Laramie – Boise State’s orange-and-blue uniforms and its suffocating defense Saturday hearkens back to an old Rocky Mountain football nickname.
“Orange Crush” still gets tossed around in Denver, but the amateur version of the moniker belongs to Idaho’s Broncos. As Wyoming can attest, Boise State’s defense is as good as its potent offense.
The Cowboys committed the game’s only two turnovers and fell to the visiting Broncos 17-10 before a chilled crowd of 17,880 at windy Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium.
“This was a good team win,” said first-year Boise State coach Chris Petersen, promoted from offensive coordinator after Dan Hawkins left for Colorado. “Our defense was spectacular.”
Despite allowing a fourth-quarter touchdown – the first points Boise State has allowed beyond the first quarter this season – the Broncos made two game-changing interceptions. Quinton Jones scored on a 61-yard interception to make it 17-3 midway through the second quarter, and Orlando Scandrick picked off quarterback Jacob Doss in the Boise State end zone with 3:07 left to end what Wyoming (1-2) had hoped was the game-tying drive.
“The turnovers are what cost us, I think we all know that,” said Wyoming coach Joe Glenn. “(And) they just didn’t make any mistakes. They didn’t fumble the ball. They didn’t throw any interceptions. … They played a great game.”
Wyoming’s defense also was solid. Boise State (3-0) came into the game averaging 417 yards but was held to 246. Running back Ian Johnson, who had 240 yards and five touchdowns against Oregon State, was held to a modest 119 yards.
Doss directed a sputtering offense, which outgained Boise State by 5 yards but committed two too many turnovers.
On his last pass of the day, Doss was aiming for wide receiver Tyler Holden over the middle. Glenn said Doss needed to throw a sharp pass. Instead, Doss lifted it high, leaving plenty of time for the double coverage to pay off by allowing Scandrick to drift behind Holden to catch it.
“I put that one on me,” said Doss, a first-year starter. “I can’t do that. If you want to be a quarterback, the main thing you have to be is clutch. The fourth quarter is my favorite quarter, (but) if I go and throw an interception like that, it’s not clutch.”
Boise State took a 10-3 lead on senior quarterback Jared Zabransky’s 6-yard touchdown run with 7:49 to go in the second quarter. Earlier in the drive, Zabransky ran for a first down on fourth-and-4.
The Broncos quickly went ahead 17-3 because of Doss’ first interception. His pass to the right flat went through receiver Greg Bolling’s hands to Jones, who ran untouched up the Cowboys’ sideline for the score.
That’s how it stood at halftime, and the defense kept the Cowboys in it. They continued to force punts and allowed the offense several opportunities.
Doss’ 1-yard plunge with 8:03 remaining made it 17-10. An ensuing Boise State punt and facemask penalty gave the Cowboys the ball at their 49 with 5:27 to go. They got to the Broncos’ 41 before Doss threw his second interception.
Boise State took over with 3:07 to go and produced two first downs to run out the clock.
“We knew Wyoming was a good team,” Petersen said. “They played hard and tough and reminded me of us.”
Staff writer Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
Boise St. 3 14 0 0 – 17
Wyoming 3 0 0 7 – 10
First quarter: Wyo – FG Goodman 31, 9:45. Boi – FG Montgomery 23, 3:16. Second quarter: Boi – Zabransky 6 run (Montgomery kick), 7:49. Boi – Jones 61 interception return (Montgomery kick), 6:33. Fourth quarter: Wyo – Doss 1 run (Goodman kick), 8:03. A – 17,880.
Boi Wyo
First downs 17 15
Rushes-yards 41-130 29-73
Passing 116 178
Comp-att-int 12-21-0 14-30-2
Return yards 100 13
Punts-avg. 7-50.1 6-44.8
Fumbles-lost 1-0 0-0
Penalties-yards 7-55 8-45
Time of possession 30:08 29:52
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Boise St., I. Johnson 23-119, Zabransky 10-7, Perretta 2-6, Denton 3-0, James 1-0, Team 2-(minus 2). Wyoming, Seldon 12-39, Moore 1-19, Doss 12-9, Dean 1-5, Marsh 1-1, J. Harris 2-0.
PASSING – Boise St., Zabransky 12-20-0-116, Denton 0-1-0-0. Wyoming, Doss 14-30-2-178.
RECEIVING – Boise St., James 4-16, Rabb 3-42, Naanee 2-26, Childs 1-16, Putnam 1-13, Schouman 1-3. Wyoming, Ford 4-72, Seldon 3-38. Holden 2-15, J. Harris 2-7, Marsh 1-20, Donnelly 1-18, Moore 1-8.
