BOISE, Idaho - San Diego State was unable to recover from a shaky start in a 56-24 loss at No. 15/19 Boise State Friday night in Boise. It was the first setback in Mountain West play for the Aztecs (3-5, 2-1 MW).
The Broncos (7-1, 4-0 MW) jumped out to a 28-0 lead before SDSU even got into BS territory. Maddux Madsen connected on consecutive touchdown passes to Latrell Caples from 18 and 19 yards, and then A’Marion McCoy picked off San Diego State true freshman quarterback Danny O’Neil and ran it back 35 yards to make it 21-0 Boise State after the first quarter.
Another O’Neil interception early in the second quarter led to Madsen’s third touchdown pass of the half, this time finding Prince Strachan from 14 yards out.
The Aztecs finally got on the scoreboard as O’Neil connected on a 40-yard pass to Jordan Napier on a third-and-13 situation. SDSU’s drive, however, stalled and Gabe Plascencia nailed a 27-yard field goal.
San Diego State forced a Bronco punt and responded with a 6-yard touchdown run by Marquez Cooper. It took the Aztecs just five plays to get 65 yards, thanks mainly to a 42-yard gain by Cooper on the second play of the drive.
BS, however, answered with a 13-play, 75-yard drive that ate up 5:36 of clock, twice converting third downs before Madsen’s touchdown pass to Caples on fourth-and-1 from the SDSU 14 gave Boise State a 35-10 lead at the half.
The Broncos took their opening drive in the second half 75 yards, ending with a 4-yard touchdown run by Ashton Jeanty.
After the teams exchanged punts, BS went 90 yards on 13 plays over 6:27 before another 4-yard run by Jeanty made it 49-10, Boise State. The Broncos converted two third downs on the drive and got another first down on a fourth-and-3 when BS faked a punt with a 32-point lead.
San Diego State wouldn’t give up and put together an impressive drive that went 75 yards on 16 plays. The Aztecs converted four fourth downs on the drive with an 8-yard run by Cooper on a fourth-and-2, a 3-yard run by Cooper on a fourth-and-1, a 10-yard pass from O’Neil to Napier on a fourth-and-8 and finally a 30-yard touchdown pass from O’Neil to Napier on a fourth-and-5.
Boise State got one back with a 2-yard run by Tyler Crowe to take a 56-17 lead.
Chris Johnson took the ensuing kickoff 46 yards to the SDSU 46. On a third-and-12 seven plays later, O’Neil found Mekhi Shaw, who made a diving catch in the end zone for the final points of the game.
O’Neil was 14 of 30 for 155 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Cooper rushed for 94 yards on just 16 attempts (5.9 avg.) and Napier had a game-high eight catches for 79 yards.
San Diego State held Jeanty, who came into Friday averaging 196.6 yards per game, to 149 tonight on 31 carries (4.8 avg.). Madsen completed 24 of 32 passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns.
Tano Letuli had a game-high 10 tackles to lead the Aztecs for a second straight contest. Kyle Moretti and Bryce Phillips chipped in with six tackles apiece.
SDSU fell to 2-3 all-time at Boise State with the rest of the Mountain West going 10-96 (.094).
San Diego State was 6-for-6 on fourth down in the game, matching the most conversions in FBS play without a fail since 2007.
San Diego State Falls at No. 15/19 Boise State
The Aztecs suffered their first loss of conference play
