Instant Classic! Boise State Comes Back From 25 Point Deficit To Spoil CSU’s Upset Bid.

Final Score: Broncos 59, Rams 52

ESPN.com

Colorado State had Boise State circled on their schedule for a long time. With their new stadium, they chose THIS game to bring out their alternate uniforms. THIS was the game that was supposed to be the de facto dedication of the new House of the Rams...and it started out that way. The Rams drove straight down the field after the opening kickoff and standout running back Dalyn Dawkins punched it in from the 1 yard line after 7 plays.

7-0, Rams

The Broncos put together a pretty nice drive themselves to answer. Unfortunately, after an uncharacteristic drop on a near-certain Cedrick Wilson TD, the Broncos were forced to settle for a field goal.

7-3, Rams

Colorado State got in for another score following a chunk play and then some subsequent, methodical completions that culminated in a 7-yard touchdown pass from Nick Stevens to Dalton Fackrell.

14-3, Rams

The Broncos next attempt to answer was cut short when Octavius Evans got drilled in the flat and he coughed up the ball. That four game streak without a turnover was nice while it lasted! So instead of a Bronco score, the Rams got decent field position and capped off a 36 yard drive with a touchdown reception from the NCAA receiving yards leader, Michael Gallup.

21-3, Rams

Following a Bronco three-and-out, the Rams were again moving the ball pretty easily. This appeared to be cut short when Kekoa Nawahine picked off a pass and ran it back for what would have been 6 points. But, in keeping with the tone of the night to that point, the Broncos were called for roughing the passer and the interception and resulting TD were called back. Upon further review, it was quite clear that Frazier’s hit on the CSU QB was far from egregious. But, since it was raining already, why not pour? Colorado State punched it in on a fourth-and-1 just a few short plays later.

28-3, Rams

But all was not quite lost as the Broncos then FINALLY got a drive going. After 6 plays and 75 yards, Brett Rypien found Jake Roh in the end zone on a nine yard TD.

28-10, Rams

But then...you’ll never guess. Rams. 14 plays. 73 yards. Touchdown.

And this fun stat:

35-10, Rams

Then...a shootout started to take shape. The Broncos got the ball back and Mattison was able to capitalize after five plays and 75 yards. He took a simple run to the right and then reversed field and outraced the entire defense for an acrobatic, 26 yard, pylon-diving score.

35-17, Rams

HALFTIME SHOW

Basically it was just a live look-in on me at the time...

Just after the second half began it took all of two plays for Alexander Mattison to do a very A Matt-like thing. He took a handoff, waited patiently in the middle for some traffic to clear, and then took off. 70 yards. To. The. House.

35-24, Rams

Within just a few plays after Mattison’s heroics, Avery Williams came down with a misguided Nick Stevens pass and the Broncos had the ball again. Four plays later, Brett Rypien found Alec Dhaenens who caught the pass and split the middle of the defense for 25 yards and another Bronco TD!

35-31, Rams

After trading possessions, the Bronco momentum came back to earth a little bit as CSU quarterback, Nick Stevens, was able to finish off a 76 yard drive with a ten yard TD run.

42-31, Rams

After forcing a Colorado State punt, the Broncos made the most of yet another possession in their comeback bid by going 86 yards in ten plays. The drive ended with a six yard run by newcomer (to the end zone), Robert Mahone!

42-38, Rams

The Rams next possession was still productive, but less so than all their lethal drives of the first half. The only came away with 3 after a grinding 74 yards on 11 plays.

45-38, Rams

The Broncos got the ball back with a chance to tie, but Brett Rypien, who had been so good taking care of the football in recent weeks, let loose with a throw that went to a Rams defender. The Rams capitalized six plays and 43 yards later on a four yard run by the Rams’ backup running back, Rashaad Boddie.

52-38, Rams

The Broncos responded with a methodical 75 yards on 9 plays, and the drive was capped by a gorgeous dart from Rypien to Modster for six.

52-45, Rams

With less than two minutes left in the game, the Broncos went for the onside and Cedrick Wilson, who had clearly been struggling with some pain and had dropped a few balls to that point, came down with an absolutely beautiful high onside kick from Joel Velazquez. The Broncos converted the drive to points after 5 plays and 45 yards. Rypien to Roh for six!

52-52, All (...my goodness it felt good not having to type ‘Rams’ again)

After tying the game up, the Broncos actually forced a 3-and-out and had a chance to end the game in regulation. They opted for a conservative approach and ended up running out the clock. And then...

Overtime!

The Broncos got the ball to start and it took them all of four plays for Mattison to power into the end zone for his third (!!!) touchdown of the night.

The Rams got the ball back, but then Leighton Vander Esch, like the hero of legend that he is, launched into the CSU running back, put his hat right on the ball, and it tumbled out of his grip and onto the turf. Broncos recovered.

And that was the ball game!

Broncos 59, Rams 52

The Broncos put themselves in a hole early and had to use very nearly all of the seconds in regulation to force overtime, and the eventual win, but they did it! The 25 point deficit was the largest the Broncos had ever faced in a win since becoming an FBS team in 1996 (down 20-0 in 2014 vs SDSU).

The defense had a historically terrible night. But the offense, that had recently rediscovered its Boise State-ness, was absolutely OUTSTANDING. The running game, led by Mattison and his 242 rushing yards anchored the attack. Unlike the defense’s first half, it was actually a historically good night for him. 242 rushing yards is better than Brock Forsey, Ian Johnson, Doug Martin, Jay Ajayi, or Jeremy McNichols ever had in single game. Not too bad, considering ALL of those players went on to have pro careers, and two have been NFL All-Pros.

Rypien, despite the interception, was clutch when he needed to be, and overcame a number of drops by usually reliable targets to put up 331 yards and 4 scores.

The win puts the Broncos at 6-0 in conference play for the year, and they will be back in action for the last regular season home game of the year, vs Air Force, on November 18th. See you there!

Go Broncos!