Boise State Vs. Air Force: Broncos Survive Challenge

While the Broncos became bowl eligible last week and are on the path to a BCS game, the Falcons will need to win out for a sure chance at making a bowl game. The path isn’t a hard one, but there could be some surprises. Games against New Mexico, UNLV and Colorado State look eminently winnable. Army and Wyoming are the two toughest tests and they come on back-to-back weeks.

The Falcons certainly have the offensive weapons to make it happen, though. The run-option attack led by Tim Jefferson scared the Broncos on Saturday afternoon. The ground game tallied 264 yards and three touchdowns. The Falcons should be able to soar above most of its competition for the rest of the season.

The extra point was blocked by a Broncos’ face mask, leading to a series of laterals and stumbles and a FAT GUY TOUCHDOWN threat, but the only real result of the play was an eight-point Boise State lead. Air Force’s onside kick failed, and the clock was Chris Petersen’s only remaining barrier. Breather field goal followed.

Moore threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns, but an interception was one of a handful of mistakes ya just can’t make against a diligent option-based team. Air Force actually gained just 13 fewer yards than Boise State on the day, but couldn’t make enough big plays to pull out a stunner.

But still, against a team like Air Force, not even Boise State can spare a mistake, and two turnovers have helped ensure a relatively close final score.

Air Force tied the game at seven points apiece midway through the second quarter when quarterback Tim Jefferson punched it in from one yard, but Boise State began to click shortly thereafter as they scored two touchdown in a span of just over two minutes to give themselves a comfortable halftime cushion.

Air Force was able to put a field goal on the board as the first half ended to bring the Falcons within 10 points, but their inability to move the ball through the air -- Jefferson has completed just two of his five passing attempts -- has kept them from inching any closer to the lead.

Boise State, which is already bowl eligible and is slotted fifth in the initial BCS rankings which came out this week, posted its highest scoring output of 2011 last Saturday when it crushed Colorado State in the MWC opener, 63-13, in Fort Collins. The win was the eighth in a row for the Broncos, which has them tied for the third-longest win streak in the nation. Despite having jumped over to the MWC after spending the last decade in the Western Athletic Conference, BSU has also strung together 34 consecutive conference wins as well, which is among the longest streaks in the country. The Broncos, who recently have been mentioned as potential future members of the Big East Conference, have also captured 46 straight conference home games, the last loss coming against Idaho back in 1998.

As for the Falcons, this is their second ranked opponent of the season, the team already having battled 25th-ranked TCU and falling in a 35-19 decision last month. Last Thursday, the academy was taken down by San Diego State at home in a 41-27 decision, the team’s second straight loss overall. Combined with the loss to the Horned Frogs, Air Force is now 0-2 in MWC play for the first time ever.