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Tulsa vs. Boise State


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No. 5 Boise State survives late scare to put away Tulsa
 
 
CBSSports.com wire reports

TULSA, Okla. -- With No. 5 Boise State playing from behind for the first time this season, quarterback Kellen Moore was at his best.

Moore threw two short touchdown passes to Tommy Gallarda, and the undefeated Broncos survived a late scare from Tulsa to escape with a 28-21 victory Wednesday night in one of the last road tests standing between them and another trip to the BCS.

Coach Chris Petersen called it a "solid win" but he doubted it would be the kind of impressive statement pollsters were looking for as the Broncos (6-0) had the college football stage to themselves the same week the BCS standings are to be released for the first time.

 Durrenberger: Boise State's title game hopes still unlikely

"It's usually never good enough for a lot of people, usually including us and our team," Petersen said. "Tulsa's a good team, and this was going to be a good test for us. I think we battled hard against some really explosive playmakers.

"The important thing is that we get a little bit better. Teams don't stay the same, and we won't either. We either need to get better or we're going to get passed by."

With Boise State down twice early, Moore was perfect on two scoring drives to put the Broncos ahead to stay. He threw an 8-yard lob to Gallarda in the back corner of the end zone for an 8-7 lead, and followed that with a 17-yard TD pass to Austin Pettis as Boise State went ahead 15-14.

 

The lead eventually grew to 28-14 on the second of two field goals by Kyle Brotzman.

"It was good for us because I believe being down like that woke us up," running back Doug Martin said.

Tulsa (4-2) got within 28-21 in the fourth quarter when G.J. Kinne and Slick Shelley connected on consecutive passes for 91 yards, including a 55-yarder for a touchdown. The Golden Hurricane had one last chance to tie it in the final two minutes, but Boise State forced its fourth three-and-out of the second half to ice the game.

"There's a lot of momentum going the opposite way when you're playing on the road," Petersen said. "We fought hard enough and responded well enough to do what we needed to do."

Moore finished with 187 yards passing and three touchdown passes. He had a 2-yard touchdown pass to Gallarda in the third quarter.

Martin had 112 yards on 23 carries in his second 100-yard game since moving back to offense after the Broncos lost running back D.J. Harper to a knee injury. Jeremy Avery added 73 yards as Boise State trampled Tulsa on the ground in the third quarter and then held on for the win.

Martin had 83 of his team's 104 yards rushing in the third quarter as Boise State controlled ball for all but 2:48.

Except for the two long connections between Kinne and Shelley, Boise State's defense limited the Golden Hurricane -- who led the nation in total offense each of the last two seasons -- to 30 yards in the second half.

Kinne rolled out of the pocket to the left and missed a wide-open Charles Clay on fourth-and-6 to end Tulsa's last possession. He finished with 154 yards on 14-for-27 passing.

"G.J was running for his life again tonight and he has been in every game," Tulsa coach Todd Graham said. "You haven't seen how good he is yet."

Tulsa represented one of the few challenges remaining on Boise State's schedule as the Broncos move into Western Athletic Conference play. The rest of the teams on their schedule have a combined 16-21 record, and in-state rival Idaho (5-1) is the only one with a winning mark.

Petersen wouldn't look far down the schedule.

"Next week is a new challenge," he said. "We'll reload and go then."

The Golden Hurricane -- playing in front of a sellout crowd of 30,000 -- jumped on top early, capitalizing on a muffed punt by cornerback Kyle Wilson with some trickery on the very next play.

Kinne pitched the ball to A.J. Whitmore, the Golden Hurricane's usual wildcat quarterback, and he found speedy receiver Damaris Johnson behind the defense for a 53-yard touchdown pass.

It was the first time Boise State had trailed this season, and Moore immediately led a 68-yard scoring drive the opposite way. He hit all three of his passes for 45 yards and converted a fourth-and-1 at the 10-yard line with a sneak to set up his 8-yard scoring toss to Gallarda.

He went 6 for 6 for 62 yards on the Broncos' next drive, answering Kinne's 15-yard scoring pass to Trae Johnson with a 17-yard TD connection to Pettis. It was Pettis' sixth straight game with a touchdown.

"Those were good drives. I'll tell you, I don't know if our team even knows we've never been behind. When you say that to me, it's almost news to me," Petersen said. "You just keep playing, you keep fighting. We've played in close games. ... You just try not to pay attention to the clock until it's all said and done."

