Boise State Broncos Beat Fresno State Bulldogs 38-31 for…

Boise State Broncos ran and passed their way to a 38-31 win over the Fresno State Bulldogs on the road, and it took a fourth-quarter field goal to seal it.

The final score was 38-31. Boise State Broncos move to 5-1, while Fresno State Bulldogs fall to 4-2.

It was a track meet for three quarters before Boise State's defense made just enough stops down the stretch to hang on.

Box score

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Boise State Broncos	15	10	3	10	38
Fresno State Bulldogs	13	7	0	11	31

See full player stats and game details

How it turned

Boise State Broncos led 15-13 after the first quarter, a frame that saw four touchdowns in a span of minutes. Jayden Mandal opened the scoring with an eight-yard touchdown run for Fresno State Bulldogs, but Dylan Riley answered with a 72-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion from Zeke Martinez to put Boise State Broncos in front. Terrious Favors added a 22-yard touchdown catch from Maddux Madsen late in the quarter, and Fresno State Bulldogs got a 59-yard touchdown pass from Khristian Martin to Ezekiel Avit with 45 seconds left to keep it tight.

Boise State Broncos took a 25-20 lead into halftime. Sire Gaines scored on a two-yard run in the second quarter, Mandal found Avit again on a 10-yard touchdown pass, and Canaan Moore hit a 49-yard field goal as time expired in the half.

The third quarter belonged to Boise State Broncos defensively, with Moore's 38-yard field goal the only points scored as the Broncos moved ahead 28-20 heading into the fourth.

The fourth quarter brought another scoring flurry. Riley hauled in a 44-yard touchdown pass from Madsen to push the lead, Mandal connected with Gavin Correia for a 15-yard score and a two-point conversion to Jahlil McClain to cut it close, and Moore's 39-yard field goal gave Boise State Broncos a cushion. Manaki Watanabe's 47-yard field goal closed out the scoring, and Boise State Broncos led 38-31 at the end of regulation, which held as the final.

Scoring plays

Q1 10:58 FRES: Jayden Mandal 8 Yd Run (Manaki Watanabe Kick)
Q1 10:10 BOIS: Dylan Riley 72 Yd Run (Zeke Martinez Run for Two-Point Conversion)
Q1 1:12 BOIS: Terrious Favors 22 Yd pass from Maddux Madsen (Canaan Moore Kick)
Q1 0:45 FRES: Ezekiel Avit 59 Yd pass from Khristian Martin (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed)
Q2 7:42 BOIS: Sire Gaines 2 Yd Run (Canaan Moore Kick)
Q2 0:56 FRES: Ezekiel Avit 10 Yd pass from Jayden Mandal (Manaki Watanabe Kick)
Q2 0:02 BOIS: Canaan Moore 49 Yd Field Goal
Q3 7:08 BOIS: Canaan Moore 38 Yd Field Goal
Q4 14:52 BOIS: Dylan Riley 44 Yd pass from Maddux Madsen (Canaan Moore Kick)
Q4 10:41 FRES: Gavin Correia 15 Yd pass from Jayden Mandal (Jayden Mandal Pass to Jahlil McClain for Two-Point Conversion)

Top performers

Maddux Madsen threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns on 23-of-34 passing with no interceptions for Boise State Broncos. Dylan Riley did damage both ways, rushing 19 times for 150 yards and a touchdown while adding four catches for 64 yards and another score. Sire Gaines chipped in 120 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries as Boise State Broncos piled up 274 yards on the ground as a team.

For Fresno State Bulldogs, Jayden Mandal passed for 218 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-33 with no interceptions, and he added a rushing touchdown on seven carries for 26 yards. Ezekiel Avit was his top target, catching six passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns. Jahlil McClain added five catches for 57 yards.

Derek Ganter Jr. led Boise State Broncos defensively with seven tackles, while K'vion Thunderbird paced Fresno State Bulldogs with 13 tackles.

Top performers