BY KTIK STAFF AND BSU MEDIA SERVICES
BOISE – Boise State scored 21 consecutive points in the second half, against Fresno State’s No. 2 nationally ranked defense, and the Broncos’ D stopped the No. 16 Bulldogs on a late fourth-down attempt to secure an emotional 24-17 victory before 33,118 fans at Albertsons Stadium on Friday night.
Senior quarterback Brett Rypien (24-of-29, 269 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception) played one of the best games of his career and coach Bryan Harsin picked up his 50th victory at Boise State. Rypien was 10-for-10 for 117 yards on first down, and also rushed eight times for 30 yards (career-high is 31 set last season against San Diego State).
Boise State was 10-of-16 on third downs, helping to keep an injury-riddled defense off the field. Fresno State, which led 17-3 early in the third quarter, was 2-of-10 on third down attempts, and is 4-of-23 combined in its last two losses to Boise State.
Running back Alexander Mattison carried the ball a career-high 30 times for 144 yards and two touchdowns – 7 and 1 yards in the second half. It is the most rushing yards San Diego State has allowed this season. The Aztecs allowed 10 second-half points in their previous five Mountain West games.
Freshman wide receiver Khalil Shakir broke a 17-17 tie by catching a 49-yard touchdown pass from Rypien with 9:22 left in the game. It was his first career TD catch.
Boise State outgained Fresno State 448-390, and cornerback Avery Williams knocked down a final Fresno State pass on fourth-and-11. The Broncos ran out the final 78 seconds.
Boise State would qualify for the Mountain West Championship game with wins over New Mexico and Utah State. Fresno State (8-2, 5-1) can qualify from the West Division with final regular season wins over San Diego State and San Jose State (both at home).
- NEXT: Boise State (8-2, 5-1 Mountain West) at New Mexico (3-6, 1-4), 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 16, 93.1 FM, 670 AM, CBS Sports Network. The Lobos play at Air Force on Saturday, Nov. 10.
POST-GAME NOTES …
Boise State has won nine straight games over Fresno State at Albertsons Stadium and is 9-1 overall against the Bulldogs in Boise. … Coach Bryan Harsin improved to 50-14 at Boise State. He is the first Boise State coach to beat a ranked opponent in November (Dan Hawkins was 0-1, Chris Petersen was 0-3). … The Broncos are 14-17 all-time against nationally-ranked opponents. They improved to 1-4 against ranked opponents in November. Friday’s game was the sixth all-time at Albertsons Stadium in which Boise State has played a ranked opponent (Broncos are 4-2 in those games). … Fresno State’s No. 16 ranking in the Associated Press poll tied the Bulldogs for the highest-ranked opponent to play the Broncos at Albertsons Stadium (Oregon, 2009). … The Broncos overcame a 14-point deficit at home for the first time since being down 20-0 to San Diego State, Nov. 15, 2014 (Boise State won that game 38-29). The last time Boise State came back to win at Albertsons Stadium after trailing entering the fourth quarter was last year’s Mountain West Championship game against Fresno State. The Broncos trailed 14-10 entering the fourth quarter of that game and won 17-14. … Quarterback Brett Rypien – who is 36-11 at Boise State – became the Mountain West’s all-time passing leader, passing San Diego State’s Ryan Lindley (12,690). Rypien has 12,924 career passing yards. Rypien also passed Lindley’s mark of 961 career completions to become the Mountain West all-time leader. He has 981 career completions. … Boise State’s defense recorded three sacks against a Fresno State offense that had allowed only five all season, and had not allowed more than one in a game this year. … Redshirt sophomore STUD Curtis Weaver had one sack, giving him 19.5 for his career and moving him into ninth all-time at Boise State. … Cornerback Avery Williams blocked Fresno State’s 50-yard field-goal attempt in the fourth quarter. It was the first block of Williams’ career, and Boise State’s first FG block since David Moa blocked a BYU attempt Oct. 20, 2016 at Albertsons Stadium. Williams also knocked down Fresno State’s final offensive play on 4th and 11, giving the Broncos the ball with 1:18 remaining. … Boise State converted one first down and ran out the clock.
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