By james art 
After an emotional win in Las Vegas, some questioned whether Boise State would be focused and ready to attack San Diego State.
Spencer Danielson’s crew was more than ready.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Quarter (21-0 BSU Advantage)
10:34 – 18-yard pass from QB Maddux Madsen to WR Latrell Caples (Jonah Dalmas PAT)
Boise State 7 – San Diego State 0
1:39 – 19-yard pass from QB Maddux Madsen to WR Latrell Caples (Jonah Dalmas PAT)
Boise State 14 – San Diego State 0
1:31 – 35-yard interception return by CB A’Marion McCoy (Jonah Dalmas PAT)
Boise State 21 – San Diego State 0
2nd quarter (14-10 BSU advantage)
11:35 – 14-yard pass from QB Maddux Madsen to WR Prince Strachan (Jonah Dalmas PAT)
Boise State 28 – San Diego State 0
9:12 – 27-yard field goal by C. Gabriel Placencia
Boise State 28 – San Diego State 3
5:58 – Marquez Cooper 6-yard run (Gabriel Placencia PAT)
Boise State 28 – San Diego State 10
0:22 – 14-yard pass from QB Maddux Madsen to WR Latrell Caples (Jonah Dalmas PAT)
Boise State 35 – San Diego State 10
HALF TIME
3rd Quarter (7-0 BSU Advantage)
10:13 – RB Ashton Jeanty 4-yard run (Jonah Dalmas PAT)
Boise State 42 – San Diego State 10
4th Quarter (14-14 Tie)
13:03 – 4-yard run by RB Ashton Jeanty (Jonah Dalmas PAT)
Boise State 49 – San Diego State 10
7:35 – 30-yard pass from QB Danny O’Neill to WR Jordan Napier (Gabriel Placencia PAT)
Boise State 49 – San Diego State 17
3:03 – RB Tyler Crowe 2-yard run (Jonah Dalmas PAT)
Boise State 56 – San Diego State 17
0:30 – 30-yard pass from QB Danny O’Neill to WR Mekhi Shaw (Gabriel Plascencia PAT)
Boise State 56 – San Diego State 24
FINAL
BOISE STATE BRONCOS 56 – SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS 24
BOISE STATE PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME
QB Maddux Madsen and WR Latrell Caples – I’m going to cheat on this one and not choose between the two.
Both had career days and led the Broncos to a clean sweep thanks to three touchdowns between Madsen and Caples.
Boise State fans have been waiting for Caples to re-emerge in his retro look that we saw in his early years in The Blue.
With a stat line of six receptions, 90 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns, the senior tied his career high for receptions in a single game and bettered his best for both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in a game.
It was his best performance as a Bronco.
And Mr. Maddux Madsen turned in his best performance as the starting quarterback for Boise State.
He threw for over 300 yards for the first time in his career, finishing with 307.
He also finished with four passing touchdowns, the first of a young career.
Madsen scattered a handful of tackles for 1st downs that extended drives and made some beautiful throws.
It felt like there were hardly any throws to be caught.
Simply, it was pure and masterful play.
If the defense is going to completely ignore you and your passing attack, you better make them pay for that mistake.
Madsen and Capless did it in just one half.
ASSESSMENTS
Offense – A+
You read that right.
Ashton Jeanty didn’t go for 200+ yards and didn’t break free for 50+ yards.
But that’s what made this offensive performance so good.
San Diego State pushed all of its chips toward the middle of the table in hopes of suffocating Ashton Jeanty.
And in half they did it.
However, in SDSU’s rush, putting seven to nine Aztecs in the box, Madsen and his receivers had a field day.
Easy one-on-one collisions with wide separation were a common sight.
Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter was in his bag, dialing up designs for action as the Aztecs focused on Jeanty.
Honestly, it was comical.
FOX Sports color analyst Petros Papadakis put it best during the telecast, saying “It feels like Sean Lewis and San Diego State are cutting each other’s noses in spite of themselves.”
I’m not one to often question coaching schemes, but the idea that putting all but two to four players in the box for the entire game would be sustainable seems absurd.
Especially with Dirk Koetter opposite.
