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FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Jaylon Henderson accounted for three scores, defensive tackle David Moa came up with a big late sack and No. 20 Boise State beat Colorado State 31-24 on Friday to finish undefeated in Mountain West conference play for the first time.
Henderson ran for a short score early in the fourth to give Boise State some breathing room. He also threw two TD passes, giving him eight over the past three games as he fills in for banged-up starter Hank Bachmeier and backup Chase Cord.
Garrett Collingham hauled in one of Henderson’s TD passes and ran in another as the Broncos head into the league’s championship game with a head of steam. They host Hawaii next Saturday.
This version of Boise State (11-1, 8-0 MW, No. 20 CFP) became the program’s first to run through Mountain West regular season play unbeaten. The Broncos have finished the conference portion of their schedule with one loss five times since joining the league in 2011.
“They’ve accomplished something that’s pretty special,” Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said. “Everybody’s hyped after this win.”
Patrick O’Brien threw for 289 yards and two TDs for the Rams (4-8, 3-5), who dropped to 0-9 all-time against Boise State. Rams coach Mike Bobo heads into the offseason on the hot seat after a second straight losing season. He’s 28-35 in five seasons at Colorado State.
“I want to be back,” Bobo said. “We are really, really close.”
With Colorado State on the move late, Moa sacked O’Brien on second down. After an incompletion, Colorado State faced a fourth-and-14 at the Boise 45 with just over 2 minutes remaining and all three timeouts remaining. The Rams elected to punt.
The Broncos converted a third-down play on a diving catch by Khalil Shakir. From there, Boise State was able to run out the clock.
“This one hurt,” said Rams receiver Warren Jackson, who had eight catches for 84 yards and a touchdown. “But today we could smell it and we didn’t get it done.”
The sparse crowd was announced at 12,324 on a chilly and overcast afternoon. Only the middle sections of the stadium were open following a blizzard earlier in the week that dropped around 15 inches of snow. Most of the upper deck and behind the south end zone were blanketed in snow. The Colorado State facilities management crews moved approximately two million pounds of snow from the playing surface to get it ready.
O’Brien drew the Rams to within 24-21 with a 28-yard strike to tight end Trey McBride late in the third quarter. Henderson restored a 31-21 lead on a 1-yard TD with 11:26 remaining.
After a 34-yard field goal by Braxton Davis and forcing a Boise State punt, the Rams got the ball back with 3:53 left but were forced to punt.
There were no punts in the first half. Well, technically no punts as Colorado State was called for a running into the punter in the first quarter to keep a Boise State drive going. The Broncos capitalized by scoring on a 2-yard run from Collingham.
O'Brien threw two first-half interceptions, including one that Broncos outside linebacker Curtis Weaver tipped at the line and dove to secure.
“I wish I would’ve caught my footing so I could’ve scored,” Weaver cracked.
THE TAKEAWAY
Boise State: A methodical performance. The Broncos had two scoring drives that lasted at least 7 minutes.
Colorado State: The Rams fell to 14-35 against ranked teams since 1993.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Boise State should move up after spending the past two versions of the poll at No. 20.
UP NEXT
Boise State: Host Hawaii in the Mountain West title game Saturday. The Broncos beat Hawaii 59-37 on Oct. 12.
Colorado State: Gear up for 2020. Will host Colorado on Sept. 5.
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