Boise State Broncos Use Tricks To Win Fiesta Bowl

Sports News - January 5th, 2010 - Written By John

Just three years ago, an unknown Boise State Broncos team shocked the college football world with two sparkling gadget plays to upset Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.

This time, it was TCU left stunned.

Underdogs again in their return to the bowl, according to College Football Betting Lines, Boise State pulled a fake punt in the fourth quarter to extend the game-winning drive, which was capped by Doug Martin's flip into the end zone to give the Broncos a 17-10 win over TCU in the Fiesta Bowl on Monday.

The play is called "Riddler", and Boise State stumped the Horned Frogs when, on fourth-and-9, punter Kyle Brotzman took the snap, palmed the ball and floated a pass up the middle to pulling receiver Kyle Efaw. He went for a 30 yard gain in front of a raucus Broncos crowd, and four plays later, Martin hit paydirt.

"I think that's what they expect us out of us, so we're happy to deliver," said Boise State coach Chris Petersen to ESPN.

It was another memorable ending after the Broncos beat the Sooners by scoring a late touchdown on a hook-and-ladder, then taking a one-point lead on a Statue of Liberty play that created a wide-open lane for Ian Johnson on a gutsy two-point conversion.

It also gave Boise State it's second undefeated season in the last four years, and college football's first 14-0 team since Ohio State in 2002.

Brotzman could have been game MVP when he followed up with another critical play later in the game. When Boise State was forced to punt on it's next possession, Brotzman boomed a 55-yarder down to TCU's one-inch line, backing the Horned Frogs against their own goal line. That forced TCU to drive 99 yards to tie the game, and that distance meant the potential for booby traps.

And it finally caught up after the Mountain West champs reached the Broncos' 30-yard line. Quarterback Andy Dalton scrambled around the pocket and launched a fluttering pass to the left sideline. Antoine Hicks seemed to be open, but the pass took too long to reach him and was deflected by Brandyn Thomson. Winston Venable then gobbled up the loose ball and sat on it to clinch the win.

Dalton had three interceptions on the day after throwing only five all year.

"We stressed all week just swarming to the ball, collectively as a defense," Thompson said.

The nation's leading passer, Kellen Moore, threw for 211 yards for Boise State, but didn't find the end zone in a game that turned out to be a grinding defensive battle. The Broncos came in as the nation's most proficient scoring team, but were held to only 10 points for most of the night.

It's lone touchdown came early when Thompson picked off Dalton in the first quarter, and Brotzman added a field goal just before half. The Horned Frogs didn't get on the board until the final minute of the half when Dalton hooked up with Curtis Clay in a blistering 30-yard touchdown.

Now the debating will begin to whether or not Boise State has a claim to the no. 1 spot. The Broncos won their 14th-straight and will now be one of two unbeaten teams after the National Championship on Thursday.

Should they get a few no. 1 votes?

"I just know that these kids have the most unbelievable heart," Petersen said.

"Probably not," Efaw said. "But I mean, maybe next year. I don't know. We have a great team and we fight hard and we're undefeated."