Boise State opened the season with gaudy stats on offense. Here’s a big reason why

Before there can be a school-record rushing performance, there has to be somewhere to run.

And Ashton Jeanty has some Boise State big men to thank for that.

Left tackle Kage Casey, left guard Ben Dooley, center Mason Randolph, right guard Roger Carreon and right tackle Hall Schmidt paved the way for Jeanty’s 267 rushing yards and six touchdowns in a 56-45 season-opening win over Georgia Southern on Saturday in Statesboro, Georgia.

Yes, Jeanty is a beast. But so is the Broncos’ offensive line.

Boise State totaled 651 yards of offense, including 371 yards on the ground, and the line didn’t give up a single sack. The Broncos’ 56 points were the most Georgia Southern has given up at home since the Eagles moved to the FBS level in 2014, according to ESPN.

BSU also had eight rushing plays of 15 yards or more and eight passing plays of at least 15 yards, all with quarterback Maddux Madsen finding time to throw. And the Broncos averaged 10.6 yards per carry, the most in a single game in program history.

“There’s a mentality in that group that they will impose their will,” Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said. “It’s on film. That’s who they are, so I’m proud of what they did tonight.

“Ashton and (freshman running back) Sire Gaines and other players deserve a ton of credit as well, but nothing’s happening without that front.”

Boise State returned four starters on the O-line this season, and their experience was apparent Saturday in the Georgia heat.

Dooley, a sixth-year senior, started 10 games at left guard last season and surrendered just one sack. He has now played in 32 games and started 25 since 2020, and was a second-team All-Mountain West pick in 2021.

Despite dealing with nagging injuries, Randolph has started 19 games the past two seasons and has played both center and guard.

Carreon, a redshirt sophomore, played in all 14 games at right guard last season and started seven, while Casey is back at left tackle after starting all 14 games last season. Casey was named second-team All-Mountain West and a second-team All-American by The Athletic last year, and also was named to the preseason All-Mountain West team this season.

“I’ve got to shout out my O-line,” Jeanty said. “They opened up big, wide holes all game. I’ve got the easy part: Make some guys miss and go run to the end zone.”

With room to roam regardless of direction, multiple Broncos had a field day offensively.

Gaines, who is just 17 years old, totaled 12 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown, and also caught three passes for 44 yards and a score in his college debut.

In the passing game, Madsen finished with a QB rating of 151, going 22-for-31 passing for a career-high 280 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The redshirt sophomore completed passes to eight different receivers.

Redshirt senior wide receiver Latrell Caples returned from a torn ACL last season for a team-high five receptions for 81 yards, while Indiana transfer Cameron Camper impressed with a 53-yard catch and a team-high 99 receiving yards.

It all started with that offensive line, Jeanty said.

“When they play as a unit, nobody’s ever gonna stop us,” the star running back said. “That just gives me complete confidence in them each and every week that they’re going to try their hardest to open up the gaps.”