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No. 21 Boise State tramples Wyoming

Oct 28, 2012 - 5:22 AM Laramie, WY (Sports Network) - For the third time in four games, D.J. Harper rushed for two touchdowns to lead the No. 21 Boise State Broncos to a 45-14 win over Wyoming on Saturday.

Harper finished with 105 yards on 19 carries while Jay Ajayi and Shane Williams-Rhodes each added a rushing score for the Broncos (7-1, 4-0 MWC), who have won seven straight games since dropping the season opener to Michigan State.

Joe Southwick was 20-for-28 for 198 yards and an interception, while Grant Hedrick added a rushing touchdown in the victory.

"We did run into a pretty good football team. They are very talented and their offense executed well," Wyoming interim head coach Pete Kaligis said of the Broncos. "We knew going in that it was going to be a struggle running the ball and that was the case. They are well coached, disciplined and overall a solid team."

Brett Smith completed 24-of-35 passes for 216 yards and also rushed for a pair of scores for the Cowboys (1-7, 0-4), who have dropped four in a row since a Sept. 22 win over Idaho.

"I do have some good feelings about this week. Whether it was an easy week or not, how this team responded and the support from the entire staff... and everyone that's involved. I can't thank them enough for the experience they gave me and this group of young men. They came out and gave it their all. What an experience," Kaligis said.

After blocking Stuart Williams' 29-yard field-goal attempt on the game's opening possession, the Broncos drove 78 yards in 11 plays to take a 7-0 lead, capped off with Harper's 8-yard rush for a score.

The Cowboys countered with a 15-play, 75-yard trek that bridged the first and second quarters to knot the game at 7-7. Smith's 12-yard pass to Brandon Miller put Wyoming on the Boise State 5-yard line, and two plays later the quarterback ran it in himself from four yards out.

Michael Frisina's 29-yard field goal on the ensuing possession gave Boise State a 10-7 advantage before Harper added his second rushing score of the game with a 9-yard dash around the right end to put the Broncos up 17-7.

Williams-Rhodes broke free for a 28-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the second half to push Boise's spread to 24-7.

Later in the third quarter, Corey Bell returned Smith's fumble 22 yards for a touchdown and Hedrick punched it in from one yard out to give the Broncos a commanding 38-7 advantage.

Smith's 23-yard rush with 13 minutes to play in the fourth quarter pulled the Cowboys within 38-14, but that was all for the hosts.

Dallas Burroughs' 36-yard kickoff return set Boise State up with excellent field position on the ensuing possession and, six plays later, Ajayi scampered into the end zone from 15 yards out to account for the final margin.

"We have seen what Wyoming does. They spread you out. They make plays. That quarterback is hard to tackle," Boise State head coach Chris Petersen said.

Game Notes

Boise State has won 48 straight games in October ... The Broncos have not trailed since the second quarter of their Sept. 15 win over Miami-Ohio, a span of 391 minutes ... Boise State receiver Matt Miller had seven catches for 78 yards, giving him 104 receptions for his career ... The Broncos are the only Mountain West team without a conference loss this season ... The Cowboys have never beaten Boise State, falling to 0-7 all time, including four losses in Laramie ... Wyoming has been eliminated from postseason consideration.