Boise State operating again Ashton Jeanty rushed for a school-record 267 yards and 6 touchdowns, serving to the Broncos keep away from a season-opening upset bid with a 56-45 highway win over Georgia Southern on Saturday.
Jeanty, a preseason All-American and the Mountain West Offensive Participant of the Yr in 2023, broke away for a career-long 77-yard landing run on his second carry and delivered a 75-yard rating within the fourth quarter to assist the Broncos draw back after Georgia Southern took a 37-36 lead.
“Clearly, it goes with out saying, however Ashton Jeanty is the very best participant within the nation,” Boise State coach Spencer Danielson stated. “That was on full show tonight.”
Jeanty grew to become the primary FBS participant to attain six dashing touchdowns in a recreation since Pitt’s Israel Abanikanda had six towards Virginia Tech in 2022, in response to TruMedia. He averaged 13.4 yards per keep it up his 20 makes an attempt. Jeanty completed No. 2 in FBS in yards from scrimmage final season with 1,916 yards and 19 complete touchdowns.
Boise State launched a Heisman Trophy marketing campaign for Jeanty earlier this week, and he struck a Heisman pose in the long run zone after his first landing of the 12 months.
“I’ve obtained to shout out my O-line,” Jeanty stated. “They opened up huge, extensive holes all recreation. I’ve obtained the straightforward half: Make some guys miss and go run to the top zone.”
Boise State, the reigning Mountain West champions, is taken into account a high contender to earn the Group of 5 spot within the inaugural 12-team Faculty Soccer Playoff and obtained essentially the most votes amongst G5 groups within the preseason AP ballot. The Broncos held a 28-9 lead late within the second quarter earlier than Georgia Southern rallied with 4 consecutive landing drives to drag forward.
Jeanty answered along with his 75-yard landing on the primary play of Boise State’s subsequent possession and the Broncos obtained two fourth-quarter scores from true freshman operating again Sire Gaines, who produced 154 complete yards in his first profession recreation.
“I am happy with how our staff battled,” Danielson stated. “I am happy with how they stayed within the struggle, saved swinging, did not at all times go our method and generally it was self-inflicted, someday they’re simply issues that occur in a recreation that you have to reply to. That is what I am enthusiastic about as a coach. Week 1, when you will discover numerous issues to scrub up on movie and nonetheless discover a technique to win the sport? That is what I am happy with our staff doing.”
The Broncos go on the highway once more subsequent week for a large take a look at towards No. 3 Oregon. They opened the 2023 season at Washington, shedding 56-19 to a staff that went on to play for the nationwide championship, and hadn’t gained a season opener since 2020.