Boise State Erases a 14-point Hole and Pulls Away from Memphis
Memphis led 17-3 in the second quarter. From there, Boise State outscored the Tigers 35-3 and won 38-20, which is the kind of swing that makes the first 20 minutes look like a different game.
The Tigers got off to a loud start. Marcus Stokes found Hunter Tipton for an 87-yard touchdown late in the first quarter, Philippe Laforge kicked a 33-yard field goal, and Jaylin Carter broke an 80-yard run to make it 17-3 with 7:10 left in the half. Boise State answered with a 37-yard touchdown pass from Maddux Madsen to Akeem Wright and a 19-yard run by Rasean Jones 81 seconds later, tying it 17-17. Laforge's 36-yarder on the last play of the half sent Memphis in up 20-17, and that was the last time they scored.
Boise State took the lead for good on Sire Gaines's 11-yard run in the third, and 1:39 of game clock later Cam Bates returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown to make it 31-20. Madsen's 1-yard run early in the fourth finished the scoring. The Broncos ran 46 times for 359 yards (Dylan Riley alone had 206 on 19 carries) and threw for only 221, with no turnovers. Memphis threw for 384 yards and ran for 135, a 519-yard day, and lost by 18 anyway. Its one interception did not help.
Boise State is 1-1 after the win; Memphis falls to 2-1. Tipton's 229 receiving yards were the loudest fantasy line of the day, and Riley was a close third in points among the top scorers.