Boise State Broncos @ San Diego State Aztecs Football Recap

Boise State 52, San Diego State 35

The Boise State Broncos were angry after losing to TCU the week before. Someone had to stare them down and pay the price.

After another letdown brought on by kicking failures last week, Boise State was out for vindication, and the San Diego State Aztecs were the unfortunate recipient of Boise’s frustration. Kellen Moore reasserted himself in a command performance amplified by his teammate, receive Tyler Shoemaker. As a result of vintage pyrotechnics from one of the most successful quarterbacks in recent college football memory, Boise State came away with a 52-35 win on Saturday night in San Diego.

Far from a shootout, the Aztecs inflated the final score in the fourth quarter garbage time after Boise State sprinted out to a 42-14 halftime lead. San Diego State self-destructed in the first quarter, starting when Shea McClellin intercepted Ryan Lindley on the third play of the game to give Boise a 24-yard field. Four plays later, Moore hit Shoemaker for a five-yard touchdown pass. Boise’s second possession resulted in a punt, but Leon McFadden fumbled the punt return for San Diego State, and Boise State recovered at the 11-yard line. Mitch Burroughs converted an 11-yard run for Boise’s next score. Brandon Davies fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Boise State had a 23-yard field. Moore hit Shoemaker for a 14-yard score and the Broncos were up 21-0 before the Aztecs could catch their breath.

For a moment it looked like San Diego State might work back into the game when Adam Muema—filling in for an injured Ronnie Hillman, who saw only three carries—broke an 81-yard touchdown run to make it 21-7. But Moore would throw two more touchdown passes in the half, the final one another score to Shoemaker with 47 seconds left, and Boise had a 42-14 lead.

Lindley finished 30-51 for 350 yards and three touchdowns for San Diego State, who fell to 6-4 with the loss. The Aztecs will travel to UNLV (2-8) next week. Moore’s final line was 28-40 for 366 yards and four touchdowns for the Broncos. Shoemaker finished with 130 yards and three touchdowns on 10 catches, while Doug Martin added 129 yards on the ground. Boise State (9-1) hosts Wyoming (7-3) next week.

Boise State’s win might seem to be meaningless now that TCU has clinched the Mountain West title, but with all the craziness from the past weekend in college football – with Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Clemson, Southern Mississippi, and Oregon all losing – Boise State’s chances of making a BCS bowl have improved. If the Broncos can stay on the winning track, they just might get a chance to make a prestige-laden bowl game after all. This weekend in San Diego might possess more heft than pigskin pundits first expected.

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By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer