Fresno State Bulldogs vs Boise State Broncos Match Player Stats On Dec 02, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Dec 2, 2017

BOISE, Idaho -- In the shadow of their own goal line and mired in a two-week-long offensive slump against a stingy Fresno State defense, the Boise State Broncos turned to their top playmaker.

And Cedrick Wilson delivered.

The senior receiver hauled in eight passes for 148 yards, carrying the Broncos on the game's deciding drive in a 17-14 Mountain West Championship Game victory at Albertsons Stadium.

Down 14-10 and facing first-and-15 from his own 5, Boise State quarterback Brett Rypien hit Wilson with a 59-yard bomb across midfield. Moments later, Wilson converted a key third-and-5, then drew a pass interference penalty in the end zone to set up Ryan Wolpin's go-ahead 2-yard touchdown plunge with 4:42 remaining.

Boise State (10-3) pitched a second-half shutout, led by junior linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. The MWC Defensive Player of the Year had a game-high 16 tackles and snagged the clinching interception with 1:50 to play. The Broncos forced five punts and a turnover while allowing 85 second-half yards.

Rypien threw for 246 yards to outduel Fresno State junior Marcus McMaryion, who threw for 172 yards and scored two first-half rushing TDs for the No. 25 Bulldogs (9-4).

McMaryion's two rushing scores set the pace for Fresno State in the first half as the Bulldogs led 14-10 at halftime.

Haden Hoggarth's 32-yard field goal for Boise State was the only scoring in the first quarter.

Fresno State took a 7-3 lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by McMaryion around right end in the second quarter. The Bulldogs gambled on fourth-and-goal from the 1 after three short yardage runs came up short.

Boise State's special teams set up the Broncos' first touchdown. Brock Barr downed Quinn Skillin's punt at the Fresno State 1 and, after three straight incompletions, the Bulldogs were forced to quick kick to dangerous return man Avery Williams.

Williams fielded the ball at the Fresno State 40 and scampered to the 4. Three plays later, Alexander Mattison crashed in from the 3 for his 12th rushing touchdown of the year and a 10-7 Boise State lead.

Fresno State responded quickly, marching 77 yards in five plays to reclaim the lead on McMaryion's 8-yard scramble with 1:53 left in the half.

The game was a rematch of last week's regular-season finale, won 28-17 by the Bulldogs in Fresno.

NOTES: RB Alexander Mattison left the game with 2:43 remaining in the third quarter and did not return. Boise State's leading rusher had 14 carries for 50 yards and a TD before sustaining an apparent left leg injury. ... Boise State played without injured senior TE Jake Roh, whose 11 total touchdowns are tied for the FBS lead among tight ends. ... The games was also a rematch of the 2014 Mountain West title game in Boise, which the Broncos won 28-14 to earn a berth in the Fiesta Bowl. ... Game time temperature was 40 degrees and attendance was 24,515.