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Boise State fends off Air Force

Oct 23, 2011 - 2:23 AM Boise, ID (Sports Network) - Kellen Moore threw for 281 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, helping No. 5 Boise State down Air Force, 37-26, at Bronco Stadium.

With the victory, Moore tied former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy for the most career wins in college football with 45.

Doug Martin had a big day on the ground, rushing for 125 yards and one touchdown for the Broncos (7-0, 2-0 Mountain West).

Tyler Shoemaker caught four passes for 98 yards and a score, while Matt Miller hauled in five passes for 67 yards and a touchdown.

Tim Jefferson completed 8-of-16 passes for 144 yards and ran 20 times for 16 yards and two scores, while Mike DeWitt had a nice day running the football for Air Force (3-4, 0-3) with 108 yards on the ground.

Asher Clark picked up a rushing touchdown and Zack Kauth caught three balls for 93 yards in the loss.

Boise State opened the scoring on the first drive of the game, aided by some excellent field position when Air Force's Erik Soderberg rocketed the opening kickoff out of bounds, giving the Broncos the ball on the 40.

Boise State scored in eight plays, with Moore connecting with Shoemaker in the back left corner of the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown strike to make it 7-0.

Early in the second quarter, Boise State appeared poised to score again. Faced with a 3rd-and-1 from the Falcons' 16, Martin lost the ball and it was recovered by Anthony Wright for Air Force.

On the second play of the ensuing drive, Jefferson hooked up with Kauth over the middle for a 32 yards up to the 43. Jonathan Warzeka converted a 3rd-and-9 for Air Force with a 15-yard catch and Jefferson capped the 17-play, 90-yard drive by bowling his way into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown run.

But the Broncos took the lead right back on their next drive when Moore found Miller for a 19-yard touchdown pass. The extra-point try was blocked, leaving Boise State with a 13-7 lead.

The Broncos defense came up with a huge play on 4th-and-4 as the Falcons tried a fake punt, but Boise State wasn't fooled. Mikel Hunter was hit and lost the ball. It was recovered for a 16-yard touchdown by Hunter White for a 20-7 lead.

"I thought we could get good flow going to the left because that is something we had done and get two blockers on two blockers on the edge and circle it," Air Force head coach Troy Callhoun said of the fake punt attempt. "It didn't work, and when it doesn't work it starts with the coach."

Air Force made it a 10-point game when Herrington was true on a 37-yard field goal to cap an 11-play, 61-yard drive, making it 20-10 at the half.

Parker Herrington connected on a 39-yard field goal attempt with just over seven minutes to go in the third stanza to bring Air Force within 20-13.

But Boise State extended its lead to 14 with just over two minutes to go in the third quarter when Martin capped an 11-play, 77-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown scamper.

Early in the final quarter, Air Force made it a one-score game with another long drive. This time, the Falcons used 18 plays to go 80 yards -- highlighted by a 22-yard run by DeWitt on third down, and another 22-yard run by Clark on 4th-and-6 -- to get down to the Boise State 3. Clark finished it off with a three-yard touchdown to make it 27-20.

The Broncos extended their lead with a 10-play, 69-yard drive on their next possession, capped by a two-yard strike to Martin on 2nd-and-goal to make it 34-20.

"I am really proud of the way my kids competed," Boise State head coach Chris Petersen said. "I'm just really proud of the way we played in that fourth quarter."

But Air Force refused to go quietly, as Jefferson snuck into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown run with 3 1/2 minutes to go in the fourth to make it 34-26. Herrington's extra point try was blocked.

Dan Goodale connected on a 25-yard field goal with 42 seconds remaining in the game to seal the win.

Game Notes

Saturday marked the first ever meeting between Boise State and Air Force...The Broncos' second quarter defensive touchdown was their first non-offensive touchdown of the season...Calhoun is 5-13 in his career when trailing at halftime...Air Force was 4-for-5 on fourth down conversions.