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