Thompson’s 51-yard interception return gives Boise State 7-0 lead over TCU in Fiesta Bowl

Boise State leads TCU 7-0 early in Fiesta Bowl

GLENDALE, Ariz. — TCU shut out Boise State’s high-scoring offense but trailed 7-0 after one quarter in the Fiesta Bowl on Monday night thanks to a touchdown by the Broncos’ defense.

Brandyn Thompson intercepted Andy Dalton’s pass and returned it 51 yards for the only score of the quarter. It was Thompson’s fifth interception this season and ninth of his career, but the first he had returned for a score.

The junior cornerback jumped in front of intended receiver Antoine Hicks and the pass fell right in his hands. He ran untouched to the end zone with 11:28 to play in the quarter.

The Broncos threatened again but Kyle Brotzman’s 26-yard field goal attempt was wide right.

TCU, meanwhile, could get nothing going offensively.

Dalton was shaken up when cornerback Kyle Wilson came untouched from the left edge on a blitz and flattened the quarterback. Dalton ran off on his own and missed the third-down play, but was back the next time the Horned Frogs got the ball.

The Fiesta Bowl matchup pitted two unbeaten teams from non-BCS conferences — Mountain West champion TCU entered 12-0 and WAC champion Boise State was 13-0 — against each other for the first time in one of the big games.

One side of University of Phoenix Stadium was a sea of orange, the other mostly the purple of TCU.

While Boise State was the top scoring team in major college football at 44.2 points per game entering the night, TCU had offensive credentials that were almost as impressive.

In their last five games of the regular season, the Frogs scored 55, 55, 45 and 51 points.

The game was played on the same field where Boise State stunned Oklahoma in overtime with a “hook-and-ladder” play for the winning touchdown.

No. 4 TCU, in a BCS bowl for the first time, entered a seven-point favorite over the sixth-ranked Broncos.