Broncos stampede Vandals in 2nd half of 70-35 win

BOISE – The Idaho Vandals had climbed out of a 14-point deficit to pull even midway through the third quarter. They were moving the ball on offense, and they had Boise State quarterback Jared Zabransky reliving the nightmare of his season opener at Georgia.

Idaho’s defense had just forced a turnover, giving the offense favorable field position.

Game on? More like game over.

Just when it appeared Idaho had cornered the momentum, the Broncos put up five touchdowns in less than 9 minutes, including three in less than 100 seconds, to turn a competitive football game into a 70-35 runaway Saturday in front of 30,394 at Bronco Stadium.

BSU (8-3, 6-1 Western Athletic Conference), which has won seven straight over Idaho and 31 consecutive home games, set a record for most points scored in the 35-game series history. Idaho (2-8, 2-5) probably set a new standard for swiftest – and most complete – meltdown.

“It seemed like a whirlwind,” UI senior defensive tackle Jeff Edwards said. “All of a sudden I looked up and the game was out of control. It’s like 35-21 going into the fourth quarter and all of a sudden I look up and it’s 70.”

Many of Idaho’s season-long issues resurfaced in this one. Idaho couldn’t run the ball (72 yards on 30 attempts), the passing game was a mixed bag, and special teams were particularly costly.

BSU’s first two touchdowns came via UI punting miscues. Punter Mike Barrow fielded a one-hop snap from Jade Tadvick, but just before Barrow dropped the ball toward his foot he noticed Tanyon Bissell closing in. Barrow opted to run but was quickly hauled down.

The Broncos took over at Idaho’s 22 and scored five plays later on Zabransky’s 5-yard option keeper.

BSU’s defense forced another punt, and Barrow again had to snag a one-hop snap. This time he took a step to his right and lined a 43-yard kick that Quinton Jones quickly returned 73 yards for a touchdown. Jones wasn’t touched and didn’t have to make many moves to find the end zone.

“It really shouldn’t have been an issue,” said Vandals linebacker Cole Snyder, one of several starters who play on punt coverage. “We just got outmanned.”

Idaho’s offense, which gained just one first down on its first four possessions, finally heated up with a 15-play, 69-yard scoring drive. Idaho converted twice on fourth down, including Tracy Ford’s 1-yard run for the touchdown. On the play, quarterback Steven Wichman went in motion to the right and Ford took a direct snap.

At one point late in the second quarter, Idaho had gained twice as much yardage as Boise State and had one third of the points.

The teams traded touchdowns – BSU’s coming after a Wichman interception, Idaho’s on another long march – leaving UI behind 21-14 at half.

Zabransky, indecisive in the pocket and rattled by Idaho’s pass rush, was picked off for the second time, giving Idaho the ball at BSU’s 33. The Vandals pulled even on a gadget play as Rolly Lumbala took a pitch to the right and threw back across the field to a wide-open Wichman.

Two plays later, Zabransky, on what would be his last play of the game, fumbled near the sideline and UI linebacker Mike Anderson recovered. Zabransky, who had six turnovers against Georgia, was replaced by Taylor Tharp.

“What we were thinking was we’re going to give (Vandals fans in the crowd) a score and come back to the sidelines and get our defense out there to get another stop,” said Wichman, who finished 33 of 61 for 350 yards but was intercepted three times.

Instead, Wichman ended up flat on his back, nailed by blitzing linebacker Colt Brooks. The ball came loose, and Austin Smith scooped it up and went 39 yards for a TD.

The play deflated the Vandals, who suddenly couldn’t protect Wichman against BSU’s blitzes. Idaho’s defense went south, too. After holding BSU, the WAC’s top running team, to 52 rushing yards in the first half, Idaho got trampled. Lee Marks broke through a big hole on the left side and raced 39 yards for the touchdown and a 35-21 lead.

“We get the game tied, get a turnover and we get the quarterback killed,” Idaho coach Nick Holt said. “If we have more of a punch in the running game we don’t have to resort to just throwing the ball every down against a solid defense.”

Then it got ugly. Smith went 50 yards on a fly sweep, Antwaun Carter sliced up the middle for 16 yards and Orlando Scandrick returned a Wichman interception 50 yards for another touchdown. It added up to 21 points in 1 minute, 36 seconds.

Idaho closes the season at San Jose State on Saturday.

BSU, which is pursing its fourth straight bowl berth, visits Louisiana Tech.

Boise St. 70, Idaho 35

BSU—Zabransky 3 run (Ant.Montgomery kick)

BSU—Q.Jones 73 punt return (Ant.Montgomery kick)

UI—Ford 2 run (Barrow kick)

BSU—Zabransky 20 run (Ant.Montgomery kick)

UI—Ford 1 run (Barrow kick)

UI—Wichman 7 pass from Lumbala (Barrow kick)

BSU—A.Smith 39 fumble return (Ant.Montgomery kick)

BSU—Marks 39 run (Ant.Montgomery kick)

BSU—Q.Jones 50 run (Ant.Montgomery kick)

BSU—Carter 16 run (Ant.Montgomery kick)

BSU—Scandrick 50 interception return (Ant.Montgomery kick)

UI—D.Smith 18 pass from Wichman (Barrow kick)

BSU—Rabb 31 pass from Tharp (Ant.Montgomery kick)

UI—D.Smith 12 pass from Wichman (Barrow kick)

BSU—Carpenter 3 run (Ant.Montgomery kick)

A—30,394.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Idaho, Ford 19-79, Lumbala 5-10, Barrow 1-(minus 2), Team 1-(minus 4), Wichman 4-(minus 11). Boise State, Marks 9-102, Q.Jones 1-50, Carter 9-48, Carpenter 4-22, Zabransky 9-21, James 1-10, Johnson 1-1.

PASSING—Idaho, Wichman 33-61-3-350, Lumbala 1-1-0-7. Boise State, Zabransky 4-15-2-93, Tharp 4-8-1-75, Hamdan 1-2-0-35.

RECEIVING—Idaho, D.Smith 10-114, Octave 6-99, Ford 5-36, Lumbala 3-26, E.Williams 3-17, L.Smith 2-26, Askew 2-17, Heacock 1-10, Wichman 1-7, Greer 1-5. Boise State, Rabb 3-69, Naanee 2-30, James 1-55, Perretta 1-35, Carpenter 1-7, Blaser 1-7.