Boise’s Moore smooth in Boise State win
Saturday, October 11, 2008 11:20 PM PDT
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| Steve Coleman | Associated Press
Boise State quarterback Kellon Moore (11) prepares to pass as Southern Mississippi defensive lineman Terrance Pope (90) moves in for the tackle in the first quarter during a NCAA college football game Saturday. |
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) — Kellen Moore threw three touchdown passes and No. 15 Boise State rolled to an easy win, beating Southern Mississippi 24-7 on Saturday night with a scoring flurry in the second quarter.
Moore hit 16 of 20 passes for 144 yards and all three touchdowns in the first half, connecting twice with Austin Pettis, for the efficient Broncos (5-0). The redshirt freshman quarterback continued to show an uncanny ability to make the right decisions despite his youth.
He came into the game completing 72 percent of his passes and hit 70 percent (21-of-30) against Southern Miss (2-4), which has lost three straight games for the first time since 2004.
With Moore guiding them, the Broncos look like they could be BCS busters again. It was Boise State’s 25th road win since 2003 and its 14th regular-season win in its last 15 games.
The Broncos were so dominant, they hardly handed the ball off to running back Ian Johnson — though he still managed to make plays. He ran 11 time for 56 yards and made big plays that set up three scores.
The show was Moore’s, however. He came into the game with the No. 6 pass-efficiency rating in the nation and continued to excel against a Southern Miss secondary that’s been vulnerable in new coach Larry Fedora’s first season.
Boise State’s defense ended Austin Davis’ school freshman record for games over 200 yards passing at five and generally held Fedora’s no-huddle spread offense in check, something only Auburn had been able to do.
Davis finished 15 of 34 passing for 160 yards and an interception, while Fletcher rushed for just 69 yards.
