Jason Haskins's Blog, page 5

Boise State Broncos women's basketball 2024-25: Experience be thy name

 

Experience is the name of the game for the Boise State Broncos women's basketball team entering the 2024-5 season.

So it was with surprise to see they were picked to finish in only fourth place in the Mountain West Conference preseason poll.

It is not simply that the Broncos return 12 players from last season's team (a major plus). No, it is who is coming back, and the years they have played together as teammates. That number is three, a boon for any college program.

Players who should have a chip on their shoulders entering the season, head coach Gordy Presnell's 20th with the Broncos. And it should be a fun one where Boise State aims to build off a solid '23-24.

Boise State in 2023-24 season

Last season, the Broncos had a team that was in the mix for a regular season title. Seeding among the top teams was not decided until the final week. Though Boise State lost three straight to close the regular season, the Broncos managed to reach the Mountain West tournament semifinals, where they lost to San Diego State, 72-69.

Boise State (21-14) ultimately did get to play one more game, losing to Montana in the first round of the WNIT.

Defense was the bread and butter for the Broncos, holding opponents to 58.9 points per game. Teams shot 36.9 percent from the field against Boise State, including a chilly 29.4 percent on three-point attempts. The Broncos also held a plus five advantage on the boards.

On offense, Boise State had its ups-and-downs in averaging 64 points per game, shooting 39.9 percent from the field. Three-point attempts were decent at 34.4 percent. Turnovers, however, did in the Broncos, averaging 15.1 per game.

With roster depth to spare, there is a chance to improve those numbers in '24-25.

Roster strength for Broncos

Twelve players return, including the top seven scorers (and nine of the top 10), meaning the Boise State Broncos have a large list of players ready to contribute.

It also means a welcome return to a trio of players entering their fifth season with Boise State.

Abby Muse, Mary Kay Naro, and Elodie Lalotte have had an impact since first setting foot on the court for the Broncos. All have made major contributions on the court and find themselves climbing (or already on top of) the record books.

Muse set the school record for blocked shots in her junior season and keeps adding to that total, which currently stands at 262. Muse, the conference Defensive Player of the Year in '22-23, is also second in career rebounds with 923, behind only Karla Meier's 1025.

Lalotte is also on the career rebounds list, currently in ninth with 654.

Naro has directed Boise State's offense with aplomb and, after 142 assists last season, sits second all-time with 473. Naro would need a season similar '23-24 to catch leader Yaiza Rodriguez (616).

Muse, Naro, and Lalotte have played a combined 354 games for the Broncos.

It was two now-juniors who led Boise State in scoring last season. Natalie Pasco was a first-team all-conference selection, leading the Broncos with 13.2 points per game. Pasco knocked down 84 three-pointers and was named to the preseason all-conference team.

Mya Hansen had a fine season, averaging 10.2 points per game. Hansen knocked down 42.1 percent from deep and was second on the team with 103 assists.

Tatum Thompson, Dani Bayes, and Alyssa Christensen are among the others returning, along with Linsey Lovrovich and Jayda Clark.

Roster turnover was limited, with three players hitting the transfer portal. Kaitlin Burgess transferred to Weber State. Sydney McQuietor and Trista Hull also hit the transfer portal. McQuietor transferred to McNeese State and Hull went to play for the Portland Pilots.

Boise State welcomed two transfers to the program, Josee Steadman and Madeline Cooke, plus three freshmen. Steadman arrives from Colorado Mesa. Cooke arrives from The Masters. The Defensive Player of the Year for the Golden State Athletic Conference, Cooke averaged over 10 rebounds and 3 blocked shots per game and should provide valuable minutes backing up Muse at center.

Non-conference schedule

The Broncos start the season with an exhibition game against Bushnell in Boise on November 2. Then it is the first of four straight home games with a matchup against Eastern Oregon on 11/4.

A home game against the Colorado Buffaloes will be a good early-season measure stick, as will a road game against San Francisco on 11/21.

In the mix there is also a tournament over Thanksgiving weekend. The Broncos play in the Gulf Coast Showcase, opening with Illinois State on 11/29. Their second game will be against either High Point or West Virginia on 11/30, finishing up with one of four teams (Butler, Santa Clara, Texas, New Mexico State) on December 1.

Conference play for the Broncos begins on 12/29 in San Diego against the Aztecs.

Boise State, with this roster, has a chance to deliver a special season. Depth is a plus and will carry this team early. The true test will be finding out how the newcomers fit in and contribute. The team was so close to winning the Mountain West last season and with this breadth of experience this season, gunning for the title again is a realistic goal to achieve.

Boise State Broncos men's basketball 2024-25: Preparing for glory

 

In the faraway land of March 2025, a brass ring looms large for the Boise State Broncos men's basketball team. A ring not yet acquired in program history. The ultimate next step for a team that has been to three-straight NCAA tournaments. 

First, however, is slipping in (and living up) to the preseason accolades bestowed upon this team heading into the 2024-25 season.

Entering his 15th-season as head coach of the Broncos, Leon Rice and Boise State were selected as the preseason favorites to win the Mountain West. The Broncos also received votes in both the AP and Coaches polls, though are not in the top-25 (considered a snub, in some instances).

Boise State also had three players selected to the preseason all-conference team, led by conference player of the year favorite Tyson Degenhart.

Despite losing several key players, Boise State enters the season with high hopes and dreams of glory. Where nothing less than a Mountain West title, fourth-straight NCAA tourney appearance, and finally winning a game in the Big Dance hoisted upon their shoulders. 

