BOISE, Idaho — Malik Sherod ran for a career-high 132 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown, and returned a kickoff 95 yards for a score to help Fresno State beat Boise State 37-30 Saturday night.
The loss drops the Broncos to 4-5 overall for the first time since 1997 and gives the Bulldogs possession of the rivalry's Milk Can trophy for the first time since 2017. Boise State sits at 3-2 in Mountain West play with three conference contests remaining.
Dylan Lynch made field goals of 48, 22 and 24 yards for Fresno State, who claimed its third-straight win and improved to 8-1 on the season (4-1 MWC). Mikey Keene was 24-of-38 passing for 290 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Keene threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Tre Watson that capped a seven-play, 78-yard opening drive and the Bulldogs led the rest of the way. Watson was one of three Bulldog receivers to post more than 50 receiving yards, joining Mac Dalena and Josiah Freeman.
Bronco quarterback Maddux Madsen connected with Billy Bowens for a 2-yard throw-and-catch that trimmed the deficit to 13-10 with 7 seconds left in the first half. Taylen Green once again started Saturday night, but Madsen came in on just Boise State's second offensive play of the game.
Boise State's ensuing kickoff bounced a couple times before Sherrod scooped it up at the 5, raced up the middle, bent it back to the left sideline near midfield and broke a would-be tackle by the kicker near the 15 on his way to the end zone as time expired to make it 20-10 at halftime.
Fresno State's Elijah Gilliam extended the lead to 27-10 with a rushing touchdown to cap off a 14-play, 68-yard drive that consumed more than seven minutes in the third quarter. The Broncos responded with a score by George Holani late in the frame.
Last week against Wyoming, Holani was supposed to be on a "pitch count" in his first appearance since the season opener at Washington, but ended up with 20 carries. Sophomore running back Ashton Jeanty was ruled inactive prior to kickoff in Fresno Saturday due to an injury suffered against the Cowboys.
Holani totaled 79 rushing yards and the score on 19 carries in the loss to the Bulldogs. Madsen, who trimmed Boise State's deficit to three points on a 27-yard run with 4:40 to play, finished with 61 yards on the ground.
With less than two minutes remaining and the Broncos trailing 30-27, Sherrod did it again with a 52-yard touchdown scamper to push the gap back to 10.
Madsen was 22-of-42 passing for 258 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Green went 1-of-2 for 32 passing yards with an interception. Boise State wide receiver Eric McAlister was targeted 19 times, grabbing 8 receptions for 85 yards.
For the second-straight week, linebacker Andrew Simpson led the Broncos in total tackles (12) and tackles-for-loss (2.5) in Saturday's 37-30 loss. Junior safety Seyi Oladipo grabbed his first interception of the season and added 7 total tackles.
Jonah Dalmas, a former walk-on and Meridian native from Rocky Mountain High School, made three field goals (from 45, 38 and 52 yards) for Boise State. His 69 career made field goals are a program record, breaking the mark of 67, set by Kyle Brotzman (2007-10).
The Broncos return to Albertsons Stadium to host New Mexico (3-6, 1-4) on Saturday, Nov. 11. The Mountain West contest kicks off at 8 p.m. MT and airs on Fox Sports 1 (FS1).
Watch more on Boise State Football:
See all of our Boise State football coverage in our YouTube playlist:
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET NEWS FROM KTVB:
Download the KTVB News Mobile App
Apple iOS: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Watch news reports for FREE on YouTube: KTVB YouTube channel
Stream Live for FREE on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching 'KTVB'.
Stream Live for FREE on FIRE TV: Search ‘KTVB’ and click ‘Get’ to download.