RUSTON, La. — Early in the fourth quarter, there was nervous pacing along Boise State’s sideline.
With an opportunity to show a national television audience why they should once again become a BCS-buster, a close game on the road was not what the fifth-ranked Broncos had in mind.
They looked anxious, but they weren’t rattled.
“We know we are going to have people’s best shots,” Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore said. “It’s kind of fun playing in tight games, I think. Throw in a little pressure, and it just shows the resiliency of this team.”
Moore threw for 354 yards and three touchdowns, and Boise State remained unbeaten and in contention for a BCS bid with a 45-35 victory over Louisiana Tech on Friday night.
Tech had pulled within 30-28 early in the fourth quarter on Dennis Morris’ leaping catch in the corner of the end zone. The Broncos’ defense buckled down long enough after that for Boise State to pull away with touchdowns on consecutive drives, first on Moore’s 12-yard pass to Austin Pettis and then on Jeremy Avery’s 44-yard touchdown run.
“We made more plays than they did tonight when it mattered, and we were able to finish it out,” Moore said.
Avery finished with 146 yards rushing, while Titus Young caught eight passes for 110 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown for Boise State (9-0, 4-0 Western Athletic Conference).
Boise State has scored no fewer than 45 points in each of its four WAC games this season.
Still, the Broncos could have used a more dominant victory in their quest to prove they are more deserving than unbeaten and sixth-ranked TCU for a Bowl Championship Series bid.
