GLENDALE, Ariz. — For weeks, since his workforce acquired the No. 3 seed within the Faculty Soccer Playoff, Boise State coach Spencer Danielson has heard the gripes in regards to the choice course of and that the Broncos did not earn their spot within the quarterfinals.
Within the wake of a 31-14 loss to sixth-seeded Penn State within the VRBO Fiesta Bowl, Danielson mentioned the Broncos confirmed they belonged.
“Lots of people counted us out and we have been a pair performs away from profitable,” Danielson mentioned. “That is soccer, although. We might lose to anyone within the nation. However I additionally consider we might beat anyone within the nation.”
After Boise State fell behind 14-0 within the first quarter, it appeared as if the sport had an opportunity to show right into a rout, however the Broncos reduce the deficit to 17-14 early within the third quarter regardless of restricted manufacturing from star operating again Ashton Jeanty.
“Hopefully everyone simply watches the movie,” Danielson mentioned. “That is been my large message all yr: watch the movie. Watch the sport tonight. That they had 387 yards; we had 412. Sure, we did not execute. We misplaced the sport. That’s what it’s however watch our workforce.”
Danielson lauded his workforce’s effort to roll off 11 straight wins to shut the common season, culminated by this system’s first back-to-back Mountain West Convention championships.
“There’s been quite a lot of groups which have mentioned that they need to be in it. I am curious how they performed their bowl video games,” Danielson mentioned. “To me it is all about placing the ball down, play the sport, no matter they set to make the playoff, that is on us as coaches and opponents to go get it accomplished.”
Alabama, Miami and South Carolina — three of the groups that simply missed the playoff reduce — all misplaced their bowl video games.
“With the enlargement of the Faculty Soccer Playoff, all you need is to provide groups an opportunity,” Danielson mentioned. “All people knew how one can make the playoffs to begin the season. There was no grey space.
“We have been in playoff mentality since September. We knew after we misplaced on the last-second area purpose in Oregon, we won’t lose once more and we did not.”
With Jeanty bottled up for a lot of the night time — he was held to a season-low 104 yards — most of Boise State’s manufacturing got here via the air. Quarterback Maddux Madsen accomplished 23 of 35 passes for 304 yards, however threw three interceptions. Jeanty additionally had two fumbles, one in every of which was misplaced. These 4 turnovers, mixed with 13 penalties for 90 yards and a pair of missed area purpose makes an attempt, proved to be too expensive to beat.