Boise State football beats Oregon State 34-18 to move one step closer to the CFB playoffs

Oregon State fought hard, but #11 Boise State overwhelmed them.

On the first drive, Oregon State’s defense forced a 4th-and-1, but Boise State’s star RB Ashton Jeanty got to the line for the win. Later, R-Soph QB Maddux Madsen found WR Austin Bolt on a drag route up the middle for an 11-yard touchdown pass. During the Broncos’ 14-play campaign, Jeanty scored 8 carries for 35 yards.

That drive revealed the Broncos’ game plan: feed Jeanty early and often. The Heisman candidate capped his team’s second drive with a bulldozer run through three defenders for a seven-yard touchdown. His efforts increased Boise State’s lead to 14-0.

Late in the second quarter, the Smurf Turf hosts left the Beavers feeling bad, but a systematic attempt to score points instead ended in disaster. Ashton Jeanty approached the goal line with an impressive run up the middle, where DB Skylar Thomas hit him with a well-placed strike. DB Niko Taylor recovered it at the eight-yard line.

After a nine-yard run by freshman RB Salahadin Allah, Oregon State started a two-minute drill. 12 seconds later they had points. A direct carry from RB Anthony Hankerson started up the middle, cut to the right and ended up in the end zone 83 yards later. The Beavers were now down 14-7 by one touchdown.

The Broncos countered Hankerson’s electrifying run with an impressive two-minute drill of their own: eight plays, 75 yards, in just under 90 seconds. Madsen capped it off with a six-yard strike to WR Latrell Caples, and Boise State took a 21-7 lead into halftime.

Midway through the third quarter, Jeanty appeared to extend the Broncos’ lead, but his 29-yard touchdown was negated by a holding penalty. Boise State settled for a 43-yard field goal from K Jonah Dalmas.

Oregon State responded with a 38-yard field goal by K Everett Hayes.

The Beavers defense trailed 24-10 late in the third period and needed a quick stop. Instead, Jeanty sprinted 60 yards past them with a run up the middle. Dalmas would score another three points with a 29-yard kick.

On the opening play of the fourth quarter, a pass from Gulbranson found WR Trent Walker, who suffered an ankle injury and did not return. WR Darrius Clemons replaced the ball with an electric catch-and-run touchdown and a 2PAT jump ball to keep Oregon State within two possessions, 27-18.

After a surprise onside kick bounced to a Boise blocker, the Beavers’ defense forced a crucial three-pointer. Then the Broncos defense tightened up and sacked Gulbranson for a 12-yard loss. On fourth down, WR David Wells Jr. leaped over the uprights for a catch, but his feet went out of bounds.

Madsen scrambled past the edge for a late touchdown, cementing the final score at 34-18 for Boise State. The Broncos are 11-1 heading into next Friday’s Mountain West Championship Game, and the Beavers’ season ends with a record of 5-7.

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