Brett Rypien makes impressive debut in Boise State win

BOISE – Jeremy McNichols rushed for three touchdowns and Kelsey Young added two more as Boise State cruised to a 52-0 victory over Idaho State on Friday.

The Broncos (2-1), coming off a gut-wrenching loss to BYU a week ago, suffered another tough loss when starting quarterback Ryan Finley left in the first quarter with a right ankle injury and never returned. His status is unknown for Boise State’s game Friday at Virginia.

Thomas Stuart, who filled in for Finley in the first half, threw for 69 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 46 more.

But in the second half, freshman quarterback Brett Rypien, the highly touted recruit from Shadle Park High and nephew of former Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien, made his debut and became the first true freshman to play the position at Boise State since Tony Hilde in 1993.

With Rypien at the helm, Boise State scored on all four of his possessions and he finished 8 for 9 for 126 yards.

Boise State coach Bryan Harsin refused to speculate as to who might start at quarterback next week.

“Both (Stuart and Rypien) operated and made the throws we expected them to make,” Harsin said. “They both put themselves in this position to play through their prep.”

Idaho State (1-2) came away empty on two trips inside the Boise State 20.

“The bottom line for us is that we weren’t accurate passing near (BSU’s) end zone,” ISU coach Mike Kramer said.