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Everyone knew it was coming.
Despite taking a 20-6 lead in the second quarter and within sniffing distance of the end zone near halftime, the Boise State Broncos once again found themselves in a battle with the San Jose State Spartans at Spartan Stadium.
The Broncos had 100 yards worth of penalties and a pair of big turnovers that led to 10 Spartan points, but still pulled out a 33-16 win Friday night.
“We made it harder on ourselves than we had to, fumbling the ball and some dumb penalties,” Boise State head coach Chris Petersen said. “We’ve just got to get those cleaned up.”
It was the third consecutive time the No. 12 Broncos (3-0 WAC, 7-0 overall) visited the venue with a tightly-contested game. The Broncos stayed perfect in 2004 with a 56-49 double-overtime victory and also in 2006 with a 23-20 win on a last-second field goal.
Maybe it was the Halloween orange pants that brought out whatever voodoo exists against the Broncos at Spartan Stadium, but whatever the explanation, the Broncos were happy to leave with a win, remaining the only team undefeated in WAC play.
“At the end of the day, we’re still winning, but there’s plenty of stuff to improve on,” freshman quarterback Kellen Moore said. “You knew coming down here it would be a real tough game.”
The Broncos looked like they might pull away in the first half, getting two Moore touchdown passes and an Ian Johnson touchdown run for their points, while San Jose State scored on a 62-yard interception return by linebacker Justin Cole.
Everything took a sudden turn for the Broncos when Johnson was grinding toward the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown run that would have put Boise State up by three touchdowns. However, safety Kyle Flynn stripped Johnson at the 1, and the Spartans (3-1, 5-3) recovered in their end zone for a touchback with 1:34 before halftime.
San Jose State, which had not had a first down in the first 29 minutes, picked up four on the ensuing drive, getting a 47-yard field goal six seconds before the half.
“You can’t take anything for granted,” Petersen said. “It can happen to anyone.”
Once again, the Boise State defense stamped out its opponents’ offense, giving up only 207 yards and nine first downs in the game.
However, the Broncos were not helped by all those penalties, including a major one in the third quarter when safety Jeron Johnson hit Spartan receiver David Richmond late on a third-and-10.
The drive stayed alive, and three plays later, Brandon Rutley ran for a 60-yard touchdown to make it 20-16.
Unlike in their other close games this season, Boise State was able to put a team away for good in the fourth quarter. The Broncos racked up 66 rushing yards in the final 15 minutes and added 10 points in the final 5:50 to keep the Spartans from threatening again.
Senior linebacker Kyle Gingg forced a fumble by receiver Josh Harrison at the Boise State 44 with 12:06 to play and the Broncos holding a 23-16 lead. Freshman defensive tackle Chase Baker recovered, and Kyle Brotzman hit a 31-yard field goal more than 6 minutes later to go up by two scores.
“I think it was a big momentum swing for us,” Gingg said. “We were able to build from that and score.”
The feeling was mutual across the sidelines.
“We battled our way back into the game and had a chance to win it in the fourth quarter, but they were obviously significantly better,” San Jose State coach Dick Tomey said.
Boise State put it away completely with Johnson’s school-record 51st career rushing touchdown with 1:04 to play. The 10 points in the fourth quarter were the most for Boise State this season, and combined with keeping the Spartans off the scoreboard, was the Broncos’ strongest finish to a game thus far.
“We’re proud of those guys for that,” Petersen said. “We thought it would come down to the fourth quarter. Everybody expected that, and I think our guys were ready for that, and they did a good job answering."
DAVE SOUTHORN
Idaho Press Tribune
