BOISE – As Taylen Green and the Boise State football team ran all over the San Diego State Aztecs in the second half Friday night, the question most had was simple: where was this in the first half?
Better yet, where was this all season?
It took 30 minutes, but the debut of the Green/Dirk Koetter tandem got going early in the third quarter and never looked back in a stunning 35-13 come-from-behind win in front of 34,910 fans at Albertsons Stadium.
Making his first career start, Green had eight rushes for 105 yards and two touchdowns while completing just 5 of 10 passes for 48 yards.
“He ran up and down the field,” Avalos said. “He had 105 yards rushing on eight attempts. He really showed what he’s capable of doing in terms of stretching the defense. … They weren’t stopping him.”
He didn’t need to throw the ball with how well the Broncos were running it.
Boise State had 316 rushing yards and finished with two 100-yard rushers for the first time since 2016. George Holani had 17 carries for 135 yards and two touchdowns, while Ashton Jeanty had 12 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown.
The Broncos nearly had three 100-yard rushers for the first time in program history.
Boise State had five rushing touchdowns, all in the second half, and finished with a season-high 450 yards of offense.
“We believed all along we have the right guys and the right personnel, so I was excited for them,” Avalos said. “Especially the offensive line, they did a tremendous job.”
Boise State’s defense also was impressive, holding the Aztecs to 114 total yards. Tyreque Jones had maybe the play of the game when he came down with an interception on the first play of the third quarter. Two plays later Green scored from 17 yards out to pull the Broncos within 13-7 and the comeback was on.
“It wasn’t anything special. It wasn’t like we went in there and had some Space Jam water,” Jones said with a laugh. “I felt like that pick was a momentum swing and got guys going and kind of got us in a rhythm. After that, it was over after that.”
Green didn’t get much going in the first quarter and was replaced in the second quarter by Sam Vidlak. But with the Broncos trailing 13-0 at the break it was Green that came back in for the third quarter – and never went back out.
Boise State is back on The Blue next Saturday for a 7:45 p.m. kickoff against Fresno State.
