Boise State wide receiver Cedrick Wilson (1) poses after a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Nevada in Boise, Idaho, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Otto Kitsinger)
BOISE, Idaho — Brett Rypien threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns and Alexander Mattison added a pair of scoring runs to lead Boise State to a 41-14 victory over Nevada on Saturday night.
Boise State (7-2, 5-0 Mountain West Conference) won its fifth straight game and also recorded its fifth consecutive victory over conference rivals.
Nevada (1-8, 1-4), which lost its previous two games by a combined total of five points against Colorado State and Air Force, looked overmatched after putting up a fight early.
After falling behind 7-0 and then again at 14-10 early in the second quarter, Boise State turned to Rypien to spark the Broncos’ offense. The result was more than enough firepower to extinguish any hopes Nevada had of an upset.
Rypien delivered a 44-yard pass less than a minute after Nevada had retaken the lead, hitting Cedrick Wilson at the goal line before he tumbled into the end zone.
Leading 17-14, Boise State scored on its next two drives—one on a 1-yard run by Ryan Wolpin and the other on another 25-yard pass from Rypien to Jake Roh—as the Broncos built a 31-14 halftime lead.
Mattison added a 6-yard TD jaunt on the Broncos’ opening drive of the second half to take a 38-14 lead and the Wolf Pack never threatened after that.
Nevada’s Kelton Moore was the first running back to eclipse the 100-yard mark against Boise State’s defense this season, finishing with 106 yards. But an inaccurate passing game that threw three interceptions stunted the Wolf Pack’s offense all game long.
TAKEAWAYS
Nevada quarterback Ty Gangi threw three interceptions in a single game for the third time this season, something the Wolf Pack can ill-afford the rest of the season if they hope to notch a victory in their final three games. Nevada’s offense has been steadily improving under first-year head coach Jay Norvell, but it’s clear there is little margin for error with his young team.
Boise State stumbled out of the gate with losses in September to Washington State and Virginia, but the Broncos have turned their season around.
If Boise State wins two of its next three conference games, the Broncos will have a chance to win their first Mountain West title since 2014.
UP NEXT
Nevada returns home next Saturday to host San Jose State, while Boise State travels to Fort Collins for a matchup with conference foe Colorado State.
