‘It means everything’: Boise State clinches spot — at home — in Mountain West title game

Boise State wide receiver Billy Bowens was still trying to figure out what just happened as he walked off the field in Wyoming’s War Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.

The Broncos had their first trip to the Mountain West championship game since 2020 all locked up. Leading by three points with a minute left in regulation, all they had to do was run out the clock.

Then the unthinkable happened.

Boise State running back George Holani lost a fumble — just the second time this season that’s happened. It was scooped up by Wyoming’s DeVonne Harris and returned to the Broncos’ 21-yard line. The Cowboys had 45 seconds left to steal the win or force overtime, but the leader of the Broncos’ secondary bailed the team out.

Safety JL Skinner intercepted a pass in the end zone with 39 seconds left to clinch the Broncos’ 20-17 win.

“It was great to make that play and allow us to get out of here with a win,” Skinner said after the game.

Skinner’s interception in the end zone wasn’t even his first pick of the game. In fact, it was probably the second time he thought he had clinched the win. Skinner ended another Wyoming drive with a pick just 1:10 before his actual game-clincher.

“I’m a firm believer that when you live a certain way and you have a certain purpose and you live in grace, you’re going to make mistakes, but eventually good things will happen for you,” Boise State coach Andy Avalos said.

The Broncos (8-3, 7-0 Mountain West) have already won a conference-high four Mountain West titles since joining the conference in 2011. This year will mark their sixth appearance in the title game in the past 10 years.

Boise State last played in the championship game in 2020 and lost to San Jose State. The last time the Broncos hosted the title game, they beat Hawaii to claim the trophy in 2019.

Bowens said making it to the top of the mountain means the world to the Broncos, especially considering they were 2-2 after a loss at UTEP just two months ago.

“It means everything, especially to a veteran like me,” Bowens said. “I tell the young guys all the time, there’s no better feeling than hosting and winning that championship. That’s always been our goal and now it’s in our hands.”

Bowens played a big part in the Broncos’ win Saturday. They had to respond after Wyoming running back Titus Swen put the Cowboys ahead 17-13 with an 83-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.

And respond they did.

Quarterback Taylen Green engineered a fourth-quarter drive and capped it with a spot-on 38-yard touchdown pass to Bowens that put the Broncos ahead with 7:20 left in the game.

Bowens (4 catches, 77 yards) said he had a feeling the ball was going to come his way when the play was called. The ball hung for what must have felt like ages, and Bowens had to outleap a defender to snatch it, but the senior came down in the end zone with what he called the biggest catch of his career.

“Taylen threw a great ball and gave me an opportunity,” Bowens said. “That’s what I tell him all the time. Just give me a chance and I’ll go make a play for you.”

Boise State struggled to contain Swen on Saturday night. He finished the game with 212 yards on 19 carries, becoming the first running back to post 200-plus rushing yards against the Broncos since Jaylen Warren in Oklahoma State’s win in Albertsons Stadium last September.

Boise State also leaned on its own talented backfield to secure the win.

Holani finished with 132 yards on the ground, eclipsing the 100-yard mark for the fifth time in six games. He racked up 79 yards in the second half.

Freshman Ashton Jeanty added 91 yards on 13 carries, and Green finished with 47 rushing yards while completing 20-of-34 passes for 211 yards and his go-ahead touchdown pass to Bowens.

“The O-line wanted it, the tight ends wanted it and this game always starts up front on both sides of the ball,” Avalos said.

Green gave the Broncos their first lead of the night with his legs. Safety Rodney Robinson came up with an interception in the end zone in the third quarter, and Green led an 80-yard drive and capitalized on it with a 5-yard touchdown run, which put Boise State up 13-10.

“He is so poised,” Bowens said of Green. “Even on the sideline, he’s constantly telling us, ‘Let’s go win this.’”

‘Can you believe that just happened?’ Wild finish goes Boise State’s way at Wyoming

The Broncos dominated the statistical battle and had plenty of opportunities to put points on the board in the first half, but kept coming up short.

Wide receiver Davis Koetter lost a fumble that would have put Boise State in the red zone in the first quarter. Kicker Jonah Dalmas missed a 40-yard field goal on the Broncos’ next possession.

Holani gave Boise State its best chance to put a touchdown on the board before halftime. He burst through the middle of the defense to put the ball on Wyoming’s 1-yard line late in the second quarter, but two penalties backed the Broncos up and they settled for a 22-yard field goal.

But just like at the end of the game, Green showed his mettle on a big drive at the end of the first half. He completed 5-of-6 passes to put Dalmas in position to connect on a 47-yard field goal as time expired. That sent the Broncos into halftime trailing just 10-6.

It was the 51st field goal of Dalmas’ career, which tied him with Mike Black (1988-91) for No. 2 all-time at Boise State. Kyle Brotzman (2007-10) owns the Broncos’ record with 67.

Moments like the ones he experienced at the end of the half and regulation will resonate with Green for the rest of his career, Avalos said. But what the Broncos’ coach was most proud of was Green’s touchdown-saving tackle after Holani’s fumble in the final seconds.

“It was awesome to see Taylen get that guy on the ground,” Avalos said.

The Broncos will be in Albertsons Stadium for the Mountain West championship game on Saturday, Dec. 3. But Boise State has one more piece of business to handle first, with defending conference champion Utah State coming to town for the regular-season finale and an early Friday kickoff (10 a.m., CBS).