No pressure, though. 

Boise State: Roster returnees, turnover

The Broncos were minutes away from advancing past the First Four in last season's tournament. Cold final minutes led to a loss to Colorado, ending a season in which Boise State won 22 games and finished tied for second in the Mountain West.

Disappointing, yes. But Rice and the Broncos are resilient. Though you can count the number of returning players who contributed valuable minutes on one hand, good stuff is on the horizon. 

Players like Degenhart and O'Mar Stanley are two who will lead that charge.

Degenhart, already with three seasons as a starter under his belt, is primed for his best season yet.

He comes off a season in which he led the Broncos in scoring (16.7 ppg) and was second in rebounds (6.2). Degenhart shot 50 percent from the field and 31.6 percent from deep, notching 12 games with 20+ points. His best was a 29-point outing against Air Force, shooting 11 of 12 from the field. 

Prior to a forgettable NCAA tournament game (3 of 10 from the field, six points), Degenhart had a 11 straight games in which he scored in double figures.

Stanley had an outstanding season of his own, with long stretches of greatness throughout. The center led the team in rebounding (6.6 per game) and was third in scoring at 12.7. Pointing to one spectacular performance is tough but one for sure was a 30-point, 11-rebound game against the San Jose State Spartans.

Degenhart and Stanley are tops among the returners who contributed valuable minutes. Andrew Meadow brings the most minutes and RJ Keene II should be involved more. Also expected are big things from Chris Lockett Jr. and Emmanuel Ugbo.

Turnover was high for Boise State last offseason. Between graduation and players transferring, the Broncos lost roughly 35 points per game from last season. 

Seniors Max Rice and Cam Martin finished their eligibility. And the transfer portal was hit hard, where Chibuzo Agbo (USC), Roddie Anderson II (Xavier), Jace Whiting (UNLV), and Kobe Young (Cal State Fullerton) among those finding new homes.

Still, the Broncos were just as active in the portal, including one of the top guards in the Mountain West finding his way to the City of Trees.

Key newcomers for Broncos

The third player selected as a preseason all-conference pick is guard Alvaro Cardenas. Cardenas arrives from San Jose State, where he averaged 13.1 points and 5.7 assists per game. He shot 45.7 percent from the field and 38.5 percent on three-point attempts.

Cardenas will bring tons of experience to the point guard position, where depth might be tested early. Still, he is a great ball handler and ranked 40th in the nation last season in the assists-to-turnover category.

Transfers at the forward and center positions are key, where Dominic Parolin (Lehigh) and Dylan Anderson (Arizona) should contribute right away. So should Javan Buchanan, who brings with him a scoring punch from Indiana Wesleyan, where he finished sixth in the NAIA with 718 points.

A talented group of four freshman are set to suit up for the Broncos and I imagine at least two of them will be valuable contributors by the end of the season. 

Non-conference schedule

The non-conference schedule for Boise State has the potential to be just as challenging as a season ago.  Opponents - postseason a year ago...

Staring strong with a home game against Oakland (11/6) - last season. Clemson Tigers, an Elite Eight team from last season, comes to Boise on November 17. Texas Southern also played in a postseason tournament and comes to town on December 17.

Two neutral court games in the confines of cozy Idaho also appear on Boise State's schedule. The first is in Boise, against the Washington State Cougars (12/7). Then, it's a rematch in Idaho Falls with Saint Mary's on December 14. A season ago, the Broncos defeated the Gaels 63-60.

Boise State has an early road test with the San Francisco Dons (11/9) and then heads to the Cayman Islands Classic for pre-Thanksgiving fun for three games starting November 24. Here, the Broncos open with Hampton, followed up with a game against either South Dakota State or Duquesne. The final round will be November 26, where Boise State will face one of four teams (Missouri State, High Point, Old Dominion, or Boston College).

All this leads to conference play, where six teams represented the Mountain West in last season's Big Dance. Boise State will play three conference games before the calendar flips to 2025.

A lot of basketball is to be unfurled in the coming months. Attached to this Boise State team are high hopes, and for good reasons. The '24-25 chapter has a lot unwritten but if everything falls into place, the words will be excellent, and the brass ring, obtained.

Boise State Broncos outlast UNLV in desert duel

 

Dreams of a Mountain West championship, making the playoffs, and a Heisman Trophy came close to drying up in the desert for the Boise State Broncos football team on Friday night. A loss would have left the Broncos to wander, staring at a mirage of what once was.

After a "dig deep" effort, Boise State was able to escape, a search for an oasis still intact.

The 17th-ranked Broncos (6-1, 3-0) went on the road and left Las Vegas with a hard fought 29-24 victory over the UNLV Rebels.

With one of the top run defenses in the nation, UNLV (6-2, 2-1) swarmed in slowing down Heisman hopeful Ashton Jeanty. Every yard for the nation's top rusher was hard-earned. Banged up, with little depth behind him, Jeanty managed an efficient game worthy of the best backs around.

Jeanty had 33 carries for 128 yards and one score. His 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter on fourth and goal gave Boise State the winning score.

The offense had its struggles finding the end zone as much as it could have, despite moving the ball well. It was the defense for the Broncos, overcoming big plays all night, which proved once again to be a sack machine and propelled Boise State to victory.

Boise State Broncos: Big sack attack

Sacks have arrived in big bunches for the Boise State Broncos in 2024. They happened again against the Rebels, with players making huge plays at opportune times.