The best part is that Jeanty got his numbers in the second half, despite SDSU’s hard-nosed strategy.
He finished with 149 yards rushing, 31 yards receiving and two rushing touchdowns.
Everyone tuned in on Friday night and took advantage.
It’s the fourth straight game the Broncos have eclipsed 50 points – now averaging 45.75 points per game.
Defense – B+
Kudos to defensive coordinator Eric Chinander and his staff.
They definitely set the tone in the first quarter and dashed any hopes of San Diego State gaining an early advantage.
The A’Marion McCoy pick was like the nail in the coffin, even if it was just the first quarter.
Boise State was able to rattle freshman quarterback Danny O’Neill and force some inaccurate passes.
The Aztecs had very little rhythm after that, aside from a ten-point run in the second quarter that was aided by some pretty strange special teams decisions.
Both of O’Neal’s passing touchdowns came in garbage time, and 60 of his 155 passing yards came on those drives.
Running back Marques Cooper had a solid rushing day, totaling 94 yards and one touchdown. Aztec averaged 5.9 yards per carry.
Safety Alexander Teubner recorded his first interception of 2024 late in the first half, sealing Boise State’s victory in the +2 turnover battle.
EDGE Jayden Virgin-Morgan led BSU with 1.5 sacks, followed by the trio of Michael Callahan, Ahmed Hassanein and Braxton Feely with half a sack each.
The Broncos allowed 256 total yards and limited SDSU to 2 of 14 on 3rd down.
If there’s a negative to Friday night’s performance, it’s that BSU allowed the Aztecs to convert on all six of their 4th down conversion attempts.
Regardless of the opponent, you should always play with pride.
Special Teams – C+
Someone is going to have to explain the idea of starting the dog to me.
Both times Boise State did this, SDSU started from its own 40.
Maybe special teams coordinator Stacey Collins is trying different looks and schemes, but I think it’s safe to say the dog’s kickoff isn’t.
Just charge the ball through the end zone.
Why make it harder than it needs to be?
Aztec Chris Johnson made a solid 46-yard field goal, but other than that neither team got anything going.
Jonah Dalmas was on PAT duty tonight, making all eight attempts.
And James Ferguson-Reynolds had two shots on the night, including a fumble attempt where he ran to the left and barely made contact before the ball bounced comfortably for BSU.
Boise State fakes a punt to convert a 30+ point 4th down.
That was fun.
Linebacker Marco Notarini took the hit as a blocker and the bull rushed him for a first down.
WHAT DOES THIS RESULT MEAN?
Focus all your attention on Ashton Janty at your own risk.
2024 The Boise State Broncos are more than just one player, no matter how great he is.
This team can beat you in many ways and has the coaching staff to make the right adjustments and burn you.
The Broncos aren’t as one-dimensional as some make them out to be.
From a macro perspective, the main issue for Boise State is getting Jeanty back to 100 percent before conference championship weekend and, as it stands, the College Football Playoff.
One game at a time, but it was an emphatic victory through a collective team effort that should be looked upon favorably when the first CFP rankings are released Tuesday night.
GO FORWARD
With SDSU now having one loss in the Mountain West, only two teams remain undefeated in the conference.
Boise State at 4-0 and…Colorado State at 3-0.
The Rams travel to Reno on Saturday to face Jeff Choate and Nevada.
All the Broncos can do is take one opponent at a time and let the cards fall as they may when it comes to their potential MWC title foe.
Some BSU fans will be hoping CSU pulls through in hopes of facing an easier opponent for The Blue.
Others will want UNLV to do it to have a rematch against the second-best team in the conference.
I see both sides.
But that’s why we play the games.
As for Boise State, they can stay in the Treasure Valley for another week as they host the Nevada Wolf Pack next Saturday, November 9th.
I have no doubt that head coach Jeff Choate has been bypassing this play since he was traded to Spencer Danielson in his second attempt at being the head coach of the Broncos.
Choate interviewed before Andy Avalos was hired in 2020.
Emotions will be high at The Blue.
Let us know what you thought of Boise State’s dominant win over the Aztecs in the comments below!