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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, August 31, 2008

Freshman QB leads Boise St. in opener, 49-7

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Boise State tailback Ian Johnson also played on special teams yesterday, blocking a punt late in the first half against Idaho State.

CHARLIE LITCHFIELD | Idaho Press-Tribune via AP

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BOISE, Idaho — Freshman Kellen Moore threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns, and Tyler Shoemaker caught two passes for two touchdowns as Boise State defeated Idaho State, 49-7, last night.

Becoming the first freshman to start in the season opener for the Broncos, the left-handed Moore used his quick release and rifle arm to complete 14-of-19 passes with no interceptions. The two touchdown passes went for 80 and 56 yards.

For Idaho State, Russell Hill completed 15 of 22 passes for 74 yards, and Ken Cornist rushed 19 times for 98 yards.

It was the third consecutive year Boise State, of the Western Athletic Conference, opened the season at home against a team from a lower division, and for the third straight year, it routed the opponent.

But it didn't start out that way. The Broncos did not score their first touchdown until a little more than a minute was left in the first quarter. It was the first of four touchdowns in the span of 8 minutes to go up 28-0 with 7:48 left in the half.

It started with an 11-play, 76-yard drive, with Moore completing four straight passes for 49 yards and capped by Richie Brockel's 2-yard run.

After a Bengals punt, Moore found Chris O'Neill for 22 yards and Julian Hawkins for another 9. Running back Ian Johnson was stopped from the 3-yard-line for no gain twice before finding the end zone on a third try, making it 14-0, after the kick, with 12:11 left in the half.

After gaining only 2 yards, the Bengals were forced to punt. When he got the ball back, Moore found wide receiver Titus Young behind the Idaho State defense for an 80-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive, pushing the lead to 21-0.

Three plays later, the Bengals had to punt again. But Johnson, in on special teams, blocked it and Ellis Powers recovered to give the Broncos the ball at the Idaho State 12-yard line. Brockel powered in from 3 yards out to make it 28-0 with 7:48 left in the half.

LOUISIANA TECH 22, MISSISSIPPI STATE 14

RUSTON, La. — Brad Oestriecher made a career-best three field goals and the host Bulldogs took advantage of three Mississippi State turnovers in the third quarter en route to an upset.

The win by Tech was the first over a BCS conference squad in five years (at Michigan State in 2003).

OKLAHOMA STATE 39, WASHINGTON STATE 13

SEATTLE — Kendall Hunter ran for a career-best two touchdowns, Zac Robinson passed for 182 yards and ran for another score as the Cowboys routed the Cougars.

New coach Paul Wulff is the first graduate to lead the Cougars since Phil Sarboe left after the 1949 season.

SAN JOSE STATE 13, UC DAVIS 10

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Transfer Kyle Reed threw two touchdown passes in the second half, including a 17-yarder to Kevin Jurovich with eight seconds left to play, lifting the host Spartans over the Aggies.

Reed, who came over from California, was the third quarterback used by Spartans' coach Dick Tomey. He finished with 132 yards on 14-of-18 passing.

NEVADA 49, GRAMBLING STATE 13

RENO, Nev. — Quarterback Colin Kaepernick rushed for three touchdowns to lead the Wolf Pack to a season-opening rout of the Tigers.

Kaepernick also completed 10-of-17 passes for 122 yards as the Wolf Pack out-gained the Tigers, 629-230.

UNLV 27, UTAH STATE 17

LAS VEGAS — Quarterback Omar Clayton completed 17-of-29 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns, including two to wide receiver Ryan Wolfe, as the host Rebels took a 17-7 lead at halftime in beating the Aggies in the season opener for both teams.

The Rebels travel to Mountain West Conference foe Utah next week.