Leading the charge was defensive back Alexander Teubner. From the get-go, Teubner was all over the field. He notched a sack on the first UNLV series, forcing the Rebels to settle for a field goal.

Teubner did not stop until the final defensive series, finishing with 14 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and two tackles for loss. 

As a team, the Broncos finished with six sacks. These came from the secondary (Seyi Oladipo with 1.5, Rodney Robinson with 1) and the defensive line (Jayden Virgin-Morgan 1.5, Herbert Gums and Ahmed Hassanein combined for 1).

Oladipo finished with six tackles and Virgin-Morgan also made big plays to disrupt UNLV drives.

A normally stout run defense allowed 188 rushing yards, the majority of which came from UNLV quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams. Williams had 105 yards on the ground, with a 71-yard scamper on the first drive for the Rebels.

Despite allowing 367 total yards, and 12 plays of 10+ yards, the defense was much better after falling behind 10-3 in the first quarter. This included a second quarter in which the Broncos allowed only 18 total yards of offense and had their second interception of the season, by linebacker Andrew Simpson.

Williams also burned Boise State with a couple of long passes, including a 34-yard touchdown pass to put the Rebels up 24-23 towards the end of the third quarter.

Madsen, offense keep moving

The most impressive stat of the night for the Boise State offense: holding ball final 8:07 of the game to seal the victory.

It was a drive where the Broncos put the onus on the back of Jeanty, who also picked up chunks of yards and converted on key third downs.

Third down conversions where a problem all game for Boise State. Normally one of the best in the nation, the Broncos were only 3 for 15. However, fourth downs were a different story, going 4 for 4.

Converting red zone opportunities into touchdowns was a mixed bag. Yes, the Broncos scored three touchdowns but missed on three other chances. Thankfully, Boise State has Jonah Dalmas, who converted on three field goals. 

With the running game mostly hemmed in, quarterback Maddux Madsen put forth one of his best games. Looking at the box score, the stats will not reflect that 100 percent. But Madsen again controlled the game, made huge plays when needed, and kept the Broncos on track.

Madsen completed 18 of 33 passes, throwing for 209 yards and one touchdown. Buoyed by a 49-yard on the game's first series, Madsen finished with 58 yards on the ground. He scored a touchdown on a seven-yard run in the second quarter.

Dropped passes were part of the lower completion percentage, as were batted balls at the line of scrimmage (and a couple of near-interceptions by UNLV star Jackson Woodard, who finished with 14 tackles).

Nine different receivers caught a pass for Boise State. Matt Lauter had four for 38 yards and a touchdown, while Cam Camper (36 yards) and Jeanty (11 yards) added three each.

Austin Bolt and Prince Strachan each had two catches for 43 yards.

Jeanty and Madsen had all but one of Boise State's carries. Running back depth, due to injuries, is a slight concern at the moment, with only Tyler Crowe the only other back to get a carry (an important one on that final drive for 3 yards). 

Words like grit and determination come to mind with this Boise State victory. Both are apt descriptions, with mettle being a nice word to toss in the mix. All three were on display and a big step in showing what makes a champion. 

And with them, the solidifying of a mirage, one week at a time.

More on Boise State football - 2024

3 standouts from victory over Utah State

Boston Celtics aim to mount strong defense, thwart all in 2024-25

 

Heavy is the head that wears the crown.

This often-used phrase applies to more than its fair share of circumstances, so let's toss the Boston Celtics into the mix. Because in the 2024-25 season, with the Celtics defending their crown in search of banner number 19, 29 teams will be striving to dethrone the reigning champs.

It is safe to say the Celtics are up to the challenge.

Poised to make a title run in '24-25, Boston is aiming to become the first back-to-back champions since the Golden State Warriors did so in 2017 and 2018. Doing so will require a test of endurance and fortitude, but with most of their roster from last season in place, the Celtics stacked the odds in their favor.

Not going unnoticed is a team playing with a chip still on their shoulders, despite scaling the mountaintop to win the title last season.

Boston Celtics: Be the best, beat the best

Talk, online chatter mostly, during last season's title run often centered around Boston defeating teams who were less-than-full-strength during the playoffs. In Boston's wake were the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Indiana Pacers, all who had key players out with injuries. Even when the Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the Finals, the refrain was the same.

The fact is, Boston still needed to execute and win those games and every series. Plus, the Celtics had their own star player's injury to worry about when Kristaps Porzingis was lost in the first round. Porzingis, who later returned for limited minutes in the Finals, played near an All-Star level in '23-24.

It was the growth of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, however, that helped Boston take the next step. This dynamic duo upped their game while learning to take a step back and hand over the reins to others when needed. In becoming leaders, Tatum and Brown helped the Celtics flourish.

Tatum had a busy offseason as he headed to the Summer Olympics with Team USA. Controversy followed, where Tatum didn't even see action in two games. Now, I think this is being overblown, and am thankful some wear and tear was saved on Tatum playing extended minutes abroad. I am sure Tatum wished for more playing time, and maybe he will play with extra gusto when Boston plays the Warriors, but to me, less minutes then means more now.

Not named to the Olympic team, Brown carries a perceived slight too. And judging by Brown's offseason workouts, he is on a mission to up his game even more.

Joining Tatum and Brown is an entire roster of familiar faces, plus two exciting rookies who the Celtics can take their time in developing.

