptions to account for nearly 63 percent of Boise State's offensive output.
Quarterback Jaylen Mayden completed 16 of 22 passes for 241 yards and one touchdown for the Aztecs (2-3, 0-1 MW), running for another score to finish with a team-high 85 yards rushing in 16 attempts.
Wide receiver Baylin Brooks set a career high with 117 yards and one touchdown on five receptions, matching the production of Brionne Penny, who also made five grabs for 97 yards.
However, Mayden twice turned the ball over, fumbling at the goal line on SDSU's opening possession before repeating the miscue later in the fourth quarter that led to a Bronco touchdown.
After Kenan Christon electrified the crowd with a 71-yard return on the opening kickoff, the Aztecs came up empty on their first drive when Mayden lost the ball on a head-first dive at the goal line on a 3rd-and-5 scramble up the middle. The SDSU super senior was originally called down at the half-yard line, but the call was reversed, and Boise State gained possession on a touchback.
The Broncos (2-2, 1-0 MW) recorded just one first down on their first drive before Dez Malone returned the ensuing punt 36 yards, giving the Aztecs excellent field position at their own 48. Six plays later, Mayden threaded a pass to Brooks along the right sideline, as the true freshman sprinted 34 yards to the end zone for his first career touchdown that put the host school in front, 7-0, at the 7:37 mark of the first quarter.
SDSU outgained Boise State 97-26 in the opening period, including a 51-9 advantage on the ground. However, the Broncos flipped the script with 227 total yards in the second period, topping the Aztecs' 137. In addition, the visitors owned a 146-31 spread in rushing yardage during that span. After gaining just six yards on two carries in the first quarter, Jeanty rushed for 131 yards in the second period alone on just eight attempts.
On its first march of the second quarter, Boise State knotted the score with just over three minutes elapsed when Taylen Green connected with Eric McAlister in the left corner of the end zone on a 25-yard touchdown pass to cap a 5-play, 76-yard drive.
SDSU took advantage of a short field on its next foray, taking possession on its own 45-yard line following an unsuccessful squib kick, as the Broncos looked to catch the Aztecs by surprise.
After a 37-yard completion to Brooks down to the Boise State 10, however, the drive stalled, forcing the Scarlet and Black to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Jack Browning, which put the hosts back on top, 10-7, at the 9:13 mark.
Boise State needed just four plays to take the lead, as Jeanty burst up the middle and broke away for a 58-yard touchdown scamper wth 7:13 left in the period.
With the game evolving into a see-saw affair, it was SDSU's turn to respond, and the Aztecs did just that, advancing 75 yards in seven plays to vault back in front, 17-14. The Scarlet and Black reached into its bag of tricks, as Martin Blake hit Penny on a 32-yard option pass on the first play of the drive down the Bronco 43. Mayden also completed a 12-yard pass to Blake and another 14-yarder to Penny before Jaylon Armstead bulldozed his way across the goal line from two yards out with 2:48 remaining in the half.
However, the lead proved to be short-lived, as Boise State tied the score on a 29-yard field goal by Jonah Dalmas with just 22 seconds before intermission to cap an 11-play, 72-yard march. Jeanty keyed the drive with a 36-yard jaunt and followed with another 10-yard run before Green hit McAlister with an 11-yard strike to the SDSU 16.
The Aztecs threatened on their first drive of the second half, as Mayden completed a 22-yard pass to Brooks and a 14-yarder to Mark Redman that gave the hosts a first down at the Bronco 25. However, the ensuing three plays netted just two yards before Browning's 40-yard field goal attempt hooked wide left.
Boise State then jumped in front to stay at 20-17 on Dalmas' 27-yard field goal with 4:52 left in the third quarter. After several missed tackles on Jeanty's 25-yard run shy of midfield, McAlister broke free himself on a short pass from Green for a 39-yard gain to the Aztec 6. However, the SDSU defense stiffened, forcing the Broncos to settle for three points.
On the first snap of the Aztecs' next possession, Jayden Virgin recovered a Mayden fumble at the SDSU 26. Four plays later, Green sprinted around left end on 3rd and goal from the 10, beating the defense to the pylon for a touchdown, which gave the visitors a 27-17 advantage with 3:05 to go in the period.
The Aztecs answered with their longest drive of the season, marching 92 yards in 10 plays, punctuated by Armstead's 10-yard blast up the middle on the second play of the fourth quarter that trimmed the margin to 27-24. The Scarlet and Black converted a trio of third downs on the advance, as Mayden found Penny for a 36-yard completion before helping his own cause with scrambles of 11 and 16 yards, the latter of which put the ball at the Bronco 10.
The teams exchanged punts before Boise State put the game essentially out of reach with Jeanty's six-yard touchdown run with 2:02 left on the clock. Earlier in the drive, the Broncos converted a 4th-and-1 situation from the Aztec 30 when Jeanty rushed for six yards, while Green scrambled for another first down on a 3rd-and-3 play moments later.
SDSU fought to the end with a 72-yard march in seven plays, culminating in Mayden's 10-yard touchdown run, which narrowed the gap to 34-31 with just 42 seconds remaining. However, the Broncos ran out the clock after recovering the ensuing onside kick.
Along with Mayden's rushing total, Christon gained 44 yards on 12 carries, while Armstead finished with 35 yards in 10 attempts.
Defensively, the Aztecs were led by Eric Butler's eight tackles, including six solo stops and two-and-a-half tackles for a loss, while Cooper McDonald finished with six stops (5 solo) of his own.
Conversely, Green totaled 162 yards on 12-of-22 passing for the Broncos, while McAlister hauled in five receptions for 90 yards in the victory.
San Diego State continues its Mountain West schedule next weekend when it travels to the Front Range of the Rockies to face Air Force on Saturday, Sept. 30, starting at 6 p.m. MT/5 p.m. PT. The Aztecs-Falcons clash will air live on CBS Sports Network.
Aztecs Fall to Boise State, 34-31
