With the game down to one final play, Boise State's Seyi Oladipo zero'd in on UTSA's Robert Henry as the target of the Roadrunners 2-pt attempt in OT. The decision made sense. Henry had already rushed for 70 yards and 2 TDs, and led the Roadrunners in receptions (6) and yards (97) with an additional TD.
And as Oladipo strafed to his right, the unassuming DeCorian Clark snuck behind him to his vacated zone and Brandon Tennison found the senior wideout for the conversion and the LA Bowl victory.
"That was all Brandon and DC," coach Mort told reporters. "The play design was for Mekhi (Anderson) to motion right while Henry swung out left. But Tenny made the adjustment to have DC run a drag. I told him to run it in if nothing was there, but he made magic happen with his mind."
All attention for the game was on Ashton Jeanty, the unstoppable tank that had ransacked the Mountain West and even put up close to 600 yards against Florida State, Penn State, and Tennessee. And while Jeanty put on an absolute clinic with a season high 35 carries for a total of 368 yards and 3 TDs (an additional 3/34/2 receiving), it was the Roadrunners who really put on a show.
From the first play, the Roadrunners showed they were not intimidated, as Martavius French rocked Boise's Dylan Riley on the opening return, dislodging the ball and Ronald Triplette snatched it and headed in to the endzone for a tone setting TD.
UTSA focused on staying in front of Jeanty, and the Broncos were forced to punt, but locked the Roadrunners at the goalline.
On 2nd and 8 from the 5 yard line, Brandon High added to the lightning storm against the Broncos, racing 95 yards for a TD and a 14-0 UTSA lead. And the scoring barrage was on. Jeanty for a 45 yard TD. Henry for a 57 yard TD. Jeanty for a 70 yard TD. The LA crowd was getting their entertainment.
The Roadrunners would not relent, though, until the 4th quarter (like they did all season). With 9 second left in the 3rd quarter, a 42-21 lead would slowly evaporate. Boise would score to make it 42-28, then force a 3-and-out, then Jeanty took an angle screen in for another TD, and it was a 7 point game with 2:48 remaining.
Disaster strikes. A misfire by Tennison turned a wide open completion in to a Boise interception and gave the Broncos all the momentum. With 28 seconds remaining, Jeanty once again did Jeanty things and the game was tied.
In OT, more Jeanty, and the Broncos would take their first lead of the game after being buried early 14-0 and 42-21 in the 2H. A bubble screen to Mehki Anderson would bring the score within 1, and set the stage for Tennison's game winning adjustment.
The LA Bowl serves as an incredible exclamation point on coach Mort's inaugural season in the NDL.
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