Derrick White and Jrue Holiday are stars in their own right and the bench returns the likes of Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard. The latter two are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to a solidly deep bench.

All this sounds like a perfect recipe to repeat as champions, though possible weaknesses loom.

Possible weaknesses for Celtics in '24-25

Highlighted at the forefront is age and health concerns at the center position. Al Horford, even at 38 years old, brings plenty to the court. And Porzingis, well, injuries in his career are well-documented.

Even if there is drop-off with these two, and I expect it will happen, Luke Kornet, Neemias Queta, and Xavier Tillman are ready to step in. Valuable minutes from these three will go a long way plugging the gap.

It was the play of the big men that put Boston over the edge last season, allowing the Celtics to succeed where previous incarnations failed.

Last season, head coach Joe Mazzulla managed minutes among Porzingis and Horford, and his starters, relatively well. The goal will be to take that even further this season and perhaps get more creative with some of the younger players to see time on the court. Last season's deep playoff run, and minutes by three key players at the Olympics, added mileage to the tires and could be a perceived weakness in '24-25.

Boston's title defense begins on October 22, hosting the New York Knicks, followed by two road games at Washington (10/24) and Detroit (10/26).

The Celtics have work to do but built to stand tall. And with it, a fantastic chance to secure banner number 19 next summer.

image credit: Flickr

Heisman watch 2024: October check-in at running back

 

Halfway through October, the race for the 2024 Heisman Trophy, like liquid sliding into a mold, is taking shape. Three quarterbacks are present but two other players are drawing the most interest as teams move deeper into conference play.

A two-way star out in Colorado. A running back powering a team in the City of Trees on the blue turf. So much in fact that Ashton Jeanty of the Boise State Broncos tops the Heisman list at this point of the 2024 season.

Not to discount what Travis Hunter is doing for, and means to, the Colorado Buffaloes, on both sides of the ball. But Jeanty is delivering video game level numbers and on pace to break a longstanding FBS record.

Ashton Jeanty

Bursting through tackles, finding huge gaps, and outsprinting defenders is the modus operandi of Jeanty, especially in '24. Through six games, Jeanty has rushed for 1,248 yards and 17 touchdowns, both marks tops in the FBS. 

The next closest in yards is Caleb Johnson of Iowa, with 937. And Dylan Simpson of Tennessee is next up in touchdowns, with 15.

The record on the minds of fans is the single-season rushing yards record set in 1988 by Barry Sanders. Sanders, in only 11 games, owns the record with 2,628 yards. This does not even account for a Holiday Bowl performance of 222 yards and five touchdowns because back then the NCAA didn't count these extra games.

Not so the case anymore. If Jeanty maintains health, he has a minimum of six games left for the 15th-ranked Boise State Broncos. Throw in a possible Mountain West title game appearance and a bowl game (or playoff) appearance, Jeanty could finish with close to 3,000 yards on the ground.

A bright future out on the horizon. For now, Jeanty is averaging 9.9 yards per carry and has three games of 200+ yards. In each game this season, Jeanty has at least one run of 50 yards or more. 

Jeanty had a big workload in last Saturday's victory over Hawai'i, carrying the ball 31 times for 217 and one touchdown. He was also more involved in the passing game, hauling in three catches for 20 yards and a score.

Fans will have to wait more than a week to see Jeanty in action again. Boise State is on a bye this weekend, with its next game in Las Vegas against UNLV on 10/25.

Rest of the Heisman field

The difficulty ranking the rest of my top five is that all players are fairly close (and in reality, not too far behind Jeanty). The nod here goes to senior quarterback Cam Ward, who has the Miami Hurricanes undefeated and ranked sixth in the latest AP poll.

Ward has completed 69.2 percent of his pass attempts for 2,219 yards (good for second in the nation). His 20 touchdown passes are tied for the top spot, alongside Chandler Morris of North Texas, and Ward has thrown only five interceptions.

In the last three games, Ward has 1,184 passing yards with nine touchdown passes. Against Cal, Ward spearheaded a comeback, completing 35 of 53 for 437 yards.

Ward passed for over 300 yards in all six games this season and will look to keep the Hurricanes rolling on the road against Louisville (10/19)

Hunter and the Buffaloes (4-2) have experienced ups-and-down, the most recent down being a loss to Kansas State. Hunter left early in that game with a shoulder injury but expects to play this week.

On offense, Hunter opened the season with four straight games of 100+ receiving yards. He has 587 total on 49 receptions with six touchdowns.

Equally important has been Hunter's play on defense, where the junior has two interceptions and 16 tackles.

Rounding out this field are quarterbacks Jaxson Dart of 18th-ranked Ole Miss and Kyle McCord of Syracuse. 

Dart hit some hiccups in recent weeks, where Ole Miss has lost two of three. In those games, Dart was 56 of 96 for 830 yards, two touchdowns and one pick. Dart also got sacked 11 times.

In seven games, Dart leads the nation with 2,384 passing yards with a 70.2 completion rate. Dart has 14 touchdowns and three interceptions.

McCord has Syracuse at 5-1, with a two-point loss to Stanford its lone blemish. He has passed for 2,160 yards, throwing for over 300 in all six games. His 19 touchdown passes tie him for third. 

