With help of ‘electric’ atmosphere, Boise State mounts historic rally vs. San Jose State

As the decibels rose from the second-largest crowd in Albertsons Stadium history, Boise State coach Andy Avalos received a strange request.

Game officials wanted to know whether the volume in the stadium could be turned down.

But those screaming fans in a crowd that was announced at 37,491 were rightfully going nuts.

The Broncos rallied from a 20-point first-half deficit to defeat San Jose State 35-27 on Saturday night in Mountain West play. The comeback tied for the second-largest in program history in the FBS era.

“The stadium was electric,” Avalos said. “There was one part when the referees came over ... and were asking about the volume within the stadium and how loud the crowd was. Can’t do anything about the crowd, but they asked us to turn down the (public address) volume in the stadium. That’s never really happened before. That was pretty cool.”

After committing three turnovers in the first half — including a pair of fumbles by star running back Ashton Jeanty — and allowing the Spartans to score on five consecutive drives, it appeared the Broncos (3-3, 2-0 Mountain West) were in for a long night.

San Jose State amassed 316 total yards in the first half with the help of 10 explosive plays as quarterback Chevan Cordeiro threw for 255 yards, including completions of 21, 34, 58 and 63 yards. He also had a 21-yard scramble and an 11-yard touchdown run.

The Spartans went up 27-7 with 4:56 to play in the second quarter on running back Quali Conley’s 6-yard run. At the time, with Cordeiro giving the home team fits, no one could have guessed that San Jose State (1-5, 0-2) would not score again.

The game’s final four touchdowns belonged to Boise State.

“I’m just so happy for the players and the coaches to will themselves back into that. It’s not easy to dig down inside,” Avalos said.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Maddux Madsen led the Broncos on a 14-play, 70-yard drive before halftime, scoring the touchdown on an 8-yard QB draw with 42 seconds left in the second quarter.

“Obviously, the score right before the half helped tremendously,” Avalos said.

“... And to be able to get those stops on defense, when we started to stack up those stops and the offense started pushing the ball downfield, the energy on the sideline just rose. And to feel the guys lead each other, that was the coolest part about it.”

The Boise State defense couldn’t get stops in the first half, but it pitched a shutout over the final 30 minutes. San Jose State’s six drives in the second half resulted in three punts, two turnovers on downs and an interception by junior cornerback A’Marion McCoy. And the Spartans managed no big plays down the field.

“This is a brotherhood,” Boise State linebacker Andrew Simpson said. “We just looked at each other and we just decided we weren’t gonna lose today.”

While the BSU defense made its stand, the Broncos found their way forward in a two-quarterback system. Madsen’s first drive of the second half ended in a punt, the only time the rest of the way that standout punter James Ferguson-Reynolds’ services were required.

Jeanty brushed off his first-half troubles with a 68-yard run to start the Broncos’ second drive of the third quarter, and redshirt sophomore quarterback Taylen Green was in the end zone three plays later on a 1-yard run. Green had a hand in three of the Broncos’ five scores, also running for an 11-yard TD and finding Riley Smith on a 2-yard touchdown toss for the game’s final margin.

Jeanty kept up a torrid pace this season with 183 all-purpose yards, 167 of which came on the ground. The sophomore surpassed 1,000 all-purpose yards, becoming just the third player in FBS since 1996 to record 1,000 yards from scrimmage in the first six games. He entered Saturday’s game averaging the second-most all-purpose yards per game in the country (165.4).

He also hurdled a San Jose State defender on fourth-and-1 to keep the Broncos’ game-clinching drive alive.

“That’s what we do. That’s Boise State football right there,” Jeanty said. “That just shows what type of team we are and what mentality we have going in every game. We’re gonna run the ball, and when the time comes, our guys are gonna make plays for us.”

QBs rush for three TDs

The jury will be out for a bit on the success of Boise State’s two-quarterback system, but Madsen and Green did combine for some rare statistics in Saturday’s win.

Thanks to Madsen’s 8-yard rushing TD and Green’s pair of scores on the ground, the Broncos scored three rushing touchdowns from the quarterback position for the first time since Jared Zabransky did it on Sept. 21, 2005, against Bowling Green.

And the last time two different Boise State quarterbacks ran for a touchdown in the same game was 2010 against Utah State, when Kellen Moore and Mike Coughlin both had 1-yard scores.

“They both worked off each other very well today,” Avalos said. “Once we got going and we limited the turnovers ... it was awesome to see. I thought (offensive coordinator) Bush (Hamdan) did a great job of mixing it up.”

Green made his 16th consecutive start and finished 4-for-8 passing for 75 yards and a touchdown, while adding five carries for 40 yards. Madsen was 9-for-16 passing for 170 yards and a touchdown, plus eight carries for 39 yards and a score. Madsen also threw an interception that set up a San Jose State TD in the first quarter.

McAlister has career night

Redshirt sophomore receiver Eric McAlister kept the offense afloat in the first half and finished with a career-high 170 receiving yards on five catches. He had 126 yards on four receptions in the first half. His total for the game was the most yards by a Bronco in a conference contest since Thomas Sperbeck had 198 against New Mexico in 2016.

McAlister’s 83-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter pulled the Broncos within 17-7. It was the longest Boise State touchdown pass since Brett Rypien connected with A.J. Richardson on an 87-yarder against Air Force in 2017.

Holani, Schramm out again

Three starters and one backup were out for Boise State on Saturday.

Redshirt senior running back George Holani remained sidelined for the fifth straight game after sustaining a lower-body injury in the Broncos’ opener against Washington.

Sixth-year senior linebacker DJ Schramm sat out for the second game in a row, and left guard Ben Dooley also was out, his fourth straight missed game.

Redshirt junior Tyler Wegis, listed as Ahmed Hassanein’s backup at defensive end, is on the inactive list.

QUICK HITS

The Broncos wore black jerseys, blue pants and blue helmets. ... Team captains DJ Schramm and Riley Smith were joined by right tackle Cade Beresford and edge Demitri Washington as game captains. ... San Jose State won the coin toss and elected to defer. ... Boise State was led onto the field by safety Ty Benefield, carrying the Dan Paul Hammer. ... Defensive end Ahmed Hassanein carried the American flag and wide receiver Shea Whiting the Bleed Blue flag. ... Sophomore James Ferguson-Reynolds had a 71-yard punt in the first quarter, which is the fourth-longest in Boise State history and is tied for the third-longest punt in the nation this season.