…or something like that. That might not really fit the chant. Maybe it’s more of a Winning Team! Loosing Team! type of cheer tonight in Boise. At the end of the day, none of that matters. What does matter is the Bronco’s are bowl eligible for the 26th year in a row, and Spencer Danielson is 1-0 in charge of the Broncos.
The Broncos didn’t start firing on all cylinders until the start of the second quarter. Both teams traded punts to start the game, and then did the same again. The Broncos punted for a third time, but then Utah State QB Cooper Legas found Jalen Royals for a 57-yard pitch and catch that ended with Royals in the end zone. Luckily for the Broncos, that would be the only time that Legas, Royals, or any Aggie for that matter, would find the end zone all night. They would tack on a field goal to start the second quarter, but then the Broncos stopped spinning the tires and took off.
George Holani went 75 yards on the first play from scrimmage for the Broncos in the second quarter, putting the Broncos on the board at 10-7. The Aggies would cough the ball up on their first play of their drive, and Taylen Green waisted no time. Green found Matt Lauter for a 26-yard score, and the Broncos never looked back. The Bronco Defense stepped up big time in the second quarter. They forced a turnover on downs, and then the two headed monster of Holani and the returning Ashton Jeanty took over. The two backs both had two touches on a four play, 79 yard drive, capped by a 33 yard Holani touchdown run. The Defense forced yet another turnover, this time a fumble by backup QB McCae Hillstead (Legas was taken out of the game with an apparent injury). Four plays and 25 yards later, Green found Lauter again for a two yard touchdown, giving the Broncos a 28-10 lead. A quick three-and-out later, the Broncos got the ball back and capped off an astonishing 31-point second quarter to take a 31-10 lead into the locker room.
The Broncos came out in the second half with the same energy, holding the Aggies to a punt before a long seven play, 71 yard drive was capped with Jeanty making his return to the end zone after a two week stretch. Rodney Robinson added a pick in the fourth quarter, and freshman Jambres “Breezy” Dubar punched in a touchdown from 10 yards out to make it 45-10, where the game would end.
This game was a lot to process. For the first time in a while, the Broncos looked good. The shaky first quarter aside, Boise’s Defense stepped up to play, recording nine sacks, the most in BSU’s FBS era. Ty Benefield and Ahmed Hassanein both grabbed two sacks and two and a half tackles for loss, and the Broncos forced four turnovers, as well as three turnover on downs. The offense wasn’t too bad either, putting up a season-high 45 points. I mean, they finished with 352 yards on the ground, with Holani leading the way with 178 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries.
The Bronco’s looked like they were fired up. They played their hears out for Interim Head Coach Spencer Danielson. It really feels like this team has turned a corner. They are together, they believe in the long term, and they still have it all to play for. UNLV beating Air Force earlier means that the Bronco’s best shot at the Mountain West Championship relies on Fresno State dropping one of their two remaining games, combined with a Bronco win on senior day on the Blue on Saturday. If all goes to plan, the Broncos can take this season and build something incredible going forward, and I think that, if that happens, we will all look back on tonight as the night that started it all.
Go Broncos.
What I saw at the end of the game was a team that had a deep respect and love for their coach. I haven’t seen that at BSU in a very long time.
Great win.
That was more like the Broncos of old. A dominant win. Bravo!
And it’s looking like the Lobos will beat Fresno! Win next week and we should get UNLV in the championship game
Or San Jose if they beat UNLV next week.
Go Broncos!
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The way the players were celebrating and surrounding Danielson after the win was like nothing we ever saw with Avalos, it’s obvious those guys want to play for him. I was of the opinion they needed to hire someone else for the job until I saw the way those guys love their coach, I believe Spencer Danielson is the guy for the job
Interesting game, to say the least. I’ve also read a lot of comments about Danielson is the guy, and how much the players love him. While that may be true, this was only one game. How much of the emotion shown, and fired-up play, was due to Avalos not being there? I think this has to come into play before making a broad statement about a new HC. A couple more games will show far more the connection and trust between coach and players. That being said, there were times, as Dan said, that this team appeared as the Broncos… Read more »
I’m proud of the Broncos not just for winning the game but rallying in defense of a coach thrusted into a very difficult situation to say the least? He used his players to their strengths not his own aspirations. If BSU wins out , wins the MWC and wins whatever bowl.game they play he should at least be given a chance.
With that note. What bowl.do you think the Broncos will draw? For, me anything besides the Potato Bowl. Nothing more demeaning than playing a bowl game on your own field.