There is plenty of action on the gridiron left to play, with colder weeks fast approaching. If the high-octane offense at Boise State keeps rolling, and Jeanty is the leader of the express, than the Heisman Trophy will no doubt land in the running back in Boise. Not too shabby.

image credit: Freerange Stock

Boise State Broncos: 3 standouts in stampede over Utah State Aggies

 

Confession: I have no idea if mascots and cheerleaders for the Boise State Broncos football team still do pushups after every score. 

If so, they are surely going to be wiped out after Saturday night's game.

Homecoming for the Broncos was an example in offensive efficiency as 21st-ranked Boise State opened Mountain West Conference play with a 62-30 victory over the Utah State Aggies. 

Ashton Jeanty and company had their way all night, with the Broncos totaling 599 yards of offense. A punishing rushing attack again showed off depth with the team totaling 296 yards on the ground. Breezy Dubar, as the main backup to Jeanty and who had his best game of the season, finished with nine carries for 65 yards and a touchdown.

Boise State had issues on defense (especially in the first half), allowing 337 yards, including 262 in the air, most of which came on two big plays by Utah State. The second half wasn't a whole lot better, though the Broncos did tighten up with a slew of different players seeing the field.

Utah State finished with 507 total yards of offense. Quarterback Spencer Petras passed for 372 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Jalen Royals did most of his damage in the first half and finished with nine catches for 211 yards and two scores. Running back Rahsul Faison went for 109 yards on the ground, scoring a fourth quarter touchdown.

Even with the leaks on defense, Boise State (4-1) was never truly threatened in this game, with three standouts leading the way.

Ashton Jeanty

On the first snap for Boise State's offense, Jeanty cemented his status as a top contender for the Heisman Trophy. The junior running back rumbled to the house, scoring on a 63-yard touchdown run.

Later added a 75-yard touchdown scamper, his fourth 70+ yard score of the season and finished with 13 carries for 186 yards and three touchdowns in only two quarters of action.

Jeanty passed the 1000-yard mark in the fifth game, tied with seven other players as fastest to do so in a season. Though if you want to get technical, Jeanty has really played only four games, based off quarters played, having sat out the second half in two games this season.

Bouncing off and breaking tackles is Jeanty's specialty, and he again showed that off Saturday night. Even with more changes on the offensive line, the unit also opens big holes for Jeanty, who takes advantage with ease.

Jeanty now has 1031 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns, and averages 11 yards per carry.

Maddux Madsen

Through four games, Maddux Madsen faced outside scrutiny with inconsistent play. Nothing egregious on the field, mind you, as he mostly took care of the ball and avoided sacks. 

In game five of the '24 season, Madsen had his best performance. Though he had at least one near-interception, Madsen was on point. He finished 21-25 for 256 yards and three touchdowns, most of it coming in the first half.

Madsen played the first series of the second half and later replaced Malachi Nelson for a series (this after Nelson threw an interception). All told, it was a nice mix of short and intermediate throws by Madsen pacing the passing game.

Nelson saw action in the first half for a play after Madsen had to leave after being shaken up. After the interception in the second half, Nelson was a mere 1 for 3 on pass attempts.

Broncos coaches let him throw after coming back and Nelson converted on his last four pass attempts, finishing 5-7 for 47 yards.

Boise State receivers

Okay, I cheated on this one, as too many players for the Boise State Broncos had an excellent game to simple narrow it down to one.

Ten different players caught a pass, with Madsen and Nelson using the whole stable of familiar Boise State names. Cameron Camper topped the list with five catches for 59 yards. Tight end Matt Lauter, who has been locked in the last three weeks, secured three for 33 yards.

Austin Bolt burst through with one of his best games as a Bronco. Bolt had four catches, 24 yards and a touchdown, while Prince Strachan had four receptions for 58 yards. Chase Penry also had four receptions (74 yards) and Latrell Caples returned to the field. In limited action, Caples had one catch for 14 yards.

Honorable mentions go to Dylan Riley, who returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. Herbert Gums, who had more snaps with Sheldon Newton out, finished with six tackles. And placekicker Jonah Dalmas became the Boise State record holder in points and Mountain West career leader in field goals after kicking eight extra points and two field goals. 

After what seems like a decade of somewhat stagnant offense at Boise State, it is a pleasure to watch this team put up big numbers again. More work can be done in the passing game but this week was a huge step forward. And if Jeanty, who is on his way to a 2000-yard season on the ground, keeps pounding, opposing defenses are going to have to dig in for the long haul.

Boise State heads to the islands next, playing the Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors on 10/12 at 9 p.m. (MT) on CBS

More on Boise State Broncos football 2024:

Takeaways from victory over Georgia Southern Dream a little dream in 2024

2018 NFL Draft 1st round QBs series: Sizzling Sam Darnold

 

Four games into their seventh season, four of the five quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft have finally arrived as one. A cohesive collection playing as class acts and all together, worthy of their first-round monikers.

A development long in the making.

This success is not necessarily new for playoff mainstays and perennial MVP candidates (and twice winner) Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. Even Baker Mayfield, in six seasons, has enjoyed more positives and accomplishments than not. Though Mayfield has not quite reached a pinnacle for a top overall pick, respectable play has occurred. Plus, the Cleveland Browns, who initially selected him, are tasting some karma for letting him go.

It is Mr. Sam Darnold who is finally putting together the lessons learned and road bumps encountered to good use. Experience gained has given Darnold the best start of his career and even perhaps his best stretch of games. In doing so, Darnold has the Minnesota Vikings off to a 4-0 start as these four quarterbacks are a combined 12-4 through the season's first four weeks.

