No. 15: Boise State tops San Diego State with Career Day from Maddux Madsen

The No. 15 Boise State Broncos improved to 7-1 on Friday night, their best start since the 2019 season. Spencer Danielson’s team earned a 56-24 victory over the San Diego State Aztecs.

It was a pretty good performance for Broncos star running back Ashton Ginty, who finished with 31 carries for 149 yards and two touchdowns, along with two catches for 31 yards.

What really stood out in Boise State’s win, however, was the play of quarterback Maddux Madsen. Madsen finished with career-highs in completions (24), passing yards (307) and touchdowns (4). Madsen led an offensive game that ended with 541 yards for the Broncos. BSU also went a perfect seven-for-seven on trips into the red zone, moving them one step closer to another Mountain West title and a spot in the College Football Playoff.

On Boise State’s first possession of the game, the Broncos marched down the field, moving the ball 66 yards in eight plays. The drive ended with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Madsen to Latrell Caples. Caples added his second touchdown of the day on Boise State’s second possession, receiving a 19-yard reception in the end zone when the SDSU defense picked up a fake punt by Jinty.

At this point, the Broncos began to attack as Broncos cornerback A’Marion McCoy picked SDSU’s Danny O’Neill and returned it 35 yards to the end zone.

The Broncos punted again on SDSU’s next possession to end the first quarter. This time it was Alex Teubner on the Boise State 42-yard line. The attempt also led to Madsen’s third touchdown, this time to Prince Strachan from 14 yards out.

The Aztecs did get some momentum in the second quarter. SDSU got to the basket on its fifth possession when Jordan Napier took the ball 40 yards and made a 27-yard field goal. Then, after forcing a Boise State punt, Marquez Cooper ran 42 yards to get into the red zone and then rushed for a six-yard touchdown.

In the final minute of the first half, Madsen and Caples connected on the play again, this time from 14 yards out, to extend Boise State’s halftime lead.

Caples finished the game with six catches for 90 yards and three touchdowns, all career highs.

Jinty finally got his running game going early in the second half, gaining 54 yards and a touchdown on Boise State’s first possession.

The teams exchanged punts until the end of the third quarter. Then, in the fourth quarter, Ashton Jeanty struck again, reaching the end zone on a short play with a pick-and-run option at the end of a 13-play, 90-yard drive.

SDSU got one back with 7:35 left and Napier made another big catch. This time it was a 30-yard tackle on a traffic jam in the end zone.

That ended Madsen’s day with USC transfer Malachi Nelson taking over the quarterback position. At that point, the same thing happened elsewhere on the Broncos. Nelson and running back Tyler Crow connected on an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to put the exclamation point. Crowe capped it with a two-yard rush.

SDSU added another score with another long pass from O’Neal to Mekhi Shaw in the final 30 seconds to make the final 56-24.

Boise State continues play at home next week before hosting Nevada on Saturday, Nov. 9. The start time for the match has not yet been announced.

Meanwhile, San Diego State fell to 3–5 on the year and suffered its first conference loss of the season. They have another Friday game next week when they host New Mexico on FS1 at 7:30 pm PT.

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