Washington overwhelms Boise State in LA Bowl, 38 to 3
By Jason Burrell| South Bay Black Journal
Boise State arrived at SoFi Stadium carrying more than momentum. The Broncos entered the LA Bowl as the first program to three-peat as Mountain West champions, led by head coach Spencer Danielson and his “Our Kinda Guys”philosophy. The identity is clear and intentional. Toughness. Effort. Character. Football intelligence. A belief that adversity is met, not avoided. For much of the first quarter and into the second, that identity showed. Boise State’s defensive front dictated tempo early. Defensive end Marco Natarainni delivered one of the strongest opening stretches on the field, recording a sack, stopping Washington on fourth down, and making several high-impact tackles that disrupted the Huskies’ rhythm.“When we were communicating and doing our jobs, I felt like we were shutting them down. But we gave them free opportunities. You make one mistake as a defense, and they throw one over the top. We gave up 21 unanswered points, and that’s on us,” said Marco. Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. opened the game measured and composed, completing 4 of his first 5 passes as he settled in and allowed the game to slow.
The Play that changed everything
The game exploded in the second quarter.
A blown coverage in the Boise State secondary created an opening. “We were playing good defense. The biggest part of playing elite defense is eliminating explosive plays, and that first touchdown was a blown coverage. We were in a two-high shell and didn’t execute the technique. That turned into a big-time explosive play,” said Spencer Danielson. Demond Williams identified it immediately. He delivered a 78-yard touchdown that shifted the game’s gravity in an instant. “We knew what Boise State wanted to play defensively and that the difference was execution and The 2nd quarter, it was a mentality thing.” said Williams Jr. What followed was uncharacteristic for a Boise State defense built on resilience. “As a defense, we have to hold that on our shoulders. We’ve got to operate better,” said Marco Natarainni. Washington scored 21 unanswered points before halftime. Williams finished the first half 13 of 18 for 173 yards and three touchdowns, operating with patience and efficiency. Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen struggled to respond, finishing the half 7 of 15 for 51 yards with two interceptions as Washington tightened coverage. The Huskies entered the locker room with a 24- 3 lead and full control of momentum.
Second-half separation
Any hope of a Boise State response disappeared quickly. Three minutes into the third quarter, Williams struck again, throwing a 32-yard touchdown to tight end Quentin Moore. The score extended Washington’s lead to 31 to 3 with 12:05 remaining in the quarter. The remainder of the third settled into a defensive exchange, with both teams trading punts and Washington content to manage the game. The fourth quarter belonged entirely to the Huskies’ defense.
Defense closes the door
Washington defensive back Leroy Bryant intercepted a pass early in the fourth, setting the tone for a closing surge. “It was awesome to see Leroy step up. Everybody was excited about that. We’ve got guys who are ready when their number is called,” said coach Fisch. Moments later, Deshawn Lynch added another interception, giving Washington short field position. Running back Jonah Coleman converted the opportunity with a six-yard touchdown run, pushing the lead to 38- 3.
Bryant later recorded his second interception of the night, punctuating a dominant defensive performance. Fisch said, “He made plays, and the whole sideline fed off it. That’s what you want to see, young players making big plays in big moments.”
Safety Xree Alexande, who was the LA Bowl Defensive MVP of the game, anchored the secondary throughout the game, contributing an interception and multiple key tackles that prevented Boise State from finding rhythm at any point after halftime. “It was amazing, the defense dominated, we stayed consistent, we did our job, and we got the win,” said Alexander.
The Huskies Left No Doubt
Washington finished with 260 total yards and did not commit a turnover. Boise State managed 88 yards and could not recover once momentum slipped in the second quarter. Boise State’s early physicality reflected the culture Danielson has built. “I’m incredibly proud of our seniors. They’re leaving Boise State better than they found it. Three straight conference championships. They’ve been through a head coaching change, COVID, being counted out, and being booed, and they kept coming back swinging. This place is always home for them.” But Washington’s execution, patience, and defensive pressure turned a competitive opening into a one-sided finish. The Huskies leave Inglewood with a 38- 3 victory, closing the season with authority, while the Broncos are left to reflect on how quickly a season defined by Championships and toughness can turn on a handful of mistake-filled moments.
