Broncos Come Up Short in Fresno

Saturday, November 4

Fresno, Calif.

8 p.m.

Boise State

4-5 , 3-2

Fresno State

8-1 , 4-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Boise State

Fresno State

Photo by: Tyler McFarland

11/5/2023 1:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

FRESNO, Calif. – Jonah Dalmas' 52-yard field goal with 31 seconds remaining pulled Boise State within seven points of Fresno State. The Broncos were unable to recover the ensuing onside kick as the Bulldogs held on to defeat Boise State, 37-30, at Valley Children's Stadium.

Six of Boise State's nine games have been decided by one possession this season.

Dalmas' field goal was the fourth time the Broncos (4-5, 3-2 MW) pulled within one possession of Fresno State. Dalmas connected on field goals of 45, 38 and 52
yards on the night, while Maddux Madsen threw for a touchdown and added another score on the ground while passing for a career-high 256 yards. Dalmas set the program record for career field goals with 69.

The Bulldogs (8-1, 4-1 MW) scored on their first two possessions with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Mikey Keene to Trey Watson followed by a 48-yard field goal by Dylan Lynch for a 10-0 lead.

Boise State finally responded late in the opening quarter as Dalmas knocked a 45-yard field goal. Madsen hit Billy Bowens from two yards out of the endzone to make it 13-10 in favor of Fresno State. The Bulldogs scored a touchdown in the final seconds of the half, and added their third with 6:31 remaining in the third quarter.

George Holani scored from the one-yard line and another field goal from Dalmas continued to chip away at the Fresno State lead early in the fourth quarter.

Down 30-20 in the final seven minutes of the game, Madsen engineered a drive down into the Bulldogs' territory. He hit three different receivers to drive down to the Fresno State 27-yard line, and scrambled for a career-long 27 yard run to make it a one possession game once again.

On the ensuing drive Fresno State extended its lead with a run across midfield into the endzone to put the Bulldogs up by 10 with 1:49 remaining. The Broncos were once again able to drive down the field to set up Dalmas' 52-yard field goal, but could not recover the onside kick to continue the game.
Quotable

"Unfortunately we were unable to pull it out tonight," said head coach Andy Avalos. "I love the players for their fight and what they were able to do . . . We found ways to put ourselves into position."
"As we move forward we have the opportunity to be 1-0 next weekend," Avalos said. "We have a 24-hour rule just like when we win. We have guys that care deeply. I feel for them looking as they walk off the field and into the locker room – this team cares. You could see it in how they fought all the way until the end."
"It hurts and everyone cares so much," said quarterback Maddux Madsen. "This is a team full of guys who love to play with each other. Fresno (State) is a good team and we know we need to be better at all those things.
"It's making the most of it," Madsen said. "Every opportunity you get is a blessing so making the most out of a blessing and doing your 1/11th for the team to help them win."
"Nobody wants to lose especially a close game like that. Nobody is happy with the result," said linebacker Andrew Simpson. "It's not who we want to be for the fans, for ourselves or for the coaches."
"As a player we never let any outside circumstances really choose whether we play hard or do what we want to do," Simpson said. "The next three games we're going to tackle head on and be proud to play for our city and proud to play for our school. Next week we have a home game and the biggest game for us moving forward is the next one."

Top Broncos

Maddux Madsen had a career-high 256 yards passing. He scored a touchdown passing and rushing.
George Holani had 140 all-purpose yards – 79 rushing, 61 receiving.
Andrew Simpson had a career-high 12 tackles.
Seyi Oladipo had his fourth career interception.

Notables

Six of Boise State's nine games this season have been decided by one possession.
Boise State outgained its opponent in yards for the fifth time this season.
George Holani eclipsed 3,000 career rushing yards, making him the ninth Bronco to reach that mark. Holani now has 3,053 yards in his career.
Jonah Dalmas set the program record for career field goals, converting on three to put his career total at 69.

What's Next
Boise State returns to The Blue for a MW contest with New Mexico on Nov. 11. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. MT on FS1. The game can also be heard on the Bronco Sports Network with live stats also available.

For complete coverage of Boise State Football, download the Bronco Sports App or follow the team on social media on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter/X