Moore’s 3 TD passes lift No. 6 Boise State to 45-7 victory over San Jose State

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No. 6 Boise State tops San Jose State 45-7

BOISE, Idaho — Kellen Moore threw for 278 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another as No. 6 Boise State coasted by San Jose State Saturday, the Broncos eighth straight victory.

Boise State (8-0, 3-0 Western Athletic Conference) also got plenty of help from its defense, which held the Spartans (1-6, 0-3) to 223 total yards and forced two turnovers that led to touchdowns.

In the last minute of the first half, the Broncos recovered a fumble deep in Spartans territory and scored four plays later on a 1-yard dive by Moore to go up 24-7 at the half. Early in the third quarter, cornerback Kyle Wilson picked off a pass and returned it 27 yards to put Boise State up 38-7.

Moore, the nation’s most efficient passer coming into the game, was 21 of 33 before heading to the sidelines at the start of the fourth quarter. His three TD passes gave him 24 this season. His first TD pass was a 61-yarder to younger brother Kirby Moore that put the Broncos up 7-0 in the first quarter.

The Broncos rolled up 430 total yards, but struggled most of the game to run the ball against a defense that was giving up 259 yards per game on the ground.

The Broncos, averaging 190 yards per game, were held to 140 yards, but the bulk of those came late with the game out of reach. Doug Martin led the Broncos with 63 yards, and he scored the game’s final touchdown on a 36-yard dash late in the fourth quarter.

The Spartan run defense was a lone bright spot for a team that has lost 10 straight to the Broncos.

Jordan LaSecla was 10 of 20 for just 79 yards and one touchdown, a 39-yarder to Marquis Avery that tied the game 7-7 in the first quarter.

LaSecla was ineffective the rest of the way and ultimately replaced in the second half by Kyle Reed, last season’s starter. Reed was 6 of 12 for 52 yards, and he rushed six times for 28 yards.

The turning point came in the final minute of the first half.

With 1:35 left in the half, Moore led the Broncos on a six play, 45-yard scoring drive, capped with an 18-yard TD to Mitch Burroughs in the left corner of the end zone.

One play after the ensuing kick, Spartan running back LaMon Muldrow fumbled after being hit by safety Jason Robinson, who recovered the ball on the Spartan 22 with 23 seconds left. After two misfires, Moore hit Tyler Shoemaker on a 21-yard pass, then scored on a dive on the next play.

Austin Pettis led the Broncos with five catches for 63 yards and a touchdown, while Kirby Moore had four catches for 80 yards.