Boise State Broncos @ Toledo Rockets Football Recap

Boise State 40, Toledo 15

After Toledo put a scare into Ohio State last week, many thought that the Rockets could stick around with anybody, including Boise State. After Toledo took an early 6-0 lead on the Broncos, it looked like that could be the case. But Kellen Moore had other thoughts, as the southpaw’s banner day led Boise State to a 40-15 victory on Friday night in Ohio.

After giving up the first quarter touchdown drive to Toledo, Moore went to work with the Boise offense. The Broncos moved methodically on a 68-yard drive to take a 7-6 lead. On their next possession, Moore found running back Doug Martin in the flat, who weaved and scampered 71 yards for a touchdown. Toledo would then insert Terrance Owens in at quarterback, hoping to get a spark from the dynamic left-handed sophomore. But Toledo’s offense would still struggle. Meanwhile, the Broncos would make a statement at the end of the half. With 1:22 left in the first half, Moore led a surgical drive in 1:05 to take a 20-6 that ended when he found Tyler Shoemaker with a 1-yard toss, who would end the night with three touchdown catches. On the drive, Moore was an impressive 6-6 for 64 yards, including a diving catch from his brother Kirby inside Toledo’s 10-yard line.

But the half wasn’t quite over, as it appeared Toledo could stay alive in this game. The Rockets took the ball with only 17 seconds left at its own 40-yard line after a kick out of bounds. Owens hit two quick passes to move Toledo to Boise’s 17-yard line, where Ryan Casano converted a 35-yard field goal to make the halftime score 20-9 in favor of Boise. Kellen Moore’s halftime stat line was 19-23 for 298 yards and three touchdowns.

The only score of the third quarter was midway through the frame when Moore found Kyle Efaw on a 12-yard touchdown pass for Boise State. The drive showed Boise’s ability to strike quickly, going 88 yards in just 2:16. And again, Moore was great, going 6-6 for 60 yards on the drive. The Broncos then put the game away midway through the fourth quarter on the legs of Doug Martin. Martin ran the ball five straight times for 36 yards, then Moore found Shoemaker again for a 17-yard touchdown pass to make the score 33-9.

When the night was over, Kellen Moore had tallied up a line of 32-42 for 455 yards and five touchdowns. Martin and D.J. Harper combined for 105 rushing yards on 26 carries, as Boise State racked up 610 yards of offense on Toledo. Moore is now 40-2 as a starting quarterback, and Chris Petersen’s coaching record at Boise moves to 63-5. To the Rockets’ credit, they fought, getting the late first-half field goal and scoring a touchdown when the game was all but over, but it just wasn’t enough to keep pace with Moore’s Broncos. Owens finished 17-31 for 201 yards in the loss. Boise State (2-0) hosts Tulsa (1-2) next week.

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By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer