In front of a stadium that was so sparsely populated it would make BJ Rains blush extra red, the Boise State Broncos met the Memphis Tigers for the first time.
FIRST QUARTER
The Broncos and Tigers exchanged possessions before the Broncos ended up getting great field position on Memphis’s side of the field. Unfortunately, what would have been a glorious, wide open TD pass to Callahan (who actually spent a lot of time on offense this game) was knocked out of his hands on 3rd and goal from the 1. The Broncos settled for a field goal.
BSU 3, Memphis 0
SECOND QUARTER
Boise State, who had been having difficulty getting things going on the ground, started opening up the passing game in 2Q. Even bringing in Maddux Madsen for a (alleged) pre-planned series, where he immediately immediately completed a 19 yard pass…before going three and out. Shortly after, however, Taylen Green led a scoring drive that included a 59 yard pass to Matt Lauter and was capped by an 8 yard scoring run from Ashton Jeanty.
BSU 10, Memphis 0
A few possessions later, the Broncos put together another scoring drive that included a 37 yard catch by MacAlister and was capped with another rushing score from Ashton Jeanty. WIth the 1 yard TD, he took the active national lead with 10 touchdowns and the Broncos started to look like they were going to have an easy time in the Volunteer State.
BSU 17, Memphis 0
To clarify, it only looked like the Broncos were going to have an easy time. Because then the Tigers started to wake up. a 53 yard completion augmented a four-play drive that got Memphis into the end zone for the first time on a 19 yard scoring pass from Seth Henigan to Roc Taylor.
BSU 17, Memphis 7
The Broncos weren’t able to do much with their ensuing drive, but the Tigers were able to string together an 8-play, 66 yarder that ended with another score. A five yard rush from Blake Watson.
BSU 17, Memphis 14
Halftime
THIRD QUARTER
Both teams came out and failed to get anything going on their first few possessions in the second half. As one announcer put it “A bit of a punting competition breaking out here”. Which, as we all know, would be unfair. Obviously. Boise Boise State has the field-flipping phenom himself, James Ferguson-Reynolds. But then…disaster struck for the Broncos. They had a great, little drive going and then got stuck in the Memphis red zone on 4th and 1. They initially kept the offense on the field, but after a timeout, decided to give Dalmas a chance to extend the lead. Instead, the kick was blocked and returned 80 yards for a Memphis TD to take the lead on 21 unanswered points.
Memphis 21, BSU 17
FOURTH QUARTER
The Tigers decided to prove the comeback wasn’t just a fluky special teams glitch, when they put together a drive early in the 4th quarter. 5 plays for 88 yards. Although, the majority of that came on a 59 TD pass to end the drive. Seth Henigan to Demeer Blakumsee.
Memphis 28, BSU 17
Coach Avalos decided to get tricky and throw Maddux Madsen into the game again. All he did was go ahead and lead an 80 yard scoring drive that ended with a 15-yard pass to Ashton Jeanty for this THIRD touchdown of the day. The Broncos went for two and Cobbs came down with a successful 2-pt conversion.
Memphis 28, BSU 24
The Tigers milked a lot of clock on a 75 yard drive that ate 6 minutes and 45 seconds. It ended on a one-yard TD from Blake Watson, who appeared to fumble at the one millimeter line and Boise State recovered. But, after a review, it wasn’t able to be deemed conclusive enough to be able to overturn the score. It was sooooo close though.
Memphis 35, BSU 24
Boise State got the ball back and Maddux Madsen drove right down the field. A 75-yard drive that ended with ANOTHER Jeanty receiving TD.
Memphis 35, BSU 32
Unfortunately, after a failed onside kick, that would be the end of the scoring for both teams and the Broncos came up short to end their winning streak. But…there are a lot of questions after this loss. The Broncos are undefeated in conference play, so some medium-lofty goals are still a possibility, but what does it mean that the bend-but-don’t-break defense has been breaking a fair amount? And what does it mean for mean for Taylen Green that he was pulled off the field in two, crucial 4th-quarter drives? Drives where Madsen scored twice and traversed 155 yards in a total of 3:53?
