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Rypien guides Boise State past UNLV 55-27

Boise State quarterback Brett Rypien (4) catches a pass for a touchdown against UNLV during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015, in Las Vegas. (Associated Press / Associated Press)
Boise State quarterback Brett Rypien (4) catches a pass for a touchdown against UNLV during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015, in Las Vegas. (Associated Press / Associated Press)

LAS VEGAS – Brett Rypien completed 35 of 52 passes for a career-high 469 yards to lead Boise State to a 55-27 win over UNLV on Saturday.

Rypien, a true freshman, threw for two touchdowns and caught another as Boise State (7-2, 4-1 Mountain West) held the Rebels to just 10 points in the second half. The Broncos finished with 705 yards against UNLV (2-6, 1-3), whose defense looked non-existent.

Boise State wasted no time in making its presence known, scoring on its first three drives of the game. The Broncos scored on nine of their 14 drives, including their last four. The Broncos were averaging 455.6 yards per game through their first eight matchups, but eclipsed that by the end of the third quarter with 465 yards.

In addition to being a career high, Rypien’s 469 yards also set a new conference record for a freshman.

The Broncos defense, which entered the contest fifth-best in the nation, also had a big day, stuffing the Rebels on fourth-and-goal from the Broncos 5-yard line late in the game to seal the win. Four plays later Boise State’s Jeremy McNichol rumbled 40 yards for a touchdown to put the game out of reach.

UNLV’s Blake Decker looked competitive in his return for the Rebels, after missing the previous 10 quarters due to a shoulder injury sustained at Nevada on Oct. 3, but couldn’t connect with any of his receivers in the end zone.

Decker completed 29 of his 50 passes for 357 yards. The 25-year-old senior also threw two interceptions, including one to Boise State’s Darian Thompson, whose 19th career pick set a Mountain West-record.

The Rebels managed just 100 yards rushing, with none of the running backs gaining more than 30 yards against the nation’s fifth-best rushing defense. The loss was their third straight overall and fourth in a row to the Broncos.