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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, November 11, 2007

No. 19 Boise St. routs Utah State

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Boise State quarterback Taylor Tharp, right, celebrates with Jeff Cavender after throwing a TD pass against Utah State.

ELI LUCERO | Associated Press

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LOGAN, Utah — No. 19 Boise State got the no-doubt-about-it victory it needed to make a late run up the BCS standings.

The Broncos pounded Utah State, 52-0, yesterday for their eighth straight win on a near-perfect day for Taylor Tharp.

The Boise State quarterback completed 26 of 29 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns.

Ian Johnson ran for 110 yards and was one of five players to score a touchdown for Boise State (9-1, 6-0 Western Athletic Conference), which has scored 80 straight points over the last two games since its opponents last scored.

The Broncos couldn't afford a sloppy victory against Utah State (0-10, 0-6) if they want to hold any hope for a second straight appearance in the Bowl Championship Series. A loss to Washington in the second week of the season is the only strike against Boise State so far.

"Whatever comes to us in the end will be whatever we deserve," Johnson said. "If you go out seeking to impress people, a lot of times you're going to end up short-handed. If people are impressed, they're impressed. If they're not, then we're at no loss because of it."

Receiver Titus Young ran for two scores and caught a pass for another and Ia Falo returned a blocked punt 16 yards for a touchdown.

The Broncos' offense has been dubbed "Pete's Poison" for coach Chris Petersen. Boise State ran a little bit of everything and just about all of it worked against the Aggies, who have lost 16 in a row.

"Even if you do figure out everything we run, to run it at the pace and the tempo we run it at, it's just amazing. You can't reproduce that," Johnson said. "It's one of the reasons we are so successful and we can score so many points."

MORE WAC

San Jose State 51, New Mexico State 17: Adam Tafralis threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns, setting a school record for career total offense as the Spartans (4-6, 3-3) hammered the Aggies (4-7, 1-5) at San Jose, Calif.

Tafralis, who also ran for a touchdown, recorded 316 yards in total offense for a career total of 7,363, passing Jeff Garcia on the Spartans all-time list.

Chase Holbrook set his own school record for the Aggies by passing for 318 yards. He has 7,795 in his career.

Utah State lost to Hawai'i, 52-37, Oct. 6, while San Jose State fell, 42-35, in overtime to Hawai'i, Oct. 12.

UH OPPONENTS

OREGON State 29, WASHINGTON 23: Yvenson Bernard ran for 149 yards and Alexis Serna kicked five field goals as the Beavers (6-4, 4-3 Pac-10) held off the Cougars (3-7, 1-6) at Corvallis, Ore., to become bowl eligible.

Washington sophomore quarterback Jake Locker was taken to a local hospital in the second quarter, after a hit by OSU safety and Kahuku High alum Al Afalava. He was released later and returned to Reser Stadium after a neck injury was ruled out.

Washington plays at Hawai'i Dec. 1.

Sacramento State 20, Northern Colorado 17: Tony Washington hauled in a tipped ball in the end zone on a desperation pass by Jason Smith as time expired, lifting the Hornets (2-8, 2-5 Big Sky) over the Bears (1-9, 1-6) at Greeley, Colo.

Northern Colorado lost to Hawai'i, 63-6, Sept. 1.

Charleston Southern 28, Presbyterian 24: Sidney Bryant threw for 382 yards and four touchdowns, including an 18-yarder to Dee Brown with seven seconds left in the game, leading the Buccaneers (5-5) over the Blue Hose (6-5) at North Charleston, S.C.

Charleston Southern lost to Hawai'i, 66-10, Sept. 22.

San Diego State 38, UNLV 30: Kevin O'Connell threw for 196 yards and two touchdowns, and Martell Fantroy returned an interception 55 yards for a score with 1:15 left as the Aztecs (4-5, 3-2 Mountain West) held off the Rebels (2-8, 1-5) in Las Vegas.

O'Connell went 17-of-23, completing his first 11 passes, as the Aztecs built to a 21-0 lead by halftime.

UNLV lost to Hawai'i 49-14, Sept. 15.