Riley scores twice as Boise State runs past Fresno State, 38-31

Dylan Riley scored on a 72-yard run and a 44-yard reception, and No. 23 Boise State leaned on its ground game to beat Fresno State 38-31 Saturday night at Valley Children's Stadium. Riley and Sire Gaines combined for 270 rushing yards as the Broncos improved to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the Pac-12.

Riley finished with 150 yards on 19 carries and four catches for 64 yards. Gaines added 120 yards on 20 attempts, including a two-yard touchdown. Together they supplied the explosive plays and the steady gains that kept Boise State's offense on the field for 38 minutes, 56 seconds.

The closing possession showed how that advantage worked. After Jayden Mandal's 15-yard touchdown pass to Gavin Correia and a successful two-point conversion brought Fresno State within 35-28, Boise State started at its own 25 with 9:14 remaining. Riley and Gaines handled the next 12 rushing attempts, moving the ball inside the Bulldogs' 20 before Maverick Noonan sacked Maddux Madsen.

Canaan Moore then made a 39-yard field goal with 1:34 left, completing a 14-play, 61-yard drive that consumed 7:40. Fresno State answered with Manaki Watanabe's 47-yard field goal with 36 seconds remaining, but Boise State took the next snap after the onside kick and Madsen knelt to end the game.

Moore made all three of his field-goal attempts. His 49-yarder with two seconds left in the first half gave Boise State a 25-20 halftime lead, and a 38-yarder supplied the third quarter's only points. Riley's 44-yard scoring catch early in the fourth extended the lead to 35-20 before Fresno State's final push.

Madsen completed 23 of 34 passes for 238 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. His other touchdown pass went 22 yards to Terrious Favors to finish a 90-yard first-quarter drive. Boise State converted all four of its fourth-down attempts and finished with 512 total yards, including 274 rushing.

Fresno State had opened the scoring on Mandal's eight-yard run. Riley answered with his long touchdown run, and a successful two-point conversion put the Broncos ahead. The Bulldogs stayed close through Ezekiel Avit, who caught a 59-yard touchdown from Khristian Martin late in the first quarter and a 10-yard score from Mandal near the end of the second.

Avit finished with six catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns. Mandal went 19 of 33 for 218 yards and two passing scores; Martin supplied another 59 passing yards. Fresno State produced 346 total yards and committed no turnovers, but its 69 rushing yards and shorter possessions left the Bulldogs with fewer opportunities to answer.

Boise State regained the Milk Can in the programs' first meeting as Pac-12 opponents. Fresno State's official preview noted that the trophy changes hands in regular-season meetings; the Bulldogs had held it after victories in 2023 and 2025. Fresno State fell to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

Sources

ESPN final statistics: Boise State at Fresno State

ESPN complete scoring and play-by-play

Fresno State: Milk Can rivalry and first Pac-12 meeting