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Las Vegas • The Boise State Broncos were struggling. Scuffling. Trying to rediscover their rhythm, but only finding frustration.
Then running back Doug Martin scooted through the interior of the Utah defensive front, tacked left and took off for an 84-yard touchdown run that gave the Broncos a 7-3 lead over the Utes midway through the second quarter.
And from that point on, everything changed in Wednesday's Las Vegas Bowl. The 10th-ranked Broncos scored 26 unanswered points to rout the Utes 26-3 at sold-out Sam Boyd Stadium.
"One-play drives are huge momentum changers," said Boise junior quarterback Kellen Moore.
And this time, the Broncos could see the change coming — sort of. Just before Boise's offense took the field for the key possession, the Bronco defense collectively jumped into the offense's huddle on the sideline, providing a little, ah, encouragement.
"It wasn't frustration. It was more of a biting down and 'Let's go,' " said BSU coach Chris Peterson, describing the exchange.
Frankly, the Broncos' usually-explosive offense needed the nudge. Moore fumbled and threw an interception in the opening quarter. Throw in Kyle Efaw's fumble at the start of the second, and Boise gift-wrapped three early opportunities for the Utes.
Moore and Peterson agreed that the Broncos, who rely so heavily on rhythm and flow, were badly out of sync after a post-regular season layoff and just a half-dozen bowl practices.
Fortunately for them, the Broncos defense had no such trouble, allowing the Utes 200 yards and keeping them out of the end zone. Collectively, they bought Moore and Co. time to reacquire their mojo.
"Our offense has been doing a good job all year, scoring early and making our job easier. Today they came out a little slower and we had to pick it up for them," said Boise safety Jeron Johnson.
Said Peterson: "When you see how well the defense is playing, it kind of makes you breathe a little easier [that] you don't have to make every play right now. I knew we would hit a stride sooner or later."
Once the Broncos did get on track they were impressive. Moore completed 28 of 38 passes for 339 yards and had a pair of touchdowns. Moore's favorite target, Austin Pettis torched the Ute secondary for 12 catches and 147 yards and a score, and Martin had 147 yards rushing. Boise totaled 543 yards for the game.
Result: The Broncos wound up 12-1. And while still haunted by the overtime loss to Nevada that derailed their national championship hopes and knocked them out of the Rose Bowl, Moore made no apologies. "It is what it is," he said about the devastating fallout from the November loss in Reno. "But it was still a great season. We didn't take care of business one game and they did. But this is still a great team."
Moore will get no argument from the Utes on that count. —
Tale of two halves
Kellen Moore in the first half:
Comp Att Yds Int TD
17 23 151 1 1
Kellen Moore in the second half:
Comp Att Yds Int TD
11 15 168 0 1