Sam Darnold

Maybe the confidence for Darnold has always been there. It is only now breeding results, with the Vikings delivering four convincing wins to begin the season.

Impressive victories over the San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans, and Green Packers top the list. All were following a decisive week one victory over the New York Giants.

Darnold has been efficient, tossing for over 200 yards in three games. His total of 932 passing yards his second-best among these four quarterbacks. Darnold's 11 touchdowns passes lead the way (so do his three interceptions), while completing 68.9 percent of his pass attempts. 

Darnold has been sacked 10 times and carried the ball 15 times for 50 yards.

One bonus, too, is that Darnold and the Vikings are winning without tight end T.J. Hockenson. Hockenson had been on the PUP list but the Minnesota recently opened his window to return to practice. 

Wide receiver Jordan Addison has also missed two games. 

A strong defense, outside of nearly allowing a comeback by the Packers, has helped, with opponents twice scoring less than ten points.

Darnold has the Vikings rolling. Two home games await in the coming weeks, with a trip to London and a bye week mixed in. The path ahead is not an easy one to traverse by any means and I don't see the Vikings still undefeated after week 9. However, a 3-1 stretch is entirely doable. 

Weeks 5 - 9: vs NYJ (10/6), BYE, vs DET (10/20), @ LAR (10/24), vs IND (11/3)

Lamar Jackson

Until the victory over the Buffalo Bills last Sunday night, the defense of the Baltimore Ravens (2-2) had trouble closing out games. A little worrisome, consider Jackson and new running back Derrick Henry had the offense cooking.

Henry got off to a slow start but has been back to his rip-roaring self since. Against the Bills, Henry had 199 yards and two scores, bringing his season totals to 480 and five, respectively.

The arrival of Henry has helped balanced out Jackson, especially the last two weeks. In victories over Dallas and Buffalo, Jackson threw the ball only 33 times, completing 25. This after tossing up the ball 75 times in the first two weeks.

Jackson his still doing work on the ground, averaging over seven yards per carry. Through four games, Jackson has 308 yards and two touchdowns.

Controlling the ground game means less in the passing attack, where tight end Mark Andrews has been absent (though his blocking is fabulous). Jackson is maintaining a nice 66.7 completion percentage with 858 yards, five touchdowns, and only one interception.

Jackson has also lost a couple of fumbles and been sacked four times.

Despite being centimeters away from a 3-1 record, Jackson and the Ravens are in a good spot in the AFC North. They get a chance in the coming weeks to spring ahead in the division. And while tough opponents await, the Ravens could very well be in midst of a seven-game winning streak by time week 10 rolls around.

Weeks 5 - 9: @ CIN (10/6), vs WAS (10/13), @ TB (10/21), @ CLE (10/27), vs DEN (11/3)

Josh Allen

Allen and the Bills looked unbeatable heading into Baltimore, winning by a combined score 78-20 the previous two weeks. Then, everything momentarily crashed to a halt in the 35-10 loss to the Ravens.

Nothing really clicked in the loss, Allen included, throwing for only 42 yards in the first half. He finished 16-29 for 180 yards.

This effort came a week after Allen posted a first half against the Jaguars in which he completed 22 of 28 for 247 yards and four touchdowns.

Allen, after the offseason trade of Stefon Diggs to the Texans, is spreading the ball around nicely. Ten different players have caught passes, led by Khalil Shakir with 18.

Passing yards are down for Allen but he hasn't been forced to do as much. Through four games, he's reached 30 attempts only once and has completed 69.3 percent. Allen has 814 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and is yet to throw a pick.

On the ground, Allen has 106 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

The Bills will be road warriors the next five weeks, traveling to different stadiums three times. A setback happened in week 4 but a stretch of 3-2 (or better) is on the agenda in coming weeks.

Weeks 5 - 9: @ HOU (10/6), @ NYJ (10/14), vs TEN (10/20), @ SEA (10/27), vs MIA (11/3)

Baker Mayfield

One of the bigger question marks among these four quarterbacks was wondering if Mayfield could duplicate his success from a season ago. If not for a dud in a week three loss to the Denver Broncos, Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be undefeated.

In that 26-7 loss, the Bucs were lackluster, and Mayfield threw for only 163 yards and was sacked seven times. 

Sacks were an issue in weeks two and three but much better in a week four victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Mayfield was sacked only twice and threw for 347 yards in a 33-16 victory.

Mayfield is tops this season among the four quarterbacks here in yards (984) and completion percentage (70.5), with eight touchdowns and two interceptions.

Tampa Bay has been slightly better in the ground attack, with Mayfield contributing 65 yards and two scores.

Division play is heavy on the rotation the next five weeks for Tampa Bay, with Atlanta (twice) and New Orleans on the agenda. Toss in matchups with Baltimore and Kansas City and dark clouds could be on the agenda. Still, a 3-2 record in this stretch is entirely doable but Mayfield and the Bucs will need to be at their best.

Weeks 5 - 9: @ ATL (10/3), @ NO (10/13), vs BAL (10/21), vs ATL (10/27), @ KC (11/4)

Josh Rosen

An update finally crept into the public regarding the status of Josh Rosen. A football career may be over and Rosen has turned his attention elsewhere. According to Eric Sondheimer, Rosen has enrolled in the Wharton School of Business at Penn.

Good luck.

As for the other four quarterbacks of the 2018 first round class, their pursuit of a title continues. Check back in here for a robust update after week nine as I chart their career progress.

