Boise State treats largest crowd for a home opener to offensive fireworks in 56-14 win

Playing its home opener as a huge favorite — 41.5 points, per the oddsmakers — Boise State found itself in a 7-7 tie with FCS team Portland State after the first quarter Saturday night.

But once the Broncos found their footing, the underdog Vikings didn’t stand a chance.

Boise State (2-1) erupted for more than 600 yards of total offense and several big plays, and scored eight touchdowns, to earn a 56-14 win over Portland State (0-3) in front of what was announced as the fourth-largest crowd in Albertsons Stadium history. Some scattered empty seats told a different story, but tickets sold meant attendance was set at 36,972.

The crowd — the largest for a home opener at Boise State — watched a bevy of players rack up highlights as the rout allowed star running back Ashton Jeanty to rest and three quarterbacks to play. Jeanty still rushed for 127 yards, including a 68-yard run that set up Boise State’s first touchdown. He didn’t have a carry in the second half.

Despite only 11 carries for Jeanty, meaning he averaged 11.5 yards per rush, the Broncos chewed up 342 yards on the ground on 38 carries — good for 9 yards a pop as the offensive line once again was impressive.

The lopsided score allowed head coach Spencer Danielson and offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter to shuffle guys in and out of the lineup, and keep people healthy for next week’s home game against unbeaten Washington State. Eight players had at least one rushing attempt and 11 players caught at least one pass.

“We’re going to run the ball. We’re going to use our explosive run attack to set up our pass game,” Danielson said. “That’s who we are.”

Danielson pointed out that the rotation of players was important because “the only way to get better at football is playing it.”

That 7-7 score after one quarter actually could have been 10-7 in favor of the Vikings, but they had a field goal blocked — one of two blocked on the night.

But then the Broncos asserted themselves, scoring three second-quarter touchdowns and holding Portland State to 71 total yards the rest of the half after allowing a 12-play, 73-yard TD drive that knotted the score with 6:14 left in the first quarter. And 29 of those yards came on QB Dante Chachere’s scramble on the last play of the half.

Besides Jeanty, Boise State had a surprise offensive star: Tight end Matt Lauter caught six passes for 83 yards and a touchdown in the first half, and finished with seven catches for 91 yards. Quarterback Maddux Madsen completed 13-of-18 passes for 188 yards and three TDs, and also had a QB sneak from a yard out for a score.

The Broncos scored 35 straight points to take a 42-7 lead into the fourth quarter. By that time, backup QB Malachi Nelson was playing and freshman Dylan Riley was taking handoffs. Riley rushed for 96 yards on just six carries and had two TDs, including a 64-yard scamper.

Wide receiver Cam Camper had two catches, and both went for scores, including a 52-yarder from Madsen in the third quarter. That was one of 16 plays Boise State had that covered at least 10 yards.

Nelson completed 5-of-8 passes for 66 yards in his time, and fellow redshirt freshman Max Cutforth relieved him, completing both of his passes for 13 yards. A local product like Cutforth — both are from Nampa — running back Tyler Crowe had 57 yards and a touchdown in the second half.

“We’ve got a lot of weapons in that backfield, and they’re all different, too,” Danielson said after the game.

Boise State was without two starting offensive linemen as well as junior wide receiver Chris Marshall on Saturday night. But once again, the absence of the linemen didn’t slow any of the attack.

Redshirt junior Mason Randolph was still out with an upper-body injury picked up ahead of the game against Oregon two weeks ago. He was replaced for the second straight game by redshirt junior Zach Holmes. Starting redshirt sophomore Roger Carreon was out following an injury he sustained against Oregon; Tyler Keinath started in his place.