Nov 19, 2006, 0:25 GMT
Boise, ID - Jared Zabransky threw for 236 yards and three touchdowns while Brett Denton carried the load for the injured Ian Johnson, rushing for 125 yards and two scores as 13th-ranked Boise State demolished Utah State, 49-10 at Bronco Stadium.
Denton carried the ball 17 times for an average of 7.4 yards per carry in place of Johnson, who leads the nation with 21 touchdowns. The standout running back is recovering from a partially collapsed left lung he sustained last week.
Zabransky finished 21-of-23 passing with no interceptions, while Taylor Tharp went 3-for-3 for 17 yards and a score in relief for the Broncos (11-0, 7-0 WAC), who have won 11 straight and join Ohio State and Rutgers as the only undefeated teams in the nation.
Jerard Rabb had four catches for 89 yards and a touchdown and Legedu Naanee hauled in three passes for 57 yards and a score in the victory.
Riley Nelson completed just 6 of his 15 passes for 40 yards with an interception and rushed for 45 yards for the Aggies (1-10, 1-6), who have dropped five in a row.
Utah State hosts New Mexico State in its season finale next weekend.
The Broncos put forth a dominant effort and outgained the Aggies in total offense, 493-188.
Boise State jumped ahead 7-0 when Denton punched it in the end zone from three yards out with 7:34 remaining in the opening quarter. Zabransky connected with Derek Schouman for an 11-yard gain on 3rd-and-7 and Naanee had a 35-yard rush during the 10-play, 75-yard scoring march.
Following a three-and-out by Utah State, the Broncos needed just five plays to go up by 14. On 3rd-and-3 from their own 45, Naanee hauled in a 24-yard pass for a first down. Zabransky then dashed four yards on the next play before Denton scampered up the middle for a 27-yard touchdown with 3:07 left in the first.
A seven-play, 84-yard series by Boise State bridged the first and second quarter and was culminated with a Zabransky 46-yard TD pass to Rabb for a 21-0 advantage.
The Aggies finally put some points on the scoreboard at the expense of a Broncos turnover. On 1st-and-10 from their own 38, Perretta fumbled after an eight-yard run and Utah State's James Brindley recovered it at the 46-yard line. The Aggies then drove 32 yards over nine plays and settled for a 31-yard field goal by Bryan Shields with 5 1/2 minutes to play in the second.
Late in the frame, Marty Tadman returned a punt 30 yards to give Boise State possession at Utah State's 30. Rabb rushed for nine yards and Perretta proceeded with five of his own, setting up a 16-yard touchdown throw from Zabransky to Naanee to give the Broncos a 28-3 halftime lead.
Boise State opened the third quarter with a nine-play, 63-yard march, capped by an eight-yard TD run by Quinton Jones off of left tackle. Two plays before, Perretta advanced the set with a 25-yard dash down the right sideline.
Tadman's interception of Nelson gave the Broncos the ball at the Aggies 49 and setup another score. Zabransky hit Rabb and Denton for 27 and 14 yards respectively before Putnam caught an eight-yard TD, giving Boise State a commanding 42-3 advantage with just under three minutes remaining in the third.
Utah State got its first touchdown of the contest from the defense less than one minute into the fourth. From the Aggies 17, Boise State backup quarterback Tharp was sacked by Paul Igboeli, fumbled the ball and Utah State's Devon Hall picked it up and ran 64 yards into the end zone.
Tharp, though, made good on his previous gaffe by orchestrating a 12-play, 70- yard possession that ate up 6:50 of clock and was finished up when Jovan Hutchinson hauled in a 10-yard TD pass to put a stamp on the game.
Game Notes
Perretta finished with 51 yards rushing on nine carries.Schouman had five receptions for 34 yards.Utah State's Kevin Robinson had three catches for 58 yards.
Perretta finished with 51 yards rushing on nine carries.
Schouman had five receptions for 34 yards.
Utah State's Kevin Robinson had three catches for 58 yards.
© 2006 The Sports Network
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