Boise State thunders past Aggies in Romney Stadium rout
November 21st, 2009 Posted in SportsBy Brendon Butler
LOGAN–Friday night the 6th-ranked Boise Broncos ran amok in Utah State University’s Romney Stadium to take an easy 52-21 victory over USU.
The game looked like a live one after Boise QB Kellen Moore’s first touchdown pass was quickly answered by USU’s Michael Smith when he rushed for a 22-yard goal. And just a few minutes later Boise’s TD was answered on USU’s very next possession. The Aggies started out strong.
But any hopes USU fans had for an upset were dashed on the Broncos next two possessions as they took off on a “basketball run,” scoring two unanswered touchdowns within just 46 seconds. Boise’s Titus Young made a miraculous left-handed catch through USU’s man-to-man coverage, setting up a 2-yard run by Doug Martin for the 21-14 lead.
Then USU fumbled the hand-off on the very next play, setting up an easy 28-14 score by running back Jeremy Avery, who rushed for 2 TDs during the night. Boise’s Doug Martin also shined, scoring four touchdowns in the game.
After the break, Boise grabbed a gear, scoring within a minute and a half on two consecutive possessions.
Diondre Borel started several drives for USU that almost broke the Broncos’ momentum several times, and Robert Turbin powered through tough defense for a good running game, scoring USU’s second TD from 24 yards out. But defensive lapses and fumbled plays cost the Aggies big over the long run. The Aggies’ season record fell with the loss to 2-5 in conference play.
The win leaves the Broncos unbeaten, with a 11-0, 6-0 record for the season. The big question on Boise fans’ minds–and some local fans who were miffed at the University of Utah’s perfect 2008 season going unrecognized—was whether the Broncos played with enough spark to draw a BCS Bowl game invitation.
The game was the first live nationwide coverage by ESPN at USU, and the TV crew spent two days preparing for the broadcast. In pre-recorded segments, ESPN explored USU’s campus, highlighting Diversity Week, the Taggart Student Center, and the joys of Aggie ice cream. The USU Rocket team and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle team were both spotlighted as well. One particularly interesting segment involved dozens of students from USU’s spirit squad wearing Aggie Blue–some shirtless and painted–as they sang USU’s school song for a national audience. This is why student fees were raised by $68 a semester — so America can see and try to comprehend the strange lyrics to “The Scotsman” along with the rest of USU’s student body. Let’s hope it helps next year.
Tags: Aggies, Boise State, run amok, Utah State
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