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Boise State bounces Utah 36-3
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Most of Rice-Eccles Stadium cleared at the end of the third quarter in Saturday’s game between Boise State and Utah. The Broncos were up 33-3 and had field position at Utah’s 40-yard line after the fourth interception of the game by the BSU defense. As the clock ran out, nearly 4,000 Bronco fans remained, chanting a clear message to the world: BCS!
Following Texas Christian University’s upset loss on Thursday night, the Broncos were lifted into the most likely spot for a Bowl Championship Series bid. It took a quarter to heat up the Boise State engine, but for the last 45 minutes of the game the Broncos sent the message that they are up to any challenge.
Boise State linebacker Korey Hall created the first scoring opportunity of the game just four plays into Utah’s first offensive series. Hall grabbed his first of two interceptions and returned the ball to the Utah 21-yard line.Boise State scored its only points of the first quarter four plays later on a 35-yard field goal kick by Anthony Montgomery.
The Bronco defense forced a punt on the next Utah offensive possession, starting the second Bronco offensive drive on the 1-yard line. The poor field position didn’t last long, however, as Jared Zabransky found Jerard Rabb for a 39-yard completion and what looked like a rally-inducing catch. Rabb tipped the pass to himself in close coverage and came down with the ball, falling onto his back.
Click here to view the Broncos vs Utes slideshow
Utah countered quickly, swinging the momentum back momentarily as safety Eric Weddle stepped in front and intercepted Zabransky at the 50-yard line. The Utes managed a drive to the Boise State 20-yard line before converting a 37-yard Louie Sakoda field goal to tie the score 3-3.
The second quarter proved to be more explosive for the Bronco offense and opportunistic for the defense. BSU started the second quarter with a third-and-one on the Utah 6-yard line. Despite a false start penalty that pushed the Broncos back to a third and long, Zabransky found Brett Denton for an 8-yard completion and the first down. One play later Zabransky connected with fullback Brad Lau for a 3-yard touchdown pass and a 10-3 Bronco lead.
The Bronco defense forced another short offensive series for the Utes. After a short six-play drive, BSU regained possession with another Utah punt. The Bronco offense was able to put together a nine-play, 59-yard drive before running back Ian Johnson fumbled the ball at the Utah 4-yard line. Johnson broke two tackles on the 14-yard run before defensive back Steve Tate forced the ball out of Johnson’s arms.
The Boise State defense held strong once again, however, forcing yet another Utah punt from the 8-yard line. Zabransky led the offense down inside the Utah 20 with a completion to tight end Derek Schouman. The Broncos ran a double pass play, in which the ball was touched by running back Vinny Perretta, Zabransky and finally by Schouman. Zabransky suffered a cut on his right wrist after smacking his hand against the helmet of a Utah defender on the play. Zabransky returned on the next drive of the game, but did say afterward that he would be needing stitches.
Backup quarterback Taylor Tharp was needed for just one play as Perretta found the end zone on the next from scrimmage. The 8-yard sweep to the left side of the field pushed the score to 16-3, despite a missed point attempt by Montgomery.
The Utes never recovered from the Boise State scoring run, as quarterback Brett Ratliff was intercepted for a second time just three plays into the next Utah drive. Senior linebacker Colt Brooks intercepted Ratliff at the 12-yard line and returned it untouched for another Bronco touchdown and a 23-3 half-time lead.
The Bronco offense appeared not to lose any momentum at the break as Montgomery kicked a 40-yard field goal through the uprights concluding a nine-play drive to begin the second half. Korey Hall intercepted his second pass of the game, this time off of backup quarterback Tommy Grady. Grady replaced Ratliff to start the second half but was unable to produce for the Utes. Hall returned the interception 43 yards before putting the ball on the ground with an attempted lateral to Kyle Gingg. Gingg managed to fall on the ball at the Utah 2-yard line. BSU punched in their fourth touchdown of the day on a Zabransky 1-yard keeper three plays later.
Following the last Ratliff interception, most of the 45,222 fans in attendance left having seen enough and giving the Boise State cheering section virtual control of the stadium for the final quarter.
“We came out for warm ups and our fans were louder than their fans booing us,” Zabransky said. “We felt it, we felt the electricity. There was definitely a different aura than other games.” The Bronco defense held Ratliff and Grady to just 51 passing yards for the game with four interceptions. All four Bronco interceptions led to points for Boise State. Hall led the Bronco defense with his two picks and a team-high eight tackles.
“I think, again, it came down to when you get that many turnovers because of awesome pass coverage you get pressure on the QB,” Bronco Head Coach Chris Petersen said. “When we get it rolling on both sides they start to feed off each other.”
Offensively, the Bronco attack was powered by a very balanced running game. Ian Johnson finished with 89 yards on just 14 carries. Meanwhile, backup Vinny Perretta provided the biggest offensive lift with a 69 yard performance on 12 carries with one touchdown. Perretta’s performance was by far his best of the year for the Broncos.
“We’ve got a lot of respect for Utah,” Petersen said. “You could see it in the kids how hard they played. We stepped up to the challenge and I think they feel good about themselves.”
With Saturday’s win Boise State improves their record to 5-0 and are steadily moving up in the nation’s top 25 rankings. The game was also the last preseason game of the year for BSU. The victory at Utah improves Boise State’s record to 11-0 against Mountain West Conference opponents.
“It says alot about our program and where it has come from,” Zabransky said. “I think the WAC and the Mountain West have about the same level of talent that they get. Boise State is continuing to prove points and continuing to up the standards.”
Boise State at University of Utah
1st2nd3rd4th
Boise State 320 103 36
Utah30003
First quarter
BSU-Montgomery 35 FG, 11:28
Utah-Sakoda 37 FG, 6:08
Second quarter
BSU-Lau three pass from Zabransky (Montgomery kick), 14:49
BSU-Perretta nine run (Montgomery kick failed), 5:27
BSU-Brooks 12 INT return (Montgomery kick), 3:39
Third quarter
BSU-Montgomery 40 FG, 9:49
BSU-Zabransky one run (Montgomery kick), 1:02
Fourth quarter
BSU-Montgomery 22 FG, 10:31
BSUUtah
First downs188
Rushing yards 188127
Passing yards21051
Comp-Att-INT 15-22-2 8-27-4
Sacks-yards lost 0-0 1-10
Punts-yards 1-10
Fumbles-lost 2-11-0
Return yards 79314
Kick returns-yards 0-03-62
Penalties-yards 5-355-34
Time of possession32:20 27:40
Jake Garcin
