Saturday night the No. 5 Boise State Broncos were welcomed to Mountain West Conference football by the Colorado State Rams and preceded to show no mercy winning 63-13.
At first the game looked to be a rout, but the Rams executed the same double-pass trick play twice, scoring each time. At this point, the Broncos were up 35-13.
Before the Rams got creative, the Broncos marched up and down the field with ease—making the Rams look like a high school JV squad—to 35 unanswered points. The Broncos’ defense was a deep, choppy water, suffocating the Rams’ offense and holding them to three-and-outs on their first five drives of the game. At the end of the first quarter, Boise State led 21-0. The
Broncos’ point total matched the Ram’s total offensive production—in feet.
Yes, just seven yards of total offense.
The Broncos were in the driver’s seat in the first half. Doug Martin ran for 162 yards scoring twice while Kellen Moore threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns.
Yet, the Broncos appeared to go on cruise control after they went
up by 35.
The Rams finally started to get their offense going by getting their first first down, completing back-to-back passes for positive yards and following up with the first trick play where Ram quarterback Pete Thomas threw backward to Crock Gillmore who heaved the ball downfield to the wide-open Joe Brown for a touchdown.
After a fumble by Boise State’s Mitch Burroughs, the Rams went on a five play, 87-yard drive capped by a touchdown from the same double-pass trick play, only this time from the opposite side of the field.
The Broncos looked to be rolling at the close of the first half. Until Moore missed an open Burroughs in the end zone and kicker Dan Goodale, who didn’t miss an extra point the entire game, missed a 27-yard field goal.
The Broncos shook off the lethargy crafting a nine play, 80-yard drive where Doug Martin ran for his third touchdown of the game. The Broncos’ defense was steadfast keeping the Rams from the end zone for the remainder of the game.
Saturday night was record setting night for the Broncos. As a team, they racked up a school record of 742 yards against the Rams.
Moore finished the night throwing for 338 yards and four touchdowns before being pulled for Joe Southwick in the fourth quarter.
Doug Martin ran the ball 20 times for a career high 200 yards and three touchdowns.
Tyler Shoemaker caught nine passes for a career high 180 yards and two touchdowns.
Tyrone Crawford was a defensive standout wreaking havoc on the Rams.
He sacked the Rams’ quarterback twice and recovered a fumble while Shea McClellin snared an interception; both turnovers led to Boise State touchdowns.
The Rams, after taking the loss, go to 3-3 on the season and 1-1 in the Mountain West. The Broncos go to 6-0 on the season and 1-0 in conference.
Saturday the Broncos host the Air Force Academy Falcons in their first home game as a member of the MWC.
Of course they will not be wearing all blue but likely a unique combination or perhaps something never before seen on The Blue.