Broncos keep the dream alive

With just four seconds remaining in regulation, senior kicker Anthony Montgomery kicked a 37-yard field goal to give Boise State a 23-20 victory over San Jose State to stay undefeated at 10-0, keeping the Broncos BCS hopes alive.

Down 20-12 early in the fourth quarter—the first time Boise State had trailed in the second half all season—the Broncos scored 10 unanswered points and held off a very talented Spartans team.

Off to a slow start—piling up just 32 total yards in the first quarter—the Broncos went to the horse Ian Johnson (150 yards rushing, 1 TD) to drive down the field—but it was Jared Zabransky that was responsible for the come-from-behind points.

Johnson rushed for 30 yards and caught one pass for 12 yards to get Boise State to the Spartan 1-yard line—but it was Zabransky who pushed over the goal line to bring the Broncos within two points with five minutes, 22 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Then, without the Heisman hopefully running back in the backfield, Zabransky rolled out to his left and completed the two-point conversion to senior receiver Jerard Rabb to tie the game up at 20.

Unable to get the ball within even field goal range, San Jose State was forced to punt the ball away with 2:53 left in the game.

Junior Marty Tadman then returned the ball 44 yards to the San Jose State 37-yard line, setting up the Montgomery game-winning field goal.

Much like the Tulsa road game in 2004 when Tyler Jones kicked a game winning field goal to seal the win for the Broncos—and the road win against San Jose State game that same season—the Broncos needed late game heroics to save the undefeated season for at least one more week.

San Jose State got the board first with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Adam Tafralis (17 of 23, 173 yards, 3 TD) to James Jones with 14:56 left in the second quarter.

Boise State responded quickly with a 24-yard field goal by Montgomery—then brought the game within one at halftime with another Montgomery field goal.

The Broncos then took the lead for the first time with a 2-yard rushing touchdown by Johnson—but failed on the 2-point conversion—giving Boise State a five-point lead at 12-7.

Despite being sacked by Colt Brooks on the initial play of the following drive, Tafralis complete all four of his passes on the drive, including a 4-yard pass to John Broussard to give the Spartan and 13-12 lead after failing on the 2-point conversion that would have put the Spartans up by three.

On the ensuing kickoff return, Orlando Scandrick was called with a block in the back that forced Boise State to start the drive on the six-yard line. On the first play, Zabransky (13 of 19, 186 yards) threw a tipped ball up and was picked off by ___--setting up a three-yard pass from Tafralis to Jones giving San Jose State the lead with 14:21 left in the third.

On the ensuing kickoff return, Orlando Scandrick was called with a block in the back that forced Boise State to start the drive on the six-yard line. On the first play, Zabransky (13 of 19, 186 yards) threw a tipped ball up and was picked off by Christopher Owens—setting up a three-yard pass from Tafralis to Jones giving San Jose State the lead with 14:21 left in the third.

Drisan James led the Broncos with 118 yards receiving, coming up big on two catches of 43 and 52 yards—both leading to Boise State scores—but it was the play of Montgomery that gave the Broncos the win.

Montgomery was still in a two-player battle with freshman Chris Chalmers in fall camp for the kicking duties. But, the senior from Hanford, Calif. is now 12 of 13 in field goal attempts this year, and may be the frontrunner for a first-team All-WAC selection this season.

Boise State hosts Utah State on Saturday, the final home game of the season—where 24 seniors will be honored before kickoff.