A quick start by junior quarterback Andrew Maxwell in his first career start quickly faded, with the No. 13 MSU football squandering an early lead and allowing No. 24 Boise State to take a 13-10 lead into the halftime locker room.
The Spartans used pressure on junior quarterback Joe Southwick to force a three-and-out on the opening possession and bring the Spartan crowd to its feet.
On MSU’s first offensive possession of the season the Spartans were efficient, with junior running back Le’Veon Bell capping off a 12-play, 60-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown.
Bell ran eight times for 35 yards and the score, while Maxwell was 4-for-4 passing for 25 yards, looking comfortable in the pocket on the drive.
After trading field goals, Maxwell looked flustered in the pocket and was unable to find a rhythm, and the Broncos capitalized.
Maxwell completed 7-of-18 passes after the opening drive, finishing the first half completing 11-of-22 passes for 96 yards and three interceptions.
Southwick wasn’t much better, completing 8-of-12 passes for 114 yards with an interception.
The second interception bounced off the hands of Bell and was returned 43 yards by sophomore Jeremy Ioane for a touchdown.
The touchdown tied the game at 10, and Boise State tacked on a 19-yard field goal, with just under five minutes to go in the first half to take the lead, after Southwick completed a 40-yard pass that brought the Broncos inside MSU’s five yard line.
Bell was the Spartans main offense rushing 22 times for 108 yards and a touchdown, but turnovers and excellent field position helped Boise State take the halftime lead.
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