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Broncos clinch share of WAC Championship
Trent Lootens, Producer
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MITCH ESPELIN/THE ARBITER Sophomore quarterback Kellen Moore celebrates with teammates Tommy Gallarda, Titus Young and Kirby Moore after Gallarda's third quarter touchdown reception.
Sophomore fullback Dan Paul caught three of Kellen Moore’s five touchdown passes on a night when Moore established himself as the most dominant quarterback in Bronco single season history.
Moore passed Bart Hendricks’ mark of 34 touchdowns passes set in 2000 and ended the night with 38 TD’s on the season. It may have been the most subtle five TD performance of the sophomore quarterback’s career as Moore ended the night completing 17-of-33 passes for 262 yards.
“He’s a great quarterback. He really is,” Boise State head coach Chris Petersen said. “I think Coach (Bryan) Harsin does a great job with him. They work so well together.”
Nevada 8-4 (7-1 WAC) came into the game as one of the hottest teams in the nation. Boise State didn’t allow that to continue on the blue – a place where they have never lost a WAC game. BSU held junior quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the previously unstoppable Nevada offense to only 383 total yards, which was well below its season average
“Overall I think we were able to contain Kaepernick besides a couple creases we needed to fill that we didn’t that gave up those big runs,” junior nickel back Winston Venable said.
Venable had the biggest play of the game when he recovered Nevada running back Vai Taua’s fumble in the fourth quarter with Nevada only down by eight.
Junior wide receiver Titus Young had the Broncos 12-0 (7-0 WAC) rolling early after he returned the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house giving BSU an early 7-0 lead.
The touchdown led to a huge first quarter for BSU and for Boise State sophomore Dan Paul. Against Nevada, Paul caught TD passes on consecutive drives helping BSU jump out to a commanding 20-0 lead. Paul entered the game with only one catch on the season.
“It was unbelievable. I didn’t really even know what to expect. It was the greatest feeling ever,” Paul said, grinning ear to ear.
Paul caught his third TD pass with 9:59 remaining in the second quarter which catapulted BSU to a 27-3 lead before Nevada’s offense began fighting back.
Nevada put together two solid scoring drives just before the half, capped off by a 3-yard TD pass from Kaepernick to wide receiver Brandon Wimberly. The drives revived the Wolf Pack offense and closed the gap to 27-16 at the half.
BSU’s offense sputtered to start the second half due to Moore’s number one target, junior wide receiver Austin Pettis, leaving the game with a broken ankle in the first quarter and Nevada’s defense game planning adjusting accordingly. Having to rely heavily on their defense, the Broncos kept Nevada at bay through most of the third quarter.
Taua got the break he had been waiting for and provided much needed momentum for the Wolf Pack. Taua broke through the line and outran BSU’s secondary for a 71- yard TD, cutting into BSU’s lead 34-26.
Sophomore running back Doug Martin then took it upon himself to keep BSU’s offense moving when it was reeling for answers most. Martin’s hard running gained him 128 yards on only 16 carries, something Martin has grown accustomed to during his time at running back.
“Playmakers have to show up so I just ran hard and did my job and did what I needed to do,” Martin said.
BSU kicker Kyle Brotzman added a 27-yard field goal to give the Broncos some much needed breathing room to start the fourth quarter. Later, Moore hooked up with his brother, freshman Kirby Moore, on a fancy 6-yard fade route that sank the Wolf Pack for good.
After the game the Broncos were relieved they’d clinched a share of the Western Athletic Conference title, but know they still have work to do to clinch the title outright.
“We’re not into sharing a WAC title. That’s not what we’re trying to do. We want to play for something really big,” Paul said following the greatest game of his life and possibly the best win of the season for the undefeated Broncos.