No. 21 Boise State beat Washington State 31-10 at Martin Stadium on Saturday, breaking a 10-10 tie with three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Running back Dylan Riley carried 13 times for 128 yards and two scores, including a 72-yard touchdown run that put the game out of reach.
The Broncos improved to 6-1 while the Cougars dropped to 1-7. Washington State tied the game at 10 on a Jack Stevens 47-yard field goal with 5:53 left in the third quarter, but Boise State answered with a Maddux Madsen touchdown pass, a Riley touchdown run and then Riley’s long score to close it out. Quarterback Owen Eshelman led Washington State with 191 passing yards but threw an interception and was held to 33 yards on 23 carries.
Takeaways From Boise State’s Win Over Washington State
The run game took over in the fourth quarter
Boise State rushed for 258 yards on just 37 carries, a 7.0-yard average, and all three of its fourth-quarter touchdowns came on the ground or through play-action set up by the run. Riley’s 72-yard score with 6:26 left capped the surge after the Broncos had managed only a field goal through the first two quarters following their opening drive.
Washington State moved the ball but couldn’t finish
The Cougars held the ball for 30:48 compared to Boise State’s 29:12 and converted 4 of 5 on fourth down. But they finished just 6 of 17 on third down and managed only 53 rushing yards on 33 attempts, a 1.6-yard average that kept them from sustaining drives in the second half.
Boise State’s defense forced the turning point
Washington State’s only turnover came on an Owen Eshelman interception picked off by Boen Phelps for 13 yards. Linebacker Jayden Virgin-Morgan led Boise State with six total tackles and a sack, while Lopez Sanusi recorded two sacks as the Broncos kept Eshelman under pressure for much of the second half.
Player Of The Game: Dylan Riley
Riley finished with 13 carries for 128 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 9.8 yards per attempt. His scores came on runs of 33 and 72 yards in the fourth quarter, turning a three-point game into a 21-point final margin.
Boise State Vs Washington State By The Numbers
Boise State out-gained Washington State 407 yards to 244 total yards. The Broncos averaged 7.0 yards per rush compared to just 1.6 for the Cougars. Boise State did not turn the ball over, finishing with zero fumbles lost and zero interceptions thrown, while Washington State’s lone giveaway came on Eshelman’s interception. The Broncos also converted 7 of 12 third downs compared to Washington State’s 6 of 17.
What’s Next
Boise State, now 6-1, returns home to face Utah State in a Pac-12 matchup, a game previewed in four questions for the Pac-12 matchup. Washington State, at 1-7, continues its season.
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