‘We didn’t execute’: Missed opportunities, 2nd-half collapse doom Boise State in LA Bowl

The Boise State football team specialized in defying the odds this season, but the Broncos’ four-game winning streak and late-season rebirth came to an end Saturday night in the LA Bowl.

Boise State missed opportunities in the first half to build a big lead, allowing UCLA to hang around, and the Broncos’ defense simply couldn’t stop the Bruins in the second half of a 35-22 loss.

“Defensively, we didn’t execute, and offensively, we couldn’t sustain drives,” Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said after the game. “The beautiful part of football is it’s not subjective. When we watch the film, it’s going to be very clear what happened and what we didn’t execute.”

Boise State’s first three drives of the game covered 59, 62 and 59 yards but stalled in the red zone, resulting in field goals by Jonah Dalmas. Their fourth trip inside UCLA’s 20-yard line finally produced a touchdown when running back George Holani punched the ball across the goal line from one yard out.

The Broncos led 16-7 at halftime, but that lead could have easily been 24-7 or 28-7, which likely would have made the second half a very different story.

“How you execute in the red zone is everything,” Danielson said. “As an offense, we did a great job moving the ball into the red zone. We’ve got to find ways to capitalize and put that ball in the end zone.”

Instant analysis: Boise State’s second-half bowl meltdown raises some concerns for 2024

The game got away from the Broncos in the third quarter. UCLA outscored them 21-0 in the frame, and the Bruins’ spark came from a quarterback change. Starter Collin Schlee suffered an injury after a long run early in the third. He was replaced by redshirt junior Ethan Garbers, who stole the show.

Garbers found wide receiver Kyle Ford on a 5-yard touchdown pass moments after stepping on the field. He followed that with back-to-back scoring drives that were capped by touchdown runs by TJ Harden (20 carries, 105 yards).

Garbers completed passes of 39 and 41 yards on back-to-back scoring drives in the third quarter and found J. Michael Sturdivant on a 40-yard touchdown pass in the fourth. Garbers finished the game 9-for-12 for 152 yards and earned Offensive MVP honors. His performance begged the question: Why didn’t he start in the first place?

UCLA coach Chip Kelly said after the game that Garbers has been dealing with multiple injuries, and he said Garbers told him during warmups that he didn’t feel ready. Kelly said the great thing about Garbers is he was ready when the team needed him.

“Ethan won this team over a long time ago,” Kelly said. “He knows that he’s the starting quarterback here, and I’ve got great faith in him.”

There weren’t many bright spots for the Broncos on Saturday, but Holani’s performance was one. Playing in the final game of his five-year career, Holani led the Broncos with 138 rushing yards and broke off a 66-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. He also had a 45-yard reception.

“As a running back, you just have to keep trusting that one is going to pop,” Holani said. “It’s going to be dirty runs most of the game, but shout-out to the O-line for blocking their butts off and opening that big crease for me.”

Danielson called it a fitting performance for one of the hardest workers on the team. He also said Holani’s legacy at Boise State goes far beyond what he did Saturday at SoFi Stadium.

“George’s legacy has been imprinted here for a long time,” Danielson said. “What he does off the field, how he leads and trains, and how he’s one of the most humble young men I’ve ever been around. His legacy resonates with every single player in the locker room.”

Boise State quarterback CJ Tiller made his first career start on Saturday, a result of redshirt sophomore Taylen Green leaving the team — he committed to Arkansas earlier this week — and redshirt freshman Maddux Madsen’s recovery from surgery to repair a torn MCL.

A bowl game in an NFL stadium against a Power Five opponent is a pretty tall task for any quarterback, especially one making his first start. Tiller never really looked comfortable in the pocket and struggled to push the ball down the field on Saturday. Once UCLA’s defense clamped down on Holani and running back Ashton Jeanty (17 carries, 85 yards) in the second half, Tiller was a sitting duck.

The freshman finished the game 12-for-21 for 117 yards, and he threw a bad interception into a crowd in the second half.

“I’m proud of CJ because it’s a tough situation to step into and he didn’t blink,” Danielson said. “The downside in the second half was he was in situations where they knew he had to throw the football. We have to be more efficient on first and second down to put him in better spots.”

The season didn’t end the way Boise State wanted, but Danielson said that doesn’t take away from an inspiring effort to turn it all around.

Boise State opened the season with losses to Washington and UCF. The team was 4-5 in early November and seemingly out of the Mountain West title race after losses to Fresno State and Colorado State. The Broncos also lost their head coach, Andy Avalos, who was fired on Nov. 12.

Undeterred, the Broncos fought their way back with three straight wins with Danielson as interim coach and captured their first Mountain West championship since 2019 with a 44-20 drubbing of UNLV. Danielson said that kind of perseverance bodes well for the future.

“I think that is not only going to propel us into the future on the field, but that’s something that nobody can take from these guys in life,” he said. “When everyone counts you out and says you can’t do something, if you put your heads down and work, success is waiting.”