September 23, 2025

Article By Nick Wade

Saturday marks a pivotal early-season clash on The Blue as Boise State, sitting at 2-1 overall and 1-0 in Mountain West play, welcomes Appalachian State, also 2-1, to Albertsons Stadium. The Broncos ride the high of last week’s road victory at Air Force,
a game that once again showcased the brilliance of Dylan Riley while also exposing lingering concerns about the secondary and tackling in open space. The matchup with Appalachian State will demand Boise State’s most disciplined defensive effort of the year,
particularly against one of the nation’s best passing attacks, and it will require the offense to continue the momentum it has built on the ground over the past two weeks.

The victory over Air Force was quintessential Boise State–Falcons football: bruising, unpredictable, and closer than the 49-37 final score might suggest. The game contained a brief scare early when quarterback Maddux “Maddog” Madsen went down awkwardly in the first series with a leg injury, forcing him to retreat to the locker room for treatment. For a moment, Bronco Nation collectively held their breath. Madsen returned with a brace and, though perhaps not at full strength, he fought through the pain to throw for 276 yards and two touchdowns while showing poise in the pocket against a tricky Air Force front. The steady hand of the junior kept the Broncos from unraveling early, but the story of the game was once again Riley.

Dylan Riley delivered a historic performance, putting up 171 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground while adding another 84 yards and receiving touchdown through the air. That kind of dominance—five total touchdowns and 255 all-purpose yards—doesn’t just happen by accident.  It underscored exactly what I’ve been saying since the offseason: Riley is the engine of this offense and must be elevated to the role of centerpiece if Boise State is to push through the grind of this schedule and repeat as Mountain West champions. Against Air Force, his ability to break contain, create explosive plays, and force the defense to respect his versatility opened up opportunities for Malik Sherrod, who added 80 yards and a score of his own, and for Latrell Caples, who quietly pieced together a strong receiving line with 87 yards on five catches.

The issue, however, came on the other side of the ball. Air Force’s Liam Szarka and Cade Harris combined to torch the secondary for chunk plays, most notably Harris’ 74-yard reception. While the Broncos were able to bend without breaking often enough, and Buck Benefield again proved he is one of the most reliable defenders on the roster with 11 tackles, two tackles for loss, and an interception, it was evident that open field tackling
and communication in the back end remain critical vulnerabilities. The concern is magnified by who’s coming to town this week: an Appalachian State offense that thrives through the air.

Led by LSU transfer quarterback AJ Swann, the Mountaineers rank third nationally in passing. Swann has already thrown for 879 yards and five touchdowns in just three games, showcasing a calm, decisive presence in the pocket and a knack for finding his favorite target, Jaden Barnes. Barnes has been virtually unstoppable early in the season, racking up 337 receiving yards and three scores on 24 receptions. Boise State’s secondary, which has shown moments of promise but too often given up big plays, cannot afford to let Barnes roam free across the middle or down the sideline.   Adding to the challenge, Appalachian State has balance. Arkansas transfer Rashod Dubinion has provided a steady running game with 400 rushing yards on 71 carries, giving the Mountaineers an element of unpredictability. This is not a one-dimensional passing offense that Boise State can pin its ears back against; it is a fully formed unit capable of controlling tempo and exploiting mismatches.

That is why the defensive line will be under immense pressure. Jayden Virgin-Morgan and Braxton Feely must win their battles up front to force App State into obvious passing downs, while Marco Notarainni must clean up anything that slips through. Benefield, who has been a force but at times left to clean up too much in space, must get support from teammates.  My biggest plea remains directed at the secondary: jam receivers at the line of scrimmage and create disruption. Jaden Mickey, the transfer from Notre Dame, has the skillset to excel in press coverage and should be used more aggressively to throw off timing. Trey Tolmaire, who had a pick in the home opener, Ja’Bree Bickham and Tahj Crutchfield should be considered to rotate in support of Jeremiah Erby. Ja’Bree’s size and athleticism are tools that can’t remain idle and pragmatically installing him could give the secondary more stability against an opponent that thrives on rhythm. If Swann is allowed clean looks and quick releases, App State will feast; if the Broncos can disrupt the timing with physical play at the line, their odds of controlling the game increase dramatically.

On the offensive side, Boise State has the formula – it simply must stick to it. Establishing the ground game early through Riley and Sire Gaines is the surest path to success. Gaines, who provided the spark in the Eastern Washington game with a 46-yard dash and continues to emerge as the one-two punch alongside Riley, must be featured again. Their combined ability to wear down defenses opens the door for Madsen to use play action effectively, giving receivers like Chris Marshall and Latrell Caples room to work downfield. Marshall has already proven himself to be a game-breaker, posting 132 yards against Eastern Washington and continuing to stretch defenses vertically. Caples provides reliability in the intermediate routes, and together they complement Riley’s hybrid role as both a running back and receiving threat.

Statistically, Madsen has been solid through three games, completing 16 of 26 for 307 yards and two touchdowns against Eastern Washington before following it with 276 yards and a couple scores against Air Force. His lone interception last week was the result of trying to force a ball under pressure, something he must avoid against App State’s opportunistic secondary. Riley is already past 300 rushing yards with six scores in limited use through three games, plus nearly 100-plus receiving yards and a touchdown through the air. Gaines has added nearly 200 rushing yards, providing balance, while Marshall sits atop the receiving corps with 164 yards and a touchdown. Caples is not far behind with 154 yards, giving Boise State a reliable top three. These numbers paint the picture of a unit finding rhythm and identity, which must continue if the Broncos are to
hold serve at home.

App State’s defense is disciplined but not overpowering. The offensive line, which has quietly been the unsung hero of Boise State’s last two victories, will be the difference. Their ability to create lanes for Riley and Gaines early and give Madsen time to establish play action could tilt the game heavily in Boise’s favor. It is also worth noting that a dominant offensive line keeps the Mountaineers’ high-octane offense off the field, something that cannot be overstated when facing an attack ranked in the top three nationally.

The margin for error is slim. If this game turns into a shootout, the Broncos must avoid the same defensive lapses that plagued them against Air Force. If App State is allowed to march up and down the field, the unproven Boise State kicking game becomes a liability, because drives that stall in field goal range cannot be trusted to yield points consistently.  Boise State cannot afford to be conservative in this matchup. They must press the gas, lean on their stars, and trust the defense to create just enough disruption to tilt momentum.

Ultimately, Saturday’s matchup is about proving that Boise State is more than just the defending Mountain West champion. It is about showing that this team, led by a rising star in Riley, a gritty quarterback in Madsen, and a defensive core anchored by Benefield, Jayden Virgin-Morgan, and Notarainni, can handle an opponent that mirrors many of the strengths they will face in future conference showdowns.  Appalachian State is no stranger to upsetting favorites, and their balanced offense presents a legitimate threat. For Boise State, this is the chance to make a statement on The Blue, silence doubts about the secondary, and ride the momentum of Riley’s historic play into October.

If the Broncos can establish the run early, play physical at the line on defense, and force Swann into uncomfortable situations, they should emerge victoriously. If they allow the Mountaineers to dictate tempo and let Barnes get loose in the secondary, the game could become far more stressful than anyone in Boise wants to see. The path is clear, the stakes are high, and The Blue awaits a battle between two programs hungry to prove themselves.