"Not all the kicks are gonna go in...." -Boise State Quarterback Kellen Moore
You know 'em. You've heard all about 'em. They're the boys in blue, who play on the blue turf, who crush opponents out west, who have the nation's longest NCAA football winning streak, have the spindly, left-handed superquarterback, who have looked like they could be one of the best teams in the SEC if they had the chance.
They're the fourth-ranked Boise State Broncos, darlings of the college football world and arguably the most discussed team in the FBS. They splattered fellow-undefeated team TCU in the Fiesta Bowl last year and claimed the spotlight they had long deserved. Then they beat Virginia Tech in a bare-knuckle fistfight on national TV at the beginning of this season, then started dropping their conference opponents by scores like 51-6, 59-0, 57-14, 48-0, 42-7 (4 50+ point games this year). Sure, they play in the Western Athletic Conference, with opponents like New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech, and Fresno State, but they had been highlighting scoreboards, and putting their stamp on each week of the FBS season. The only question for such a dominant team: given their fairly weak conference opponents', could even an undefeated season full of landslide victories make the National Championship Game against the likes of Oregon or Auburn?
The question is a moot point, now. In the end, it seemed like it was meant to be. Last night, November 26, they went into Reno and played #19 Nevada, jumped out to a 17-point halftime lead, and got the ball right where they wanted it with two seconds left. But kicker Kyle Brotzman pushed a 26-yard field goal attempt wide right. Then they got the ball right where they wanted it in overtime, with the game still tied at 31-31. Brotzman hooked it left from 29 yards out. And, moments later, redshirt Anthony Martinez of Nevada didn't push or hook his kick, but sent it straight in from 34 yards out, and it was all over.
"I'm at a loss for words," said Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore, who passed for 348 yards and 2 TDs yet likely saw his own rather slim Heisman Trophy chances go up in smoke with the team's undefeated season.
"It is the greatest victory this university has ever had, I can tell you that," Nevada coach Chris Ault said.
Boise had their usual electric offense, full of downfield bombs by Moore and weaving, sprinting receivers and running backs. But Nevada did what Virginia Tech did so many weeks ago in nearly winning that Week 1 climactic game, they ran the ball often, and effectively. They amassed 269 rushing yards to Boise's 145, 239 of them coming in the second half compared to only 8 by the Broncos.
The loss sinks Boise into a three-way first-place tie with Nevada and Hawaii in the WAC, will almost certainly rob them of even Top Ten FBS rank, and deeply hurts their chance of playing in any important game in December. Before the game, if not a national title contender, they were at least a near-guarantee for the Rose Bowl. Not anymore.
Two of the near-guaranteed National Championship Game contenders suffered tough matches like Boise State, as well, on Friday, with #1 Oregon facing #21 Arizona and #2 Auburn facing #11 Alabama in the Iron Bowl. Both teams fell behind early (19-14 at the half for Oregon, and Auburn was down 24-0 after the first quarter). But both teams battled back, but Oregon ended up dropping 48 on Arizona for a lopsided victory, and Auburn was led back by Heisman Trophy contender/controversial star QB Cam Newton (216 passing yards and 3 TDs, plus a score on the ground) to win 28-27. Alabama limped away from this one, what with star QB Greg McElroy concussed on the sideline, coach Nick Saban furious, and a 3 in the loss column in their record.
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