Boise State Football: 3 takeaways from road upset win over San Diego State

1. Boise State’s defense proved that Rashaad Penny can be contained

Entering Saturday’s showdown, Rashaad Penny was averaging over 160 yards per game running the football. As the replacement in the backfield for all-time FBS career rushing leader Donnel Pumphrey, Penny was putting up equally stunning numbers week after week. The effort had San Diego State’s running back in the discussion for a dark-horse run at a Heisman Trophy.

Those dreams all fell by the wayside on Saturday, as Boise State defensive coordinator Andy Avalos came up with a perfect game plan to contain the Aztecs star. Focusing on Penny and forcing San Diego State quarterback Christian Chapman to beat them in the air, Boise State bottled up the Aztecs’ high-powered ground game.

Penny finished Saturday with only 53 yards on 21 carries, as he averaged 2.5 yards per carry and managed just one touchdown in defeat. He was also held to 17 yards on two kickoff returns, finishing under 100 total yards of production for the first time this season.

As Penny goes, so goes San Diego State. Recognizing that fact, Boise State kept Penny from getting going in their interdivisional showdown against the current kings of the Mountain West. Though he will remain among the top tailbacks in the country, Penny no longer has a legitimate shot at a surprise Heisman run after making little impact in the loss at home.