Moore’s 4 TDs lifts No. 6 Boise in rout
October 31, 2009
BOISE, Idaho (AP)—Kellen Moore threw for 278 yards and three touchdowns andran for another as No. 6 Boise State coasted by San Jose State Saturday, theBroncos eighth straight victory.
Boise State (8-0, 3-0 Western Athletic Conference) also got plenty of helpfrom its defense, which held the Spartans (1-6, 0-3) to 223 total yards andforced two turnovers that led to touchdowns.
In the last minute of the first half, the Broncos recovered a fumble deep inSpartans territory and scored four plays later on a 1-yard dive by Moore to goup 24-7 at the half. Early in the third quarter, cornerback Kyle Wilson pickedoff a pass and returned it 27 yards to put Boise State up 38-7.
Moore, the nation’s most efficient passer coming into the game, was 21 of 33before heading to the sidelines at the start of the fourth quarter. His three TDpasses gave him 24 this season. His first TD pass was a 61-yarder to youngerbrother Kirby Moore that put the Broncos up 7-0 in the first quarter.
The Broncos rolled up 430 total yards, but struggled most of the game to runthe ball against a defense that was giving up 259 yards per game on the ground.
The Broncos, averaging 190 yards per game, were held to 140 yards, but thebulk of those came late with the game out of reach. Doug Martin led the Broncoswith 63 yards, and he scored the game’s final touchdown on a 36-yard dash latein the fourth quarter.
The Spartan run defense was a lone bright spot for a team that has lost 10straight to the Broncos.
Jordan LaSecla was 10 of 20 for just 79 yards and one touchdown, a 39-yarderto Marquis Avery that tied the game 7-7 in the first quarter.
LaSecla was ineffective the rest of the way and ultimately replaced in thesecond half by Kyle Reed, last season’s starter. Reed was 6 of 12 for 52 yards,and he rushed six times for 28 yards.
The turning point came in the final minute of the first half.
With 1:35 left in the half, Moore led the Broncos on a six play, 45-yardscoring drive, capped with an 18-yard TD to Mitch Burroughs in the left cornerof the end zone.
One play after the ensuing kick, Spartan running back LaMon Muldrow fumbledafter being hit by safety Jason Robinson, who recovered the ball on the Spartan22 with 23 seconds left. After two misfires, Moore hit Tyler Shoemaker on a21-yard pass, then scored on a dive on the next play.
Austin Pettis led the Broncos with five catches for 63 yards and atouchdown, while Kirby Moore had four catches for 80 yards.
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