I suppose we’re going to find out…
Green ain’t the man Freaking StartMad Dog all he does is come in cold and scores TD’s
This is Green’s third year. Should be more polished than he appears. Move Green to WR.
Mad Dog is making Billy Bowens look better.
Make the switch now.
Avalos Avalosed like only Avalos can …he gave the game and momentum away by not going for the 4th and 1 which hilariously turned into a block 6…plus he burned a time out in process of playing to lose. I said long ago that if Green continues to prove he can’t throw then he needs to move to TE/WR and we go with something else. It’s pretty sad that the broncos and our fan base fancy ourselves as being a top tier G5 school and we haven’t had a viable QB who can helm a top G5 program for 5… Read more »
I think our guys have more character than most and will stick with the program. At least I like to think so and it helps me sleep better at night.
But yeah, imagine having a QB that can read a defense and pass effectively paired with a stud like Jeanty in the backfield. What we are doing now reminds me of the Jeremy McNichols days. He was pretty much our entire offense for a while and teams pick up on that pretty quickly. Anyways, it would be a pretty scary offense.
Jeanty sounds like a great high character dude, but there is soooo much money being thrown around now at the big programs I wouldn’t blame him for moving to gr$$ner pastures, especially with how devalued the RB position is in the NFL. We might do ok in conference, but I’ve had to learn to severely lower my expectations for what this team (due to leadership and recruiting) is capable of.
True. A smart NFL GM would never consider drafting a RB in the first 2 rounds these days. Or paying past a rookie contract.
I’m unsure about the recruiting. We have quite a bit of talent on offense. Defense concerns me the most, especially on the defensive line. I just don’t think we are playing our best.
Green is an athlete but he’s not QB1. Mad Dog looks better. I don’t think Andy is the problem. Bush play calling and offense execution. I like the backup TE who caught that long pass. SMith has not impressed me this year. Defense needs work maybe a new scheme because what they are doing isn’t cutting it.
Boise State, where quarterbacks go to lose their confidence.
Max dog is the only Clutch QB we’ve had since Grant Hendricks period
While I love that observation, and I hope that is true for Madsen long term, I think more than one showing before he is granted the title of clutch is warranted.
It’s based on each time he’s come in !He moved the team
I don’t want to nit-pick, but it is Grant Hedrick. 🙂
Nope.
It’s Bart Hendricks.
To me, they completely change the gameplan when Madsen comes in. Green is there and they run twice, get behind the sticks and expect him to chuck it deep only to have a receiver drop it. When Madsen comes in they go to a tempo passing game. Maybe they ought to try that with Taylen🤷🏼♂️
Maybe they do that because Green can’t run through a progression? Just guessing based on the game film.
Just now tried watching the game which mom recorded on dish and with 3:28 left in the fourth, THE DAMN RECORDING STOPPED BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF TIME ON THE CHANNEL IT WAS RECORDING ON. I have never been so frustrated. Going to cool down a bit before commenting on the game.
Want me to tell you how it ends?
Yes. Please do.
Wrong answers only.
Amazing Comeback with brilliant offensive play calling & stout nasty defense. We crushed Memphis 45 -35.
Tear jerking performance!
Sounds amazing. The only thing that would have made it better is if Taylor Swift had been there so that they could cut to her every darn time the Broncos did something. Lol. This KC jets game is nearly intolerable.
Fourth and one, you have the mo, call time out, send in the kicking team, kick gets blocked, ball ran back for TD. Who made that call? The guy who says we are a run-heavy offense. You have maybe the two best runners Boise has ever had at their positions and you don’t use them? In what world does this make sense? That was a big decision, so I wonder how many little decisions are blown every day?
If ya got a cook who can’t stand the heat, get a new cook.
We got our own Coach Prime; Coach Not-Quite-Ready-For-Prime-Time.
I like that. Not quite ready….
Love coach prime though. If you can cut through all the hype and nonsense, he is a great leader. If you doubt it, listen to his comments about that Colorado State player that threw the late hit. That type of perspective is rare. Especially that close to the incident and with the knowledge of the extent of the injury to that kid.
