Late scores propel Boise State past Tulsa in thriller
TULSA, Okla. — Antwaun Carter scored on a 2-yard run with less than two minutes remaining, and Tyler Jones kicked a 46-yard field goal with 3 seconds left, rallying No. 21 Boise State to a 45-42 win over Tulsa on Saturday night.
Carter scored with 1:24 left to tie the game at 42 as the Broncos (6-0, 3-0 Western Athletic Conference) won their 17th straight, the longest winning streak in the nation.
James Kilian threw three touchdown passes, including a 23-yarder to Cory Hathaway, to give Tulsa the lead in the fourth quarter. Kilian ran for two more scores for the Golden Hurricane (1-5, 0-2).
Boise State took possession at its own 39 with 46 seconds remaining. Carter picked up 13 yards on two runs and caught a 9-yard pass, helping move the Broncos to the Tulsa 28 and set up Jones’ winning field goal.
Tulsa had one last chance at its own 33 with 1 second left, but the Broncos recovered Ashlan Davis’ intentional fumble at the Boise State 48 as time expired.
Jared Zabransky rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another for Boise State, which extended its conference winning streak to 21 games, a stretch that dates to 2001 when the Broncos joined the WAC.
T.J. Acree caught nine passes for 181 yards, including TD receptions of 7 and 28 yards from Zabransky.
Zabransky finished 17 for 31 for 233 yards. He rushed for 80 yards on 12 carries, including touchdowns of 11 and 5 yards.
Boise State hasn’t lost since falling 26-24 at Oregon State Sept. 20, 2003, but that streak appeared in jeopardy when Kilian scored from the 1 with :16 left in the third quarter, giving Tulsa a 35-28 lead.
Carter’s 2-yard run capped a 90-yard scoring drive and tied the game at 42 after Kilian’s pass to Hathaway.
Tulsa failed to get a first down that would have sent the game to overtime and had to punt.
Garrett Mills caught eight passes for 139 yards for Tulsa, which hasn’t defeated a ranked opponent since beating No. 19 Iowa in 1996.
Tulsa hasn’t beaten a Division I-A foe this season.