 
Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
 
Talk Back
Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 23, 2006

October 15, 2009 10:55 am
Since Boise St. lost last night--yes I actually heard this from a known head on the 4 letter network--they don't have a good shot at the BCS tilte game. I have to agree that they will have a hard time getting there EVEN if they run the table, but to relegate them as a joke is beyond me. I think college football is the only--well, the FBS, or the BCS, or whatever the hell D1 is called now--spor ...(more)
Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 5, 2007

October 14, 2009 11:33 pm
WOW I'm not convinced in Boise anymore since Oklahoma SMASHED Tulsa. They better hope many infront and close behind lose this week.

Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 26, 2006

October 15, 2009 5:37 pm
Until Boise St loses a game, they are the best team in the country.  The same can be said for Florida, Alabama, Texas, Cincinatti, and any other undefeated top 25 team.  In every other sport the ranked team that wins its last game is the champion.  Only in Bizarro World (college football) are the champions determined by opinion, computers, winning score margins, speculation, and con ...(more)
Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 3, 2006

October 14, 2009 11:42 pm
Boise State needed a statement game, and came up short.  The broncos will still make a BCS game (whether deserving or not) if they go without a loss, but they're not playing well the last two games.  This just gives more ammo to the SEC and BIG-12 fans who say BSU doesn't belong with the big boys.  The run game was fairly strong, but there were several third down plays where th ...(more)
Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Oct 7, 2008

October 18, 2009 12:55 pm
Boise is putting all its potatoes in the Oregon win sack (ooohh, clever). They are hoping Oregon runs the table the rest of the way to finish with only one loss, to Boise in Game 1.

The problem, Broncos fans, is that based on how the BCS computer rankings does things, the Ducks would probably overtake Boise in the BCS standings even with that one loss! (Well, maybe not, but if Oregon d
...(more)
Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 23, 2009

October 15, 2009 10:21 am

I agree with other posters about wanting to see TCU in the BCS this year.  TCU is consistently good and always has a strong schedule.  Assuming it's not a terribly ugly loss, I'd rather see a one-loss TCU in the BCS than an undefeated Boise.  I'll give Boise credit for scheduling teams like Oregon in the non-con, but I just don't think it's enough to make up for the weak conferen ...(more)

Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 31, 2009

October 15, 2009 2:22 am
I want to give Boise St credibilty, I really do. Never heard of 'em prior to that Sooners Fiesta game a couple years back. I say nut up and leave the WAC. Then no one will question the wins.

Why not just get into the PAC10 and just get it over with?

Signed: Objective mediator.
Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 24, 2007

October 15, 2009 1:57 am
OK......Now if Texas has a little tougher time that it should have last week and drops to 3rd in the rankings, then Boise State playing a cupcake schedule and having trouble with TULSA should drop out comepletely!!!  No hate to Tulsa, but they aren't the greatest program out there by any means.  When you play high school caliber teams and still only beat Tulsa by a touchdown, you have NO ...(more)
Reputation:59
Level:Pro
Since:Apr 9, 2009

October 15, 2009 9:26 am
Boise State will not be able to stand on the strength of their Oregon win alone and make it to a meaningful bowl game i.e. National Championship title game.  No matter how well Oregon continues to do, they will only have a single top 25 win on their resume followed by wins against teams hanging out in the 50 though 120 ranking area. 

Should TCU hold tough and win out i.e. bea
...(more)
Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:May 22, 2009

October 14, 2009 11:42 pm
Admittedly, this could have been a more impressive performance, but it's not like they beat Tulsa by blocking a last second field goal (hello, Iowa).  Remember, the more wins Oregon accumulates, the better chance Boise has of snatching a BCS title bid.  The Ducks are looking unflappable (no pun intended), and could conceivably end the season with a single loss.  Meanwhile, if TCU wa ...(more)
Reputation:89
Level:All-Star
Since:Dec 4, 2006

October 15, 2009 1:08 am
I like the idea of a BCS buster, but Boise's the wrong team.  While Boise plays UC Davis and La-Tech, TCU plays Utah, ranked 2nd last year, and BYU who edged off OU.  Though not powerhouses, TCU played two ACC teams on the road.  If TCU can play Big Conference teams, why not Boise?  At the end of the season, I hope the voters have enough sense to jump TCU over Boise and actuall ...(more)
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 14, 2008

October 15, 2009 12:42 pm
Hey Broncos, if you want to be taken seriously you need to do what Gonzaga did about 5 years ago and in the same situation. You are in a cupcake league so play all big boys with your non-conference games. Look how Gonzaga booked the big games and at all times of the year throughout their conference season also.

Your four non-conference games book all BCS schools instead of one big
...(more)
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 26, 2008

October 15, 2009 7:31 pm
Boise State vs Tulsa.. should have been a classic football game. The battle between two great college football programs.


<sarcastic>
Reputation:88
Level:All-Star
Since:Jan 29, 2007

October 15, 2009 9:17 am
Will Boise St. shut up now about not being considered for a BCS championship bid.  THEY DON'T PLAY ANYONE!!  #20 Oklahoma beat Tulsa 45-0 with a backup QB.
Reputation:54
Level:Pro
Since:Sep 15, 2008

October 15, 2009 11:22 am
Boise St. is far from the best non-AQ team this year.  They should be standing in line behind many teams in terms of a BCS bowl.

1) TCU is undefeated, plays a real schedule, and beat BSU last year in a bowl game.  Why in the world did pollsters have BSU ahead of the Frogs in the preseason?
2) There are many one loss teams that are superior to the Broncos.  I'd take a
...(more)
 
 
Boise State's Doug Martin rushes for 112 yards on 23 carries in the victory.  (AP)
Boise State's Doug Martin rushes for 112 yards on 23 carries in the victory. (AP)

 
 
Scoreboard
Boise State #6  (6-0) «81010028
Tulsa  (4-2)1400721
 
Players of the Game
Golden Hurricane

G. Kinne
Att 27
Comp 14
Yds 154
TD 2
Broncos

K. Moore
Att 32
Comp 22
Yds 187
TD 3
 
Scoring Summary
TLSDamaris Johnson 53 yd pass from A.J. Whitmore (Kevin Fitzpatrick kick)
BSTTommy Gallarda 8 yd pass from Kellen Moore (Kyle Efaw 2pt pass from Austin Pettis)
TLSTrae Johnson 15 yd pass from G.J. Kinne (Kevin Fitzpatrick kick)
BSTAustin Pettis 17 yd pass from Kellen Moore (Kyle Brotzman kick)
BSTKyle Brotzman 27 yd FG
BSTTommy Gallarda 2 yd pass from Kellen Moore (Kyle Brotzman kick)
BSTKyle Brotzman 18 yd FG
TLSSlick Shelley 55 yd pass from G.J. Kinne (Kevin Fitzpatrick kick)
 
Team Stats
 BSTTLS
First Downs2512
Third Down Efficiency5-152-12
Fourth Down Efficiency2-20-2
Plays-Net Yards76-38054-295
Rushes-Yds44-19326-88
Passing Yds187207
Kick Return Yds6392
Punt Return Yds17-3
Passes22-32-015-28-0
Punts6-2408-340
Fumbles-Lost2-22-0
Penalties-Yds3-247-65
Time of Poss.35:724:53
 
Individual Stats
RUSHING
BST: Doug Martin 23-112, Jeremy Avery 16-73, Titus Young 1-6, Kellen Moore 3-3, Team 1--1
TLS: Damaris Johnson 4-41, Jamad Williams 4-21, G.J. Kinne 14-15, Charles Opeseyitan 2-8, Charles Clay 2-3
PASSING
BST: Kellen Moore 22-32-187-0
TLS: G.J. Kinne 14-27-154-0, A.J. Whitmore 1-1-53-0
RECEIVING
BST: Titus Young 5-31, Austin Pettis 4-63, Tyler Shoemaker 4-27, Kyle Efaw 3-38, Tommy Gallarda 3-15, Richie Brockel 1-10, Mitch Burroughs 1-3, Doug Martin 1-0
TLS: Damaris Johnson 4-59, Slick Shelley 3-99, Charles Clay 3-12, Jamad Williams 2-17, A.J. Whitmore 2-5, Trae Johnson 1-15
 
Standings
TeamStandingsConferenceOverall
Boise State1st Western Athletic 8-014-0
Tulsa3rd Conference USA West 3-55-7