Broncos 38, Tigers 20

In front of a rowdy home crowd, the Broncos silence Tigers’ early roar, take down Memphis EMPHATICALLY. Coming on the heels of a close loss to #2 Oregon last week, this matchup already had big implications as both participants were CFP hopefuls as two of the top G6 teams in the country. It lived up to the hype. The Tigers looked dominant early when they cracked off four, 40+ yard plays in the first half, en route to a 17-3 lead. But Boise State just kept chipping away until they took the lead…and then they tossed aside the hand chisel and went to work with a sledgehammer.

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First Quarter

Boise State started with the ball and put together a productive drive before it stalled in the red zone. They settled for a field goal after 12 plays and 53 yards.

Broncos 3, Tigers 0

After allowing a 41 yard completion, the Bronco defense stiffened up and forced Memphis to attempt a field goal from the 2 yard line. Boen Phelps jumped in and blocked it.

Unfortunately, the Broncos weren’t able to get much going on their next drive. After punting it away, the Tigers had one incomplete pass and then completed their next one…for 87 yards. And a touchdown. To a @%$#!$% tight end (Tipton).

Tigers 7, Broncos 3

Second Quarter

The Broncos put together a great, methodical drive that mixed run and pass across 11 plays and 73 yards. Then, on 4th down from the Memphis 2 yard line, Maddux got pressured and ended up throwing a desperation heave to Ben Ford that was incomplete incomplete. Great drive; 0 points. An affliction that impacted both teams today.

On the Tigers’ ensuing possession, Memphis started almost in their own end zone but erased the disadvantage by drawing a PI and then completing a…*ahem*…SIXTY SEVEN YARD PASS…to get them into the red zone. Thankfully, the Boise State defense stiffened up and forced the Tigers to settle for a field goal.

Tigers 10, Broncos 3

Up next:

Bronco drive. 4 plays. Bronco punt.

Tigers drive. One play. Tiger TD on an 80 yard run.

For those counting at home, that’s plays of 41, 87, 67, and 80 allowed in the first half. Which is really bad, actually.

Tigers 17, Broncos 3

Boise State kept with the methodical, no rush offense when they next got the ball and just ran and dinked and dunked until Madsen found Akeem Wright for a 37 yard RAC TD on 4th and 6.

Tigers 17, Broncos 10

Travis Anderson got a pick with about two minutes to halftime. The Memphis strategy of just throwing bombs and hoping for DPIs, an the very least, finally backfired. Dylan Riley immediately made them pay when he got in on the “explosive plays-palooza” the very next play and ripped off a 71 yard run. On the very next play, #19 Rasean Jones took a handoff around the left side the remaining 19 yards for his first career TD.

Tigers 17, Broncos 17

The Tigers put together another scoring drive just before halftime, but it required a review for a controversial “completion” to Memphis TE, Tipton, picking up a penalty flag that would have taken them out of field goal range, and it was only for three points. After seven plays and 57 yards, the 36 yard field goal was good.

Tigers 20, Broncos 17

HALFTIME

Third Quarter

Boise State came out of the half strong, immediately forcing a 3 and out. They followed that up with a drive comprised almost entirely of running plays (and one incomplete pass), as Sire Gaines and Dylan Riley took turns delivering 10 body shots to the Memphis defense, all the way down the field for 77 yards and an eventual Sire Gaines score.

Broncos 24, Tigers 20

The Broncos successfully stymied another Tiger drive in three tries and on the ensuing punt, Cam Bates, who came in to replace Lane (after a previously muffed punt that he miraculously recovered), decided those explosive plays looked really fun. So, he went ahead and housed the return for 72 yards and another Bronco TD.

Broncos 31, Tigers 20

Fourth Quarter

Early in the 4th quarter, the Bronco offense added another seven points after they were initially pinned at their own 2 yard line. Among other plays, Akeem Wright had a 40 yard reception and Rasean Jones had another 32 yards on a single catch. The latter was actually initially ruled a TD. However, after a review, it was determined his knee was down just short. No matter. Maddux ran it in on a sneak one play later.

That would conclude the scoring. An embarrassing start leads to a blowout win.

Broncos 38, Tigers 20

Observations:

  • A win is nice. A dominant win is even nicer. Still…Boise State has GOT to stop allowing explosive plays. They mostly locked them down in the second half, after a horrendous first half in that department, but there were still a couple. And that’s after allowing several backbreakers in the second half at Oregon.
  • Despite the explosive plays, when a Bronco defender got close in the open field, they got the tackle. All that offseason open field tackling emphasis continues to pay off.
  • Man, that run game looks good! Even if you take away a 71 yard run from Riley, he still went over the century mark (206, actually) and Sire Gaines got close with 93 and a score.
  • Second half defensive shutout? Okay! That’s one way to turn a frown upside down.

Go Broncos!

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