Riley’s Rush Powers Boise State Over Fresno State in a Late‑Game Thriller

Saturday night in Fresno turned into a showcase for Boise State’s backfield, with senior running back Dylan Riley doing most of the heavy lifting. He broke free for a 72‑yard touchdown on the Broncos’ second play, instantly putting the visitors on the board and setting the tone for what turned out to be a back‑and‑forth battle.

Riley ended the night with 150 yards on 19 carries and a rushing touchdown, plus a 44‑yard catch‑and‑run that capped his all‑purpose yardage. Those numbers weren’t just good—they were enough to tilt a rivalry that had slumped for three straight meetings in Boise State’s favor, 38‑31.

Boise State (5‑1, 2‑0 Pac‑12) has actually been on a roll lately, stringing together five straight wins after a close loss to Oregon to open the season. Coach Spencer Danielson could barely hide his grin in the post‑game interview, calling the victory “a huge win for our program” and noting that it was the first time in a long while the Broncos had beaten the Bulldogs.

Maddux Madsen, the Broncos’ quarterback, did his part too, completing 23 of 34 attempts for 238 yards and two touchdowns. He kept the offense moving while Riley and fellow back Sire Gaines, fresh off a wrist injury, combined for 120 rushing yards and another score. “Our running backs ran really hard tonight — Dylan, Sire,” Danielson said, adding a shout‑out to the offensive line and tight ends for carving out those lanes.

Fresno State (4‑2, 1‑1) wasn’t a pushover. Quarterback Jayden Mandal tossed for 218 yards and two touchdowns, and when a hard hit forced him out, backup Khristian Martin stepped in and found Ezekiel Avit for a 59‑yard strike. Still, the Bulldogs couldn’t shake the early deficit, and a 2‑point conversion by Zeke Martinez early in the game gave Boise a narrow 8‑7 lead that it would protect for most of the night.

In the end, the Broncos held on, out‑scoring the Bulldogs in the fourth quarter to seal the win. The result also nudged Boise State up the rankings, landing the team at No. 23 in the AP Poll and breaking into the Coaches Poll for the first time this season.

All told, it was a night of big plays, a few bumps, and a lot of Boise State pride. If the Broncos keep this kind of energy rolling, the rest of the Pac‑12 won’t know what hit them.