More on season 7 of the five quarterbacks series:  Season 7 preview

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Ashton Jeanty Heisman express full steam ahead

 

Hype for the Heisman Trophy (or HEI2MAN, if you prefer) is going strong for running back Ashton Jeanty.

Wearing uniform number two, Jeanty is a junior running back for the 25th-ranked Boise State Broncos who is off to a fabulous start in 2024. Sure, Jeanty did not find the end zone in Boise State's 56-14 victory over Portland State last Saturday. But he delivered mightily in only two quarters of action, carrying the ball 11 times for 127 yards.

With the game essentially in hand after one half of play, it made perfect sense to rest Jeanty. Giving him a series or two of snaps (or an entire third quarter) would have been beneficial in padding stats for Jeanty. The risk of playing Jeanty further far outweighed the reward, with Boise State vying to make a run to the postseason playoffs. Especially, too, since the Broncos already lost backup Sire Gaines to injury earlier in the game.

Gaines had two carries for 24 yards and, even without their top two running backs in the second half, a drop-off in production did not occur.

Dylan Riley, with his nine carries for 96 yards and two touchdowns, earned Mountain West Freshman of the Week. All Tyler Crowe did was carry the ball 11 times for 57 yards while hammering opponents (and a touchdown, to boot). Boise State as a team finished with 342 yards on the ground, with the offensive line, even down starters, continued to rip open huge gaps.

Jeanty and company are the beneficiary. Of course, Jeanty is a special talent and remains on track to be in Heisman consideration.

Ashton Jeanty: Behold the numbers

Three games into the '24 season, it appears Jeanty's fantastic 2023 was only a prelude to fireworks.

In '23, Jeanty was named an AP 2nd team All-American after rushing for 1347 yards and 14 touchdowns. Coupled with 43 receptions for 569 yards and five scores, Jeanty was poised to do wonders in '24.

Though he hasn't been utilized in the passing game so far (5 receptions, 12 yards), Jeanty has proven to be a strong blocker. And with the way he is performing on the ground, and with plenty of talent at the wide receiver position, Jeanty hasn't been needed to catch the ball yet.

Jeanty has 586 yards, averaging 10.5 yards per carry, with nine touchdowns. After he set school single-game records of 267 yards and six touchdowns in the opener, Jeanty was just as good in a narrow loss at Oregon. 

In that game, Jeanty rushed for 192 yards and three touchdowns.

After the "limited" production in game three, Jeanty dropped to second in the nation in rushing yards and touchdowns. Of course, he has also played one less game than the national leaders in each category.

Kaleb Johnson has scampered for 685 rushing yards for the 3-1 Iowa Hawkeyes. Johnson also has nine touchdowns, tied with Jeanty and trailing Dylan Sampson, who has found the end zone ten times for the Tennessee Volunteers.

Jeanty, Johnson, and Sampson are the top running backs among the Heisman hopefuls.

Jeanty & other Heisman contenders

Jeanty will need a little help to reach the pinnacle, namely keeping up with his output and hoping Boise State wins out. While the Heisman field isn't necessarily crowded, the top performers are doing mighty things at Power 4 schools.

Quarterback Jaxson Dart for sixth-ranked Ole Miss (4-0) is enjoying a near-perfect start. Dart has thrown for 1554 yards and completed 79.8 percent of his pass attempts, with 12 touchdowns and two interceptions.

Nearly even with Dart is quarterback Cam Ward. Ward leads the seventh-ranked Miami Hurricanes (4-0) with 1439 passing yards. He has completed 72.4 percent and tossed 14 touchdowns (against only two interceptions.

A third quarterback who is sneaking his way into conversation is Nico Iamaleava out of Tennessee. Iamaleava has the Volunteers ranked fifth and, with not quite the numbers of the first two on this list, is gaining momentum.

The real wildcard is Travis Hunter for the 3-1 Colorado Buffaloes. Playing wide receiver and defensive back, Hunter is doing magnificent things. He is tied for fourth with touchdowns (5) and is sixth in receiving yards (472) on 37 receptions.

Hunter also has 14 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble, and two passes defended as one of the nation's top defensive backs.

This group is not short on talent. For this individual accolade, a lot will have to go Jeanty's way to be the winner. The more important thing, however, is for the Broncos and Jeanty to simply continue to produce and win ball games. Do that, and the rest will quite possibly take care of itself when it comes to sending Jeanty to the ultimate college football stage.

More on Boise State 2024 season:

Dream a little dream in 2024

Boston Red Sox aim for last gasp in final two weeks

 

Like the famous image of the cat "hanging in there", paws holding on for dear life, the Boston Red Sox are doing the same in the 2024 playoff race.

Barely. By the slimmest of margins.

A Saturday afternoon victory over the New York Yankees capped a seven-day stretch in which Boston kept its playoff hopes from disappearing altogether. Results were a mixed bag, something fans have grown accustomed to the last two months. Solid pitching occurred in games where the bats disappeared. And in games the Red Sox did provide semblance of an offense, late-game bullpen meltdowns stopped Boston short.

In the end, the last seven days yielded three wins and four losses. This left the Red Sox grasping at the edge of a playoff race, where hope dwindles with each day.

Boston Red Sox and the Wild Card race

Saturday's victory for Boston came after a devastating loss on Friday night. Ahead 4-0 in the seventh inning, after Richard Fitts gave the Red Sox five innings of two-hit baseball, the bullpen disappeared.

