Broncos let 13-0 record do talking
Boise State coach Chris Petersen simply refuses to get into the campaign business.
After his sixth-ranked Broncos rolled over New Mexico State 42-7 Saturday at Boise to finish 13-0 and go undefeated for the second straight season, Petersen resisted any urge he might have had to argue that the Broncos deserve an invitation to the Bowl Championship Series.
“I think our record speaks for itself,” said Petersen, whose team went 12-0 last year only to be left out of college football’s big-money bowl games. “We have faith in this system and think that it should work out. I don’t know why I think it will work. I just have a feeling it should work out like it should this year.”
Broncos safety Jeron Johnson wasn’t nearly as subtle, showing up at the postgame news conference sporting a sombrero. Some analysts have pegged the Broncos for a trip to the Fiesta Bowl. But that hinges on several factors, though BSU got a boost when Texas beat Nebraska in the Big 12 title game Saturday night.
“It’s something I would like to happen, but we have to wait and see what happens,” said Johnson, who with the rest of Broncos will have to wait until tonight to find out their postseason destination.
The victory over the lowly Aggies (3-10, 1-7) gave Boise State the outright WAC title for the second straight year. The Broncos have dominated the WAC this decade, winning seven of the last eight titles, including the 2005 title it shared with Nevada. Boise State has now won 26 straight regular-season games and 55 straight regular-season home games.
Doug Martin led the way with four touchdowns, and the defense held New Mexico State to 49 yards passing and 191 total yards.
Kellen Moore was 19 of 30 for 272 yards before leaving in the third quarter with a 35-0 lead. Moore’s lone touchdown pass, a 47-yarder to Titus Young in the first quarter, gave him 39 on the year, a school record.
“I think we deserve a chance at the BCS this year,” safety George Iloka said. “We can’t do anything about it. I’m not going to lie – it would hurt if we don’t make it this year.”
Fresno State 53, Illinois 52: Offensive lineman Devan Cunningham caught a deflected pass with 2 seconds left and stumbled into the end zone for a 2-point conversion, giving the Bulldogs (8-4) a wild victory over the Illini (3-9) in Champaign, Ill.
Ryan Colburn capped a 67-yard drive by hitting Jamel Hamler for the last touchdown. Hamler caught the ball at the 5 and stretched across the goal line just as his knee hit the turf.
Fresno State coach Pat Hall called a timeout and huddled with his offense, opting to go for the win rather than kicking the extra point and forcing overtime. The Bulldogs lost in double-overtime at Wisconsin earlier in the season.
Colburn rolled right with the ball and, under heavy pressure, flung a pass toward Hamler just inside the goal line that was batted away and brought down by Cunningham.
The 350-pound lineman leaned through a crowd of players at the 2-yard line and landed in the end zone.
Louisiana Tech 55, San Jose 20: Daniel Porter ran for 199 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Bulldogs to a win over the Spartans in Ruston, La., in the final game for San Jose State coach Dick Tomey.
The Bulldogs (4-9, 3-5) used a season-high 45-point first half to beat the Spartans (2-10, 1-7) and Tomey, who ended his 29-year career with a 183-145-7 record.
Tomey ranks behind only Joe Paterno, Bobby Bowden, Mack Brown and Frank Beamer in active wins by coaches in the Football Bowl Subdivision.