• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Avery helps Boise State run over Idaho

Nov 16, 2008 - 5:50 AM MOSCOW, Idaho (Ticker) -- Boise State overcame a sluggish first half and kept its BCS dreams alive.

James Avery ran for 156 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Ellis Powers returned a fumble for a TD as the ninth-ranked Broncos notched a 45-10 victory over instate-rival Idaho on Saturday.

Vinny Perretta and Ian Johnson each ran for a score as the Broncos (10-0, 6-0 WAC) scored 28 unanswered points and beat the Vandals for a 10th straight time.

"Nobody panicked," head coach Chris Peterson said. "We are a second-half team, and that's the most important half."

Boise State, which ran for 313 yards and clinched at least a share of the WAC regular-season title, has not lost to Idaho since 1998.

"The running game was huge," said quarterback Kellen Moore, who completed 23-of-31 passes for 210 yards.

The huge second half helped Boise State keep its drive for a second BCS berth in three years alive. The Broncos are battling No. 7 Utah for a berth. Both must finish in the top 12, but only one will receive a BCS at-large bid.

Peterson said he isn't thinking about the BCS, just about Nevada - the Broncos' next opponent.

"I care about the Wolf Pack and the Broncos," Peterson said.

It was a terrible start for Peterson's team. Daniel Hardy caught an 81-yard TD 24 seconds into the game, and Idaho (2-9, 1-6) was within a touchdown at 17-10 after two periods.

However, the Broncos awoke from their slumber in the second half.

Avery's second TD run of the game - a 57-yard jaunt - made it 24-10 with 12:41 left in the third. Just over four minutes later, Powers stripped quarterback Nathan Enderle, picked up the ball and scampered 42 yards for score and a 31-10 lead.

"We pride ourselves on finishing games, finishing halves, things like that," said cornerback Kyle Wilson, who returned a punt 79 yards for a TD in the first.

"They came out tough. I know we took their best shot in the first half. We came back in (the locker room), accepted that and ? lit the fire."

Enderle completed 12-of-21 passes for 196 yards with a pair of interceptions for the Vandals, who had three turnovers.