When Sanders came in a whole bunch of the team left. The reason; Dion don’t play.
You can take Avalos’s brotherhood blather and toss it. You live it, nothing has to be said.
You want a team that will eat each other alive in practice and send an opponent to the locker room if he messes with anyone on your team. And you hate the coach when you play for him but call him later in life every time you have a problem.
On another note, from the sounds of things, Madsen is showing up in practice.
Admittedly, I don’t like the NIL stuff or the transfer portal, but I think he recognizes that this is where it’s going.
I’m excited for next week. Would be a good one to throw Madsen in as full time starter. Let’s see what he’s got. We had the Patti-Wagon. It’s time for the Madsen-mobile? The Madsonian? The Madsen-PT Cruiser? Having a tough time with a proper rhyme here…
The Maddy Paddy Wagon.
This was rough, and I mean rough, to watch. Coach Avalos was a phenomenal DC. As the HC, I’m not seeing it over the past seasons, including the first five games into this one. We lack fire, we lack inventiveness, we lack belief in our players (e.g., 4th & 1…) to come through. When Dirk Koetter stepped in, it was as if he immediately knew TG’s strengths and weaknesses, and he capitalized on those very well, as evidenced by the winning record from that point on. I don’t see the same acuity with Bush Hamden. It’s as if he took… Read more »
Well said. It’s a slow decline that the AD should be paying attention to. This program built its D1 success and developed the reputation of Giant killer over the last 20 years. And as hard as it is for fans to believe, that can be lost over the course of a couple of seasons. I would also like to point out that it looks like Green doesn’t like to run the ball. I don’t know why I think this. Maybe it’s the body language? I mean he tried to slide running up the middle and then expected to get a… Read more »
Purely my speculation as well but I think everyone was wondering where the flag was. And idk if he doesn’t like to run because he definitely ran last year. I think he might be hesitant because of what the coaching staff might of told him. Again idk. 🤷
No quarterback is going to get a late hit call when they are running up the middle even if they try to slide. Especially not a quarterback like green that is a consistent runner. It’s unfair to the defensive players to have to be that cautious with a quarterback when he can gash you for 50 yards in a heartbeat. I’m not even sure why he is trying to slide anyways. If he’s got his read option big boy pants on, then he should be able to take a hit. Sliding is for skinny, weak, pocket passing quarterbacks that are… Read more »
Hey guys, the edit function is not working so well. I forgot a word and tried to edit the comment. However, when I bring up the edit function, my comment is nowhere to be found to edit! So, I copy, edit, and repost, but my original is still there. Am I missing something??
Avalos has got to go. He has no intensity on the sidelines. That’s great, if you’re winning, but this lackadaisical attitude is costing this program opportunities and chances to move beyond the Mountain West. It’s incredibly frustrating to see us slide backwards into mediocrity.
I know we are well past the Memphis game at this point. But, I’ve finally worked up the energy to post. Basically, I have very little faith the ship will be righted. Avalos was a great DC; he is not a good head coach. We do have some really good skill players and some good pieces, but until we have a coaching staff that can help the kids BELIEVE and have CONFIDENCE, then it’s over. Glory days are gone. We will drop back to the FCS level within 5-10 years if we keep on this slide toward irrelevancy. I know… Read more »
Amen
All indications to me are that he doesn’t have a clue of what it takes to be a head coach. Like him or not, Harsin is a head coach. There’s just something about head coaches. I guess you would call it alpha male types. I don’t see Andy at Boise State beyond this year. If he stays it just shows there are some who are satisfied with mediocrity. BSU has a plum program. I don’t think hiring from old grads is necessarily good or bad; just get the best who want it. I’m wondering about Kirby Moore. But, hey, this… Read more »
Urban Meyer would be a tough sell for me. Not willing to give up our integrity for whatever weird stuff that guy is into. I mean it’s in the video. Oooffff.
But agree in principle that investing in a program changing coach would be huge. Needs to happen.
Come on, man, I wasn’t serious about Urban.
I got ya! Is Urban as weird as Marv Alberts now?!?! Lol.