No. 12 Boise State rolls over Miami, Ohio

BOISE, Idaho (AP)—After a lackluster performance through most of the first half, Boise State’s sleepy offense was charged up by Austin Pettis.

With time running out in the first half, Pettis slipped through an opening in Miami-Ohio’s protection and stretched just enough to deflect a punt, setting up the Broncos in RedHawks territory with 31 seconds left. Four plays later, Kellen Moore fired a 25-yard TD to Titus Young to put Boise State in front 20-0 at intermission.

Moore threw two more touchdown passes in the next two possession in the third quarter, and the defense did the rest as No. 12 Boise State (2-0) rolled to a 48-0 victory Saturday night over a Miami team still searching for its first points.

“We needed to make something happen,” Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. “There is probably not a bigger play in football than a blocked kick. You don’t see a lot of them, but when it happens, it’s a tremendous momentum swing and energy boost and I think you saw it there.”

Despite the sluggish start, the Broncos were never really challenged by the rebuilding RedHawks (0-2), who were shut out 42-0 in last week’s opener against Kentucky.

Moore was 16-of-26 passing for 307 yards, including a 54-yard TD pass to Young in the third quarter. He also connected on touchdowns with Pettis and Tyler Shoemaker before heading to the bench late in the third quarter with Boise State in command 34-0.

Held to 19 points against Oregon last week, the Broncos scored twice in the first quarter, but never really rolled through Miami’s young defense until the Broncos decided to open up the playbook after Pettis’ block.

“There was definitely some good progress tonight,” said Pettis, who had four catches for 115 yards and a TD. “I think we were able to capitalize on (mistakes) … and got into a little rhythm, which is nice. But certainly there is more to work on.”

The Broncos outgained the RedHawks 441 to 197, and D.J. Harper had 89 yards rushing and one touchdown on 15 carries. Young led Boise State’s receivers with six catches for 114 yards.

The Broncos’ defense held Miami to just 41 yards rushing and intercepted four passes, and in two games has allowed just eight points and 308 total yards.

Boise State has a short week to prepare for a game Friday at Fresno State, the first Western Athletic Conference matchup of the season. The Bulldogs lost a heartbreaker at Wisconsin 34-31 in double overtime.

“It’s going to be a tough, challenging week,” Petersen said. “We have tremendous respect for Fresno, no doubt. They’ll be excited to play us in their place.”

The RedHawks and first-year coach Michael Haywood came in hoping his team would be better equipped to respond to turnovers and miscues. Miami quarterbacks threw four interceptions, and the defense’s inability to stop Boise State after the blocked punt show there are still lessons to be learned.

“When you make a mistake, you have to leave that mistake behind, you can’t let that be a trickle-down effect where you have mistake after mistake after mistake,” Haywood said. “And that’s some of the things that we have to get over because that’s what happened tonight.”

Miami quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh was 21-of-35 passing for 155 yards and threw two of the four interceptions. Chris Givens led Miami receivers with seven catches for 61 yards

Moore threw his first touchdown pass on Boise State’s second possession, a 17-yard strike to Pettis. Moore set up the score three plays earlier by hitting Pettis streaking down the sideline for 65 yards.

Boise State junior kicker Kyle Brotzman missed an extra-point attempt after the third touchdown. It was the first missed PAT of his career and snapped a string of 118 straight.