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, editor of The Opinionator, co-hosts Idaho Sports Talk with Caves & Prater weekdays from 3-6 p.m. on KTIK 93.1 FM The Ticket and can be heard on Bronco GameNights after each Boise State game on KBOI 670 AM and KTIK 93.1 FM. He can be reached at [email protected], and found @CavesandPrater (Facebook) and @MikeFPrater (Twitter).