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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, September 14, 2009

CFB: No. 10 Boise State looks to clean up offense


By TODD DVORAK
Associated Press Writer

BOISE, Idaho — With Fresno State up next week, Boise State coach Chris Peterson’s taking nothing for granted following a comprehensive, dominating win.

The Broncos pummeled Miami of Ohio 48-0, outgaining the RedHawks 441-194, intercepting four passes and holding them to 38 yards rushing.
Not bad, huh?
“The result was what we wanted. But the process didn’t really go how we hoped,” Petersen said. “I thought a couple things would go a little bit smoother. We still have some snap issues we’ve got to get worked out. And I’d like to run the ball a little bit cleaner. We’re still a work in progress.”
The Broncos moved up two spots in the rankings on Sunday thanks to losses by Ohio State, which fell to No. 11, and Oklahoma State, which dropped 11 spaces to No. 16.
Friday’s trip to Fresno State opens a portion of the schedule that puts Boise State on the road for four of five games, including trips to the Midwest to play Bowling Green and Tulsa and a visit to Hawaii.
The Broncos rushed for just 127 yards and the backfield tandem of D.J. Harper and Jeremy Avery didn’t start collecting yards in big chunks until the third quarter. Harper finished with 89 yards and a touchdown, but Avery managed just 19.
“It’s a little bit discouraging,” Petersen said. It wasn’t real clean like we’d like to be on a consistent basis. But they’ll continue to get in more of a rhythm and take the step in the direction that we need to go as the season goes on.”
Kellen Moore threw for 307 yards and four touchdowns, including a pair to Titus Young. Young had six catches for 114 yards, his biggest a 54-yarder in the third quarter.
His speed and deep-threat potential give the Broncos’ offense a dimension it lacked last year.
“It’s nice to see him with a little bit of space and the ball in his hands,” Petersen said.
A blocked punt by receiver Austin Pettis late in the first half seemed to awaken the Boise State offense. With just 31 seconds left and the ball on the Miami 49, Moore led a scoring drive capped by a 25-yard TD pass to Young, putting Boise State up 20-0 at the break. The Broncos scored on their next two possessions in the third quarter, and the defense took over from there.
“We expect ourselves to go out there and make those plays,” said Pettis, who also had four catches for 115 yards and a TD.