GAME SUMMARY
PULLMAN, WASH. – The Boise State football team lost starting quarterback Brett Rypien in the first half and gave up a 21-point lead in the second half, losing to Washington State 47-44 in triple overtime at Martin Stadium on Saturday night. Jamal Morrow caught a 22-yard pass from backup QB Tyler Hilinski to give the No. 20 Cougars (2-0) the victory. Hilinski played for Luke Falk, who like Rypien, was injured and didn’t finish the game.
PRATER’S POST-GAME POINTS
- Boise State would have won with QB Brett Rypien (7-for-8, 76 yards, 0-0) in the game the entire time. Backup Montell Cozart (12-20, 161, 2 TDs, 1 INT) is turning into a nice backup/second option. He’s tough and he competes hard, but he panics too much, resulting in sloppy play (huge mental mistake and interception/Pick 6 in the fourth quarter was a huge difference-maker). Rypien is the calm leader of this team and should start when healthy, at least for now. But the gap is closing.
- New offensive line coach Brad Bedell, who replaced Scott Huff (now at Washington), is the coach under the hot spotlight after two games. The starting five, still missing right tackle Archie Lewis, remains too soft and too inconsistent. Rypien was sacked twice early and the running game averaged only 3.7 yards a carry.
- The Broncos’ defense looked elite early, and got gassed in the second half/OT, resulting in far too many missed tackles.
- Senior wide receiver Cedrick Wilson caught nine passes for 147 yards and two TDs. I wish they’d throw him the ball more.
- Boise State should rebound nicely Thursday (6 p.m., Albertsons Stadium) against New Mexico, which lost to New Mexico State 30-28 on Saturday. Both teams are 1-1.
Mike Prater / KTIK 93.1 FM The Ticket / Editor, The Opinionator / More Prater columns and KTIK blogs at The Opinionator.
POST-GAME NEWS & NOTES
– Boise State’s 47-44 triple-overtime loss at Washington State dropped the Broncos to 1-5 all-time against the Cougars.
– The contest was Boise State’s first overtime game since a 34-31 loss at San Diego State on Nov. 23, 2013. … Boise State is 3-5 all-time in overtime contests, and 3-4 since joining the FBS in 1996.
– The loss drops the Broncos to 11-14 overall against the Pac-12, and snaps a four-game winning streak against the conference.
– Boise State is 2-11 against the Pac-12 in true road games. … the previous wins came at Oregon (37-32 on Sept. 20, 2008) and Oregon State (38-24 on Sept. 24, 2016). … the Broncos are 5-11 overall against the Pac-12 in true road/neutral contests, which includes Las Vegas Bowl victories over Arizona State (2011) and Washington (2012) and a Fiesta Bowl victory over Arizona (2014).
– Boise State is 3-11 against ranked opponents on the road.
– The Boise State defense held Washington State to 22 rushing yards, marking the second-straight game in which the Broncos held an opponent under the century mark on the ground.
– The Broncos’ defense has back-to-back games forcing multiple turnovers for the first time since a five-game run from Oct. 31-Dec. 23, 2015 (at UNLV, vs. New Mexico, vs. Air Force, at San Jose State, vs. Northern Illinois).
– Boise State forced three turnovers Saturday night (two INT, one fumble), the team’s second straight game with at least three forced turnovers. The last time the Broncos had back-to-back games forcing at least three turnovers was a three-game run from Sept. 25-Oct. 10, 2015 (at Virginia, vs. Hawaii, at Colorado State).
– Boise State sacked Washington State quarterbacks five times Saturday night, led by two from linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. Jabril Frazier, Tyson Maeva and David Moa each had a sack.
– STUD Curtis Weaver’s 55-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter was Boise State’s first defensive touchdown since Tyler Horton’s 85-yard pick-six against Washington State last Sept. 10.
– Quarterback Montell Cozart finished 12-for-20 for 161 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and rushed 14 times for 72 yards and another score.
– Senior wide receiver Cedrick Wilson tied his career high with nine catches for 147 yards and two touchdowns Saturday night. The first time he had nine catches in a game was Oct. 7 of last year at New Mexico.
– Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch led the Broncos with a career-best 16 tackles (10 solo), including two sacks. His previous career high was nine at Air Force last Nov. 25.
– Safety Kekoa Nawahine had a career-high 12 tackles (seven solo) in the contest. His previous best was five, achieved twice last year (at Air Force, vs. Baylor in the Cactus Bowl on Dec. 27).
– Linebacker Tyson Maeva made a career-best 10 tackles Saturday night, besting his previous best of seven tackles at Air Force last Nov. 25.
– Running back Alexander Mattison rushed for his second touchdown of the season, scoring on a four-yard run in the first quarter. Mattison finished the game with 63 yards on 14 carries.
– Tight end Alec Dhaenens’ 44-yard reception in the first quarter was his career long.
– Redshirt senior tight end Jake Roh was selected as the Boise State gameday captain, joining season-long captains Brett Rypien, Leighton Vander Esch and Cedrick Wilson.
– Cornerback/kick returner Avery Williams led the Broncos onto the field with The Hammer, and wide receiver/long snapper Brock Barr carried the “Bleed Blue” flag.
Courtesy of Boise State Athletics
