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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, November 29, 2008

Boise State perfect, likely out of BCS

By Gregg Bell
Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Boise State's Ian Johnson ran for 128 yards in the Broncos' 61-10 victory over Fresno State.

MATT CILLEY | Associated Press

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BOISE, Idaho — Undefeated Boise State has a message for the BCS: Compute this.

The No. 9 Broncos put together a dazzling audition for college football's big-money bowls in a 61-10 blowout of Fresno State last night.

Kyle Wilson returned a punt 90 yards, wide receiver Tanyon Bissell threw for another touchdown on a smooth reverse pass, and now all the Broncos can do is hope it's enough to impress the computers and pollsters who produce the Bowl Championship Series pairings.

"I think it's an obvious statement what we'd like to do," normally evasive coach Chris Petersen said with a wry smile after accepting the trophy for Boise State's sixth WAC championship that the Broncos (12-0) had clinched a week earlier.

Petersen knows the odds of his team becoming a second undefeated champion of a non-BCS conference to make the BCS is remote. Utah (12-0) is ranked three spots higher than the Broncos in the BCS. The series is required to only select one non-BCS team ranked in its top 12 — the higher-rated one.

"I'd probably say our record speaks for itself," Petersen said. "And people have to make a decision."

Ian Johnson ran for 128 yards and scored two touchdowns as scouts from three BCS bowls watched. The senior tied the WAC record of 57 rushing touchdowns set by Marshall Faulk at San Diego State from 1991-93.

The Broncos trailed for only the third time all season early and were up just 13-10 after halftime before Jeremy Avery ran for a 43-yard touchdown three minutes into the third quarter. Then came a stampede: three more touchdowns in a 3 1/2-minute span.

"Just goes to show you how stacked this team is," Johnson said, peering from beneath his new white "WAC Champions" cap.

The deluge left Fresno State coach Pat Hill grumpy, but awed.

"I've never been in a game where it got that out of control," said Hill, who has been coaching in college and the pros since 1977.

"I think they should (be in a BCS bowl). I think they are a heck of a football team. They are definitely deserving of a bid."

Representatives of the Rose, Orange and Fiesta Bowls perhaps were pondering whether to choose Boise State, ranked ninth in the BCS standings, over one-loss Southern California or two-loss Ohio State for a final at-large spot to be announced Dec. 7.