A five-run seventh inning, capped by a grand slam from Yankee slugger Aaron Judge, provided enough for a 5-4 New York victory. It marked the second time in two nights the Red Sox lost to the Yankees by one after falling 2-1 in extra innings on Thursday.

Two stop the bleeding, the Red Sox called up Brayan Bello. Bello (14-7, 4.60 ERA) picked up the victory with a gritty effort, tossing 5.1 innings while allowing four hits and one run. And this time, the bullpen responded with 3.2 innings of 1-hit baseball.

Boston continued their mastery over Gerrit Cole. In 15 starts against Boston while with the Yankees, Cole is 5-6 with a 6.06 ERA.

Cole's trouble started with an intentional walk in the fourth inning to his biggest nemesis, Rafael Devers. The walk came with one out and the bases empty and the Red Sox took advantage with a three-run inning. 

They tacked on four more in the fifth, including a 2-run RBI single by Devers.

Trevor Story, after two hits and a home run in Friday's loss, picked up three hits on Saturday. Masataka Yoshida went 2-4 and drove in three runs.

The victory was much needed and kept Boston hanging around. At 75-74, closing the season at .500 might be the more realistic goal to consider. However, a four-game winning streak or better could turn playoff hopes around in a snap.

With games still on the docket for Saturday, the Red Sox sit four games back of the final Wild Card spot. Plus, the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners currently block Boston's path to that spot.

Upcoming schedule

Two weeks remain and Boston remains on the road after finishing up in New York on Sunday. A victory and split of the series would be a fantastic way to start the next stretch of games.

A day off on Monday is on the horizon, followed by three games in Tampa Bay against the Rays. Boston is 4-3 against Tampa Bay this season, with the teams last meeting in May, where Boston swept Tampa Bay.

Those three losses to the Rays were by a combined five runs.

Huge implications await next weekend, one way or another, when Boston welcomes the Minnesota Twins to town. The Twins are currently the owners of that final Wild Card spot and success here could flip the script for the Red Sox.

The two teams met in early May, where Minnesota took two of three from the Red Sox. In those two losses, Boston scored a combined three runs.

No rest for the weary with 13 games left on the docket. Boston will hopefully see the return of Tanner Houck later in the week, who has been out with shoulder fatigue. It will likely take five wins in their next seven games to even hang around. Another week of hovering around .500 likely won't eliminate the Red Sox but it will put them on life support.

For now, more relevant games are to be played. And hopes of keeping this season going into October.

2024 playoff hopes disappearing for Boston Red Sox

 

A week ago, the Boston Red Sox were primed and ready to enter September in a meaningful playoff push.

Seven days and the fortunes have flipped on their head. A post All-Star break swoon continued, with the Red Sox dangerously close from playing themselves right out of playoff contention. 

Boston lost six of their last eight games, including a five-game losing streak in which Boston plated a total of eight runs. Chances lost on the road, where the Red Sox had played well this season. Done in during this recent stretch not by a struggling staff, which mostly turned things around the last week, but by an offense that disappeared.

Much like their chances at making the 2024 playoffs.

Eyeballing the leaders

Scoring runs evaded the Red Sox even more in Friday night's game with the Chicago White Sox. In Boston's previous seven games, they had scored a grand total of 15 runs (seven of which came in one game). 

Against the record-setting White Sox, the Red Sox pushed across only three runs. Thankfully, it was more than enough in a 3-1 victory.

Boston picked up only five hits, one of which was the eventual game winner. Ceddanne Rafaela broke a 1 to 1 tie in the bottom of the seventh inning with a two-run home run. Hopefully this gets Rafaela, who has only four hits in his last 11 games, going again down the stretch.

Rafael Devers went 2-4 for the Red Sox.

Boston was backed by another decent outing from the pitchers. Starter Nick Pivetta lasted six innings, scattering five hits and one run while walking three and striking out six. Three relievers closed out the game, allowing only one hit in the final three innings.

This victory was a much-needed notch in the win column. After last week's dire shenanigans, Boston finds itself tied with the Detroit Tiger. These two teams are five games back of the final spot in the Wild Card race, with the Seattle Mariners slight ahead of them at 4.5 games out.

The Tigers have put together a nice run and in Boston's case, lucky no one team is separating themselves in this Wild Card race. The three teams currently in prime position (New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, and Kansas City Royals) are all under .500 in their last ten games.

Boston sits 10.5 games back in the American League East. Probably a lost cause in considering a division title but hey, nothing a seven-game winning streak won't cure.

Upcoming week for Boston Red Sox

The most important item on the agenda is for Boston to take care of the next two games against the White Sox. No excuse not to win these games and to keep the postseason dream alive in 2024.

Including these games with Chicago, Boston (71-70) has 21 games left on the docket. After the White Sox, Boston welcomes the Baltimore Orioles to town. The Red Sox are 3-7 against the Orioles this season and a series win is a must.

Boston then hits the road for four games in New York against the Yankees. The Red Sox currently hold the season edge, 5-4, and at the very least a split is needed.

Last week, I felt the Red Sox needed to go 18-10 the rest of the way to make the playoffs. After this rough week, that now breaks down to 16-5. Boston might have wiggle room of a game or two, especially with other Wild Card teams not sprinting away from the field. But it will take the melding of solid pitching and the return of the offense to make that happen. If not, well, the disappearing act will be complete and the last two weeks will be simply a run to see if Boston can finish the season with a .500 record.