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BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Avery Williams blocked two punts that had been returned for touchdowns within the first half, Boise State had three particular groups touchdowns off blocked kicks, and the Broncos routed Colorado State 52-21 on Thursday night time.
Williams recovered his personal blocked punt for a landing 52 seconds into the sport. Late within the first half, Williams got here off the sting and blocked his second punt, this one picked up by DJ Schramm and returned 20 yards for a TD that made it 42-7.
Williams was the Mountain West particular groups participant of the 12 months a season in the past. He has seven profession particular groups touchdowns, the primary six approaching kickoff or punt returns, together with an 88-yard kickoff return fort a TD this season at Air Power.
”Particular groups has at all times been my No. 1 factor,” Williams mentioned. ”So the truth that we will execute all of that and have it play out the best way it did that is actually massive for our program.”
Kekaula Kaniho additionally returned a blocked subject aim 91 yards for a rating late within the first quarter. It was the primary time Boise State had a number of blocked kicks returned for touchdowns in a sport since transferring to the FBS in 1996.
”We would have liked to attain, we would have liked to start out quick, we would have liked to create one thing on particular groups,” Boise State coach Bryan Harsin mentioned.
The Broncos (3-1, 3-0 Mountain West) rebounded from final week’s 51-17 drubbing by No. 8 BYU, the worst residence loss for Boise State since 1996.
Andrew Van Buren scored on a pair of 1-yard TD runs within the first half and Hank Bachmeier added a 5-yard TD go to Riley Smith. Bachmeier returned after lacking the previous two video games and was 16 of 28 for 202 yards.
All of the momentum from Colorado State’s victory over Wyoming final week evaporated with its tenth straight loss to the Broncos. Patrick O’Brien was 9-of-20 passing within the first half, together with an interception, and was changed by Todd Centeio.
Colorado State (1-2, 1-2) pulled to 42-21 early within the third quarter after scoring 14 factors in 17 seconds. Centeio hit Trey McBride on a 21-yard TD go. Williams fumbled the following kickoff, and A’Jon Vivens rumbled 17 yards for a rating.
However that was as shut because the Rams would get. Boise State offensive lineman Nick Crabtree recovered teammate Khalil Shakir’s fumble simply shy of the aim line and scored late within the third quarter to cap the scoring.
”Numerous guys scored tonight that we’d not count on to attain tonight. And I feel that is superior,” Boise State linebacker Riley Whimpey mentioned.
COVID CONCERNS
Boise State introduced earlier than kickoff that 9 gamers had been out as a result of constructive COVID-19 assessments, with one other 5 out as a result of contact tracing.
”Hopefully transferring ahead we’re capable of maintain that extra underneath management, as a result of as a crew you by no means need to lose guys,” Whimpey mentioned.
THE TAKEAWAY
Colorado State: The Rams had loads of particular groups points however their offense did not assist. Colorado State had simply 18 complete yards over the primary 4 drives and trailed 14-0 earlier than getting a primary down.
Boise State: The Broncos haven’t misplaced consecutive video games since 2016 and have not misplaced two straight at residence since 2015.
UP NEXT
Colorado State: Hosts UNLV on Nov. 21.
Boise State: At Hawaii on Nov. 21.
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Extra AP school soccer: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25
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