BOISE – Remember when the Broncos were 2-2 and some were wondering whether they’d even get to the six wins needed to qualify for a bowl game?
Four games and four wins later, the Broncos got there. And at this point, who knows when they will lose again. With this version of Taylen Green? It might not be for a while.
Heck, it might not be again this season.
Green had the best game of his young Boise State career Saturday night, completing 24 of 30 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for an amazing 10-yard touchdown in a 49-10 blowout win of Colorado State at Albertsons Stadium.
“That was special,” Boise State head coach Andy Avalos said. “He was in the zone tonight. You could see it in his eyes.”
With the win Boise State (6-2, 5-0 MW) became bowl eligible for the 25th consecutive season and remained the only undefeated team in the Mountain West.
Boise State, which had a season-high 514 yards on 305 passing yards and 228 rushing yards, opened up a 28-3 lead late in the second quarter and cruised to arguably its best win of the season.
“It feels great,” wide receiver Billy Bowens said. “A big win here last home, a conference win, and we’re moving on. Always feels good and I’m glad we got the win tonight.”
Statistically on paper the game was a huge mismatch, and it played out as expected. Colorado State, which entered with one of the worst offenses in the country, had just 170 total yards, went 1-of-12 on third down and finished with just 3 rushing yards.
Boise State’s defense also finished with five sacks despite being without several key players along the defensive line including Scott Matlock, Jackson Cravens, George Tarlas (season-ending injury) and Isaiah Bagnah (transfer).
George Holani rushed for 109 rushing yards and three touchdowns after missing last week’s game against Air Force due to a minor injury. The Broncos improved to 11-0 when Holani rushes for at least 100 yards during his Boise State career. Boise State is also 10-0 the past two seasons under Avalos when rushing for at least 140 yards as a team.
But the story of the game was Green. The redshirt freshman has continued to improve since taking over as the starter when Hank Bachmeier transferred following a 27-10 loss to UTEP. But this was easily his most impressive performance as a passer.
Green had just six incomplete passes and again showed improved accuracy with his throws (aside from two passes that could have been intercepted). And he used his legs masterfully to buy time for his receivers to get open, turning potential losses into big passing plays on multiple occasions.
“His rhythm with the wide receivers and his ability to get out of the pocket when the pocket breaks down, that’s a huge factor,” Avalos said. “Having him back there, it creates more explosive plays and the wide receivers do a great job within the scramble drill.”
And he didn’t stick to short passes as he has some in previous games. Green had seven completions of at least 20 yards including 33 yards to (Eric McAlister), 31 yards (Stefan Cobbs), 25 yards (Billy Bowens), 24 yards (Cobbs), 21 yards (Cobbs), 21 yards (Bowens) and 20 yards (Davis Koetter).
And oh by the way, he didn’t even play in the fourth quarter as the Broncos elected to give backup Sam Vidlak some reps with the score well out of reach.
Green has improved statistically in each of his four starts:
-San Diego State: 5 of 10 for 48 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.
-Fresno State: 10 of 18 for 127 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
-:Air Force: 16 of 24 for 227 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
-Colorado State: 24 of 30 for 305 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
”We can all see that he’s grown a tremendous amount,” Avalos said. “His confidence and command and how leads the huddle – he was in a zone, tonight.”
One oddity. Green, considered to be a better runner than passer at the start of the year, rushed for 100 yards in each of his first two games at Oregon State and against San Diego State but has a combined 51 yards the past three games.
Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said earlier in the week he’d like to see him run more, but if he’s passing like this now? Why have him run it at all?
“He’s an amazing passer,” Bowens said. “From the moment he got here I always thought he was really talented throwing the ball. He has a really strong arm. He obviously wants to throw first, even on the sideline he says ‘I’m looking down field, I’m trying to find you guys, stay live, but if I have to run I will’, but he wants to be a passer and I believe he is a passer. He makes incredible passes.”
Yet his most impressive play of the night may have been a 10-yard touchdown run when he juked two defenders and broke three tackles as he weaved and side-stepped his way into the end zone.
“It’s amazing to watch,” Bowens said. “I just put my hands up and shake my head. I tip my hat to him. He’s amazing. … He just makes plays. He’s a playmaker.”
Said defensive tackle Devine Obichere on the touchdown run, “That’s just Taylen being Taylen. He does it in practice every day. There’s nothing we haven’t seen. We’ve been victims of that, too.”
When Bachmeier transferred and offensive coordinator Tim Plough was fired in a span of less than 24 hours, the Broncos were coming off one of the worst losses in program history. They didn’t reach either 100 yards passing or rushing and scored just 10 points despite being a 16-favorite at UTEP.
But that’s a distant memory now. The Broncos are 4-0 since and appear destined to host the Mountain West championship game on Dec. 3. Wins in their final three Mountain West games (at Nevada, at Wyoming and home to Utah State) would assure it.
But winning a league title for the third time in the past eight years doesn’t seem to be the biggest carrot still out there for the Broncos. With Cincinnati’s loss Saturday to UCF, the Group of 5 spot in the Cotton Bowl remains somewhat of a possibility still.
And if Green keeps playing like this? All scenarios seem to still be in play.
Green and the Broncos will be back in action Saturday against BYU.
