It wasn’t pretty but the Broncos will take the win. Former Boise State Bronco standout cornerback Marty Tadman tweeted midway through the third quarter saying, “If there is such thing, [sic] this is an embarrassing win.”

It’s hard not to agree with Tadman’s take after the Broncos topped the Nevada Wolfpack 30-10 from Bronco Stadium.

This season’s game was nothing close to what the game looked like last season when the Wolfpack shocked the Broncos in overtime. The Wolfpack looked timid on Saturday, confused and at times, even scared. The jitters seemed to get the best of the Broncos’ offense too as two catches were mishandled and dropped in their opening drive.

However, locked and ready to go the Bronco defense was ready to step up.

Nevada averaged 487.3 yards a game this season but managed only 182 yards against Boise State. Nevada’s football Head Coach Chris Ault called his offense “horrific.”

Nevada spent most the game with awful field position, not crossing midfield until the third quarter.

“Really proud how hard everybody played,” Football Head Coach Chris Petersen said. “[I’m] extremely happy with how our defense played, to hold these guys to three points late into the third quarter, I don’t think anybody thought that would happen.”

Boise State came out strong in the second half, something they’ve lacked historically.

“We know we haven’t come out in the second half and played how we wanted in the last couple of games,” junior cornerback Jamar Taylor said. “So, that was our motivation this week, just coming out and finishing.”

There was an uncomfortable feel to the Broncos’ offense as things seemed not to click for Quarterback Kellen Moore.

From the start, Moore and his wide receivers struggled to connect on passes. Just two plays after Boise State junior linebacker J.C. Percy snatched his first career interception, Moore lofted up a short pass to the end zone while falling down from defensive pressure; a play Moore said that he should have taken a sack.

Moore threw a second pick when in the second quarter looked deep to the end zone. It’s only the third time in Moore’s career he’s thrown multiple
interceptions.

Moore finished the game 19-33 for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Statistically, this was the worst game of his career. Throughout the day Moore struggled with timing and accuracy and was obviously upset about his performance in post game interviews.

“I don’t necessarily worry about the missed throws, there’s going to be those now and again,” Petersen said Saturday. “The turnovers are the ones that you really want to analyze … I think both [interceptions] he probably would like to have those back.”

Perhaps turning a corner is the Broncos’ running game. Senior runningback Doug Martin rushed for 126 yards—his first 100-yard game of the season—on 21 carries.

“[Doug] makes plays when plays aren’t there,” Moore said. “He’s able to get yards out of plays that don’t look so pretty.”

In the fourth quarter, Martin ran the ball 92 yards for a touchdown. The bad news was the run was negated by a Bronco holding penalty, but the good news was that Martin ripped off a run like that for the first time this season.

The Broncos’ offense has yet to put together a complete game this year.

“No one’s perfect,” Martin said. “We just need to focus on the details and keep getting better through practice.”

Practice will be important this shortened week for Boise State. The Broncos are on the road face Fresno St. on Friday.