Boise State beats South Dakota 38-24 behind Dylan Riley’s 198 rushing yards

Boise State beat South Dakota 38-24 on Saturday night, using Dylan Riley’s 198 rushing yards and two touchdowns to turn a competitive opening into a controlled finish. Maddux Madsen added 208 passing yards and two touchdown throws, giving the Broncos enough balance to answer South Dakota’s explosive passing attempts.

South Dakota did not arrive as a passive opponent. Austyn Modrzewski threw for 243 yards and three touchdowns, and Tennel Bryant caught three passes for 104 yards. The Coyotes scored first on a long drive capped by Bryce Cohoon’s 16-yard reception, then answered again when Tysen Boze caught a five-yard touchdown. Boise State had to keep playing rather than rely on an early mismatch.

Riley supplied the difference on the ground. His 26 carries kept Boise State ahead of schedule, and his two scoring runs prevented South Dakota from turning every possession into a one-score game. Madsen’s 22-of-31 passing line also limited the pressure on the run game, with Rasean Jones catching eight passes for 95 yards and a touchdown.

The turning point was Boise State’s ability to answer South Dakota’s second touchdown with a sequence of efficient possessions. The Broncos used Riley to shorten the game and Madsen to punish loaded boxes, while the defense forced two Modrzewski interceptions when South Dakota had to throw for the margin. That combination shifted the fourth quarter from a test into a Boise State win.

The scoring sequence shows how Boise State kept answering. South Dakota opened with Bryce Cohoon's 16-yard touchdown catch, and Boise answered with Rasean Jones' 9-yard touchdown reception with four seconds left in the opening quarter. Tysen Boze put the Coyotes back in front on a 5-yard catch, but Sire Gaines' 3-yard run and Cam Bates' 4-yard reception gave the Broncos another lead. South Dakota's 59-yard Boze touchdown catch made the game tight again. Boise State answered with field goals from Canaan Moore and then Bohdie Ing before Riley took over the finish.

Riley's two late touchdown runs supplied the separation. He scored from two yards and then broke an 83-yard run, turning a one-score game into a 38-24 result. The plays matched the box score: 198 rushing yards on 26 carries, with Madsen completing 22 of 31 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Modrzewski's 243 yards and three touchdown throws kept South Dakota dangerous, but Boise's two interceptions ended its final chances. The Broncos won because Riley sustained the ground game long enough for Madsen to get favorable throws, then finished with the biggest play of the night.