Penn State Dominates Boise State 31-14 in Fiesta Bowl Showdown/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Penn State delivered a dominant 31-14 win over Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl, neutralizing Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty and securing a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Drew Allar threw three touchdowns, while the Nittany Lions’ defense smothered Boise State’s offensive efforts.
Fiesta Bowl Highlights: Quick Looks
- Defensive Dominance: Penn State limited Jeanty to 104 yards on 30 carries, halting Boise State’s offense.
- Offensive Firepower: Drew Allar threw three touchdowns; Kaytron Allen led the rushing attack with 134 yards.
- Boise’s Comeback Falls Short: Despite trimming the lead to 17-14, Boise State couldn’t sustain momentum.
- Semifinal Bound: Penn State advances to face Georgia or Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl.
Penn State Dominates Boise State 31-14 in Fiesta Bowl Showdown
Deep Look
Penn State cemented its place in the College Football Playoff semifinals with a commanding 31-14 victory over Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday night. The Nittany Lions showcased a complete team effort, excelling on both offense and defense to overcome a resilient Broncos squad.
Stifling Defense Against Jeanty
Penn State’s defense was laser-focused on containing Ashton Jeanty, the Heisman Trophy runner-up and a key to Boise State’s success. Jeanty managed just 104 rushing yards on 30 carries, far below his season average. His 3.5 yards per carry marked a season low, leaving him 27 yards shy of Barry Sanders’ single-season NCAA rushing record.
“We knew we had to swarm him on every play,” said Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley, who contributed an interception and a fumble recovery. “We executed the game plan perfectly.”
Early Momentum and Boise’s Pushback
The Nittany Lions set the tone early, with quarterback Drew Allar connecting for two first-quarter touchdown passes. An 11-yard strike to Tyler Warren and a 38-yard pass to Omari Evans gave Penn State a 14-0 lead, putting Boise State on its heels.
The Broncos, however, refused to fold. A gritty performance saw Boise cut the deficit to 17-14 early in the third quarter. Fullback Tyler Crowe’s bulldozing 8-yard touchdown run and Matt Lauter’s 53-yard TD reception injected life into Boise’s offense.
Penn State’s Response
As Boise State gained momentum, Penn State responded with a decisive offensive surge. Allar threw a second touchdown to Warren, and running back Nick Singleton burst through the line for a 58-yard touchdown run. These plays reasserted Penn State’s control and sealed the game.
Allar, who faced criticism throughout the season, silenced doubters with a steady performance, completing 13 of 25 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns. The Nittany Lions also dominated the ground game, rushing for 216 yards behind Kaytron Allen’s 134 yards and Singleton’s 87 yards.
Boise’s Struggles
Boise State’s efforts were hampered by three interceptions from quarterback Maddux Madsen and a second missed field goal by Jonah Dalmas. With Jeanty neutralized, the Broncos struggled to find offensive consistency.
“They have a great defense, and we didn’t play our best,” Jeanty admitted after the game.
What’s Next?
Penn State’s victory earns them a trip to the Orange Bowl on January 9, where they’ll face either No. 2 Georgia or No. 3 Notre Dame. Boise State, meanwhile, will regroup and prepare for the 2025 season opener against South Florida on August 30.
This Fiesta Bowl victory reinforces Penn State’s stature as a formidable contender in the College Football Playoff, setting up an exciting semifinal showdown.
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