The No. 24 Boise State Broncos defeated the BYU Cougars by a score of 7-6 without getting an offensive touchdown. Boise State's only score came on a pick-six by defensive tackle Michael Atkinson, and BYU came up short on a two-point conversion attempt that ended up costing them the game.
Neither team's offense was capable of much on the night, with Boise State managing 261 total yards and BYU only 200. BYU senior quarterback Riley Nelson was removed from the game after the Cougars' fifth turnover, ending the night 4-for-10 for 42 yards. Freshman Taysom Hill took his place and gave the Cougars their longest drive of the night, which went for 95 yards and ended with the rushing touchdown by Hill that led to the failed two-point conversion. Joe Southwick was 15-for-25 for 145 yards for Boise State.
The Broncos had abandoned kicking field goals after a miss midway through the first quarter, repeatedly going for it on fourth down. They failed to convert any of those attempts, but it did suggest that had BYU tied the game in the fourth, they would have had a decent chance at seeing overtime. BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall made the opposite call, and an incomplete pass on the two-point attempt sealed the game for Boise State.
Box Score Hero: Taysom Hill showed a lot of promise for BYU, rushing for 72 yards on 12 carries in addition to the 19 he picked up through the air. D.J. Harper rushed for 112 yards for Boise State, and Broncos cornerback Jamar Taylor had an interception and a strip sack
Rankings Ramifications: Boise State's position at the bottom of the rankings is a precarious one, and this performance isn't likely to help them hold on.
But Did They Cover? Boise State, favored by six, failed to cover the spread.
For More On This Game:
For more on Broncos football, visit Boise State blog OBNUG, plus SB Nation Denver. And you should probably start reading Big East Coast Bias.
For more on Cougars football, visit BYU blog Vanquish The Foe.
Next Week's Schedule: Boise State heads on the road to take on the New Mexico Lobos, while BYU will host the Hawaii Warriors.
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