BY KTIK STAFF AND BSU MEDIA SERVICES
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Boise State scored rushing touchdowns on five straight possessions in the second half and overcame a monster performance from San Jose State quarterback Josh Love to beat the Spartans 52-42 in a Mountain West football game Saturday night.
Boise State (7-1, 4-0) is 14-0 all-time against San Jose State, which fell to 5-4 overall and 1-4 in league play.
Boise State, Cincinnati (7-1) and Memphis (8-1) are expected to be in the Group of Five championship race when the College Football Playoff committee releases its first Top 25 rankings Tuesday night. The top G5 team will play in the Cotton Bowl.
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San Jose State jumped out to a 14-0 lead before the Broncos climbed back into the game, mostly with a strong second-half offensive performance. George Holani had 126 yards and four touchdowns, and Andrew Van Buren added a career-high 85 yards and a score as the Broncos produced a season-high 253 yards on the ground.
Boise State outscored San Jose State 35-18 in the second half.
Love was 29-of-53 for 438 yards, two TDs and one late interception by Benton Wickersham (the first of his career). Love’s final TD pass made the game 45-42 with 3:56 remaining, then Boise State recovered an onside kick and Holani added an 8-yard TD run to seal the victory.
Boise State quarterback Hank Bachmeier, who briefly left the game after a hard running play, completed 13-of-17 for 213 yards, no TDs and one interception.
POST-GAME NOTES: Boise State is home for two straight games, against Wyoming on Nov. 9 and New Mexico on Nov. 16. … Avery Williams’ 66-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter was his third career punt return for a score (two in 2017) and fourth career score on special teams (KOR vs. Colorado State, 2018). … Wide receiver John Hightower caught five passes for 129 yards (his third 100-yard game in the past four), and ran twice for 20. … Eric Sachse’s 30-yard field with 24 seconds left in the second quarter marked the eighth straight road game Boise State has scored in the final minute of the first half, dating back to last season. … QB Chase Cord’s 8-yard touchdown run in the third quarter came on his first snap of the night and gave the Broncos their first lead of the game (31-27). Holani had career highs in carries (28), rushing yards (126) and rushing touchdowns (four). It was his second 100-yard game of the season (103, Sept. 6 vs. Marshall). … Curtis Weaver’s sack in the fourth quarter was the 31st of
his career, one shy of Chris Wing (1994-96) for second all-time at Boise State.
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