‘It’s one of my favorite things’: Boise State defensive tackle gets another receiving TD

Same opponent. Same play. Same result.

Scott Matlock couldn’t have scripted a better senior day.

The senior defensive tackle scored his second career touchdown on a special play in the third quarter as Boise State knocked off Utah State 42-23 to complete a perfect run through Mountain West play Friday at Albertsons Stadium.

Matlock scored on the exact same play last year at Utah State, but this time he didn’t bobble the catch.

“It kind of gets you in your head a little bit, but you just have to go out there and run the route or make the block. Just do your job,” Matlock said. “I saw no one was really even covering me before the ball snapped, so I knew I was going to be pretty open for the situation, and (quarterback) Taylen (Green) threw a good ball and I caught it.”

As simple as Matlock made it sound, it was a big moment for the entire team.

“Our whole team gets so fired up when those guys go in there together to play offense,” Boise State coach Andy Avalos said. “The whole team’s out there together. You’ve got defensive guys, you’ve got offensive guys. And I’m telling you it doesn’t matter if it’s in a game or it’s in practice or it’s a walk-through. It’s one of my favorite things to see, is just the excitement of the guys when that group is called up to go to work.”

Avalos said the Aggies had been pretty aggressive trying to stop the run on the drive, giving offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter a good feeling about calling the play. Matlock was Green’s No. 1 option.

“He deserves it 100 percent,” Avalos said of the Homedale High product.

Before Matlock’s TD catch last season against Utah State, Boise State’s most recent reception by a lineman had been on Oct. 5, 2016, when offensive lineman Steven Baggett registered a 4-yard catch against Colorado State.

The Broncos also had a so-called “fat-guy touchdown” in 2020, but it wasn’t designed. Right tackle Nick Crabtree recovered a fumble in the end zone for a score against Colorado State.

His TD notwithstanding, the 6-foot-4, 300-pound team captain remains invaluable on defense. He ranks fourth on the team with 42 total tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, plus five QB hurries.

Bronco lose Skinner to targeting

Boise State had to play the majority of Friday’s game without one of its best defensive players.

Senior safety JL Skinner was whistled for targeting on a tackle on Utah State’s third drive in the first quarter, making him ineligible for the rest of the game. A new NCAA rule this season allows players ejected for targeting to remain on the sideline.

Skinner made the most of his situation.

“It was an unfortunate situation. He tried to hit the guy with his shoulder,” Avalos said. “It’s a bam-bam play on a fake punt.

“For him to be able to stay locked in and stay in it with his brothers (on the sideline), that speaks volumes, and now he knows what it’s like to be a coach on the sideline, and have to coach and cheer, and not be able to go out there and play.”

With Skinner sidelined and backup Alexander Teubner out with an injury, redshirt freshman safety Bryce Cleave made his debut, contributing one tackle.

Senior leader goes down

Sixth-year senior Tyreque Jones had to be carted off the field with 12:15 remaining in the fourth quarter. The entire Boise State team came out and surrounded Jones.

It was not immediately clear the severity of Jones’ injury, but Avalos said after the game it may not have been as bad as it looked.

“He checked it out. He’s good,” Avalos said. “I’m even gonna say he’s walking around. My daughters were just asking him if he’s all right in the hallway, and he was smiling, telling them he was fine.”

BSU honors Idaho, Virginia with helmet sticker

Fans in Albertsons Stadium had a moment of silence before the start of Friday’s game in honor of the recent homicide victims at the University of Idaho and Virginia.

The Broncos also wore a gold and navy blue sticker in the shape of a ribbon on the back of their helmets.

Four students at U of I were recently found stabbed to death in their off-campus home, while Virginia lost three football players in a shooting.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those people,” Avalos said. “We pray the Lord will provide them the strength as they move forward and support each other and as we can support them. It raises awareness for us to appreciate and to take care of each other.”

Holani reaches 1,000 yards

For the second time in his Boise State career, running back George Holani has surpassed 1,000 yards rushing in a single season.

Holani had 84 yards on 16 carries against the Aggies to reach 1,059 so far in 2022.

“He’s been awesome all year,” Avalos said. “George has been incredible, and not just as a player but as a leader.”

As a freshman in 2019, Holani rushed for 1,014 yards.

Broncos without long list of starters

Boise State was without a long list of players for the second week in a row.

Linebacker Ezekiel Noa and edge rusher Demitri Washington were both out for the second week in a row. Both were injured in the Broncos’ loss to BYU on Nov. 5.

New to the injury report this week were starting right tackle Cade Beresford, wide receiver Stef Cobbs, tight end Riley Smith, defensive tackle Herbert Gums and safety Alexander Teubner. Cobbs suffered a leg injury last week at Wyoming.

Defensive lineman Michael Callahan, kicker Will Ferrin, offensive lineman Cord Kringlen, safety Zion Washington and wide receiver Cole Wright were also out with unspecified injuries.

Quick hits

The Broncos wore blue jerseys, blue pants and blue helmets. ... Team captains Scott Matlock and John Ojukwu were joined by running back George Holani and cornerback Caleb Biggers as game captains. ... Utah State won the coin toss and elected to defer. ... Boise State was led onto the field by tight end Kurt Rafdal, who carried the Dan Paul Hammer. ... Offensive lineman Ben Dooley carried the American flag and defensive tackle Ahmed Hassanein carried the Bleed Blue flag. … Former Boise State standout Shea McClellin raised the Blue Chaos flag. ... Boise State held every conference opponent to 23 points or less for the first time since 1980, when the Broncos went 6-1 and won the Big Sky and NCAA Division I-AA national championship. ... Redshirt freshman linebacker Andrew Simpson’s 10 tackles against Utah State were a career-high.