INSIDE SLANT

The Boise State offense is operating at peak efficiency going into the team’s most important game of the year.

The Broncos beat Utah State 52-21 on Friday night in Logan. They have scored at least 40 points in five straight games, the first-team offense has scored touchdowns on 12 consecutive red-zone possessions, and the two most-explosive offensive players have each produced three straight 100-yard games.

The Broncos even scored 52 points against Utah State with one of the worst performances of quarterback Kellen Moore’s career. Moore was 15 of 29 for 233 yards and a touchdown—nothing terrible, but the first time in his career that he didn’t complete 60 percent of his passes.

Tailbacks Doug Martin (121 yards, four TDs) and Jeremy Avery (116 yards, two TDs) led a rushing attack that produced 323 yards. Wide receiver Titus Young added 102 receiving yards and had an 80-yard run called back.

Avery, who topped 1,000 yards for the season, and Young have the 100-yard streaks.

“That’s why I love playing here,” junior defensive end Ryan Winterswyk said. “Our offense, they can light up that scoreboard.”

The Broncos might need to do that to beat red-hot Nevada this Friday in a showdown for the WAC title.

NOTES, QUOTES

• QB Kellen Moore didn’t complete 60 percent of his passes for the first time in his career. Still, he has only three interceptions this year, giving him the lowest interception percentage in the nation.

• The Broncos have won 12 straight road games—every road game the past two seasons.

• The Broncos have outscored their opponents 308-106 in the middle quarters. They are averaging 51.7 points per game in WAC play.

Game Ball Goes To:   TB Doug Martin—Martin rushed for a career-high four touchdowns. He had 13 carries for 121 yards. He bulled into the end zone on a third-and-goal from the 1 with five seconds left in the first half and on fourth-and-1 from the 6 in the fourth quarter.

Keep An Eye On:   WR Titus Young—Young has three straight 100-yard receiving games. He also returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Idaho and had an 80-yard touchdown run called back against Utah State.

Quote To Note:   “There’s just a lot of energy early on to play us. And they’ve got good players. And you could feel the electricity in the stadium. We’re proud of how the guys settled down and just kept playing hard and got into a groove and made some plays.”—Boise State coach Chris Petersen, on his team’s knack for pulling away late in the first half.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Looking Good:   The Broncos have answered two of the biggest questions about this team in recent weeks—running the ball effectively and putting together perfect red-zone performances. The Broncos rushed for 323 yards against the Aggies and were perfect in the red zone until the backups took a knee in the fourth quarter. The starters have scored touchdowns on 12 straight red-zone possessions—increasing the team’s percentage to 61.9. That number was 54.9 two weeks ago.

Still Needs Work:   The Broncos defense hasn’t played to its potential in recent weeks. Boise State has allowed 74 points in three games (not counting an interception return) after allowing 109 points in the first eight games. The group will be severely tested this week in the WAC showdown against Nevada.

Roster Report:  

• Sophomore slot receiver Tyler Shoemaker will miss the rest of the regular season with a hernia. True freshman Kirby Moore replaces him.

• Sophomore FB Dan Paul made his first career catch as the replacement for senior Richie Brockel, who will miss the rest of the season with a foot injury.