Trick play sparks Boise State past TCU in Fiesta Bowl

By Bud L. Ellis

In a battle of BCS busters looking to cap perfect seasons, Boise State came up with the final brushstroke of perfection.

Doug Martin’s decisive touchdown was set up by a fake punt by Boise State at its own 33-yard-line, propelling the Broncos to a 17-10 win over the Horned Frogs in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 4.

Boise State (14-0), ranked No. 6, snapped a 10-10 tie on Martin’s 2-yard touchdown run with 7:21 left. But the big roll of the dice on the fake punt was the play of the game, Boise pulling out the trick play on fourth-and-9 from its own 33.

It worked. Punter Kyle Brotzman’s pass found Kyle Efaw for 30 yards and a first down,a and the Broncos worked their way down the field for the game-winning score.

The fake punt added some sizzle to a mostly tepid contest. In a matchup of two of the top four scoring offenses in the nation, the defenses dominated most of the way.

But in the end, the Broncos got the play they needed to cap their perfect season. TCU, ranked third, finished 12-1.

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Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 9:16 pm by bud

Tags: Boise State, Doug Martin, Fiesta Bowl, Kyle Brotzman, Kyle Efaw, TCU

TCU, Boise State grab national spotlight in Fiesta Bowl

Both TCU and Boise State got their wish this holiday season: BCS bowl bids.

But while both will have the opportunity to play on a national stage in the Fiesta Bowl, many skeptics wonder whether anyone  cares about this game. It’s being viewed as a David vs. David matchup, despite how talented and successful both programs have become over the past few years. And anyone who has seen both teams play can attest to the legitimacy of both of them belonging in the BCS this season.

But will people tune in to watch them play? As the story mentions, BCS bowl games featuring a non-automatic qualifier such as Boise State and Utah has produced some of the lowest TV ratings in history, even though those teams actually won their respective games (Utah has won two BCS bowls; Boise State has won one).

There’s no doubt that money is a huge consideration for the BCS when decided whether to award a non-AQ team a bid. Poor TV ratings in this game could have drastic consequences going forward.

Sunday, December 13, 2009 at 10:21 pm by Raj Sethi