Boise State 32, UNLV 7
BOISE, Idaho -- No. 24 Boise State whipped UNLV 32-7 on Saturday at Bronco Stadium, using another dominant first half to cruise to its sixth consecutive victory.
The Broncos shut out their opponent in the first half for the fifth straight game. They outgained the Rebels 140-15 in the first quarter and 247-113 in the half.
Boise State took an 8-0 lead with 5:47 left in the first quarter. The Broncos got the ball at the UNLV 42-yard line after a series of mistakes forced the Rebels into a fourth-and-39 at their
own 4.
The scoring drive was keyed by a 20-yard pass from quarterback Joe Southwick to wide receiver Matt Miller. Tailback D.J. Harper capitalized, going untouched on a 10-yard touchdown run. Harper added the two-point conversion on a swinging-gate play.
The Broncos made it 11-0 early in the second quarter. Harper's 35-yard run put them in scoring position and Michael Frisina, who is perfect inside 30 yards and 0-fer outside 30, made a 30-yard field goal.
The Rebels looked like they might crack the end zone midway through the second quarter. A pass interference penalty helped them reach the 26. On third down, quarterback Nick Sherry lofted a