Ashton Jeanty runs for 259 yards and 4 TDs, No. 25 Boise State beats Washington State 45-24

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Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty (2) hurdles Washington State defensive back Ethan O’Connor (24) on a run in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)

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Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty (2) battles against Washington State defensive back Stephen Hall (1) on a touchdown run in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)

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Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty (2) breaks away from the Washington State defense on on a touchdown run in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)

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Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty (2) breaks away from the Washington State defense on on a 64 yard touchdown run in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)

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Boise State safety Ty Benefield (0) celebrates after an interception in the end zone in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)

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Washington State quarterback John Mateer (10) looks downfield against Boise State in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)

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Washington State wide receiver Kris Hutson (1) turns up field in front of Boise State safety Ty Benefield (0) after a catch in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)

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Boise State wide receiver Cameron Camper (9) cuts back in front of Washington State defensive back Stephen Hall (1) in front of the Boise State bench field after a catch in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)

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Washington State quarterback John Mateer (10) avoids the tackle attempt by Boise State safety Seyi Oladipo (23) on a 52 yard run in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)

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Washington State running back Wayshawn Parker (21) runs with the ball against Boise State linebacker Marco Notarainni (53) and cornerback A’Marion McCoy (7) in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)

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Washington State wide receiver Tony Freeman (0) cuts between Boise State safety Ty Benefield,right, and safety Seyi Oladipo, left, after a catch in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)

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Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson on the side lines against Washington State in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)

By JASON CHATRAW

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Ashton Jeanty ran for 259 yards and four touchdowns, Matt Lauter had four catches for 96 yards and two scores and No. 25 Boise State surged past Washington State 45-24 on Saturday night.

Playing its first game as a ranked team since 2020, Boise State (3-1) pulled away in the fourth quarter against its future Pac-12 Conference rival. Washington State (4-1) had no answer for Jeanty — and no ground game of its own.

Jeanty, who entered the game leading the nation in rushing yards per game with 195.3, wasted little time. On Boise State’s fifth play from scrimmage, he broke four tackles around the line of scrimmage before outracing the rest of the defense on a 64-yard TD run. He finished with 26 carries and had a 7-yard reception.

“He was relentless,” Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said. “Talk about a guy who puts his team on his back, loves this team, and will find a way to score because that’s what the team needs — that’s Ashton. When your best players are your hardest workers, you’ve always got a shot.”

Jeanty, who now has 845 yards on 82 carries with 13 touchdowns this season, had his fourth 200-yard game, tying the school record.

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“We just got beat in all three phases, and pretty decisively,” Washington State coach Jake Dickert said. “Jeanty was incredible. Ten yards a carry. Obviously you’ve got to hold him to less than that if you want to win the football game.”

The Cougars responded with a quick strike of theirs own when quarterback John Mateer needed only three plays to go 65 yards, firing a 14-yard TD pass to Cooper Mathers.

Jeanty added a 14-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter to give the Broncos a 17-10 halftime lead.

Despite stifling Boise State’s offense early in the second half, Dickert gambled on a fourth-and-inches from his own 27 late in the third quarter. But Boise State’s defense stiffened, denying Mateer the half-yard he needed.

“When it’s inches to go, when it’s fourth-and-1 for the past two and a half years, we’ve gone for it every time,” Dickert said. “That’s what we’re going to do. That’s how we play.”

Three plays later, Maddux Madsen hit Lauter on a 22-yard scoring strike to push Boise State’s lead to 24-10 with 1:22 left in the third quarter.

Then, after another Washington State touchdown halved the deficit, Jeanty ripped off another electrifying run, this time racing 59 yards by breaking three tackles and eluding another on the goal line to dive in for the score.

Mateer threw for 327 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Wayshawn Parker led Washington State in rushing with 35 yards.

Madsen threw for 184 yards and two touchdowns for Boise State.

The Boise State defense recorded seven sacks resulting in 67 lost yards.

THE TAKEAWAY

Boise State: The Broncos appear to be in the driver’s seat for a playoff bid among the Group of 5 conferences—and on a collision course with Mountain West conference foe UNLV. The two teams clash on Oct. 25 and could meet again for the conference title with a playoff bid on the line.

Washington State: The Cougars will use their off week to work on shoring up a porous defense that has given up 52 and 45 points, respectively, in their last two outings.

UP NEXT

Boise State: Hosts Utah State on Saturday.

Washington State: At Fresno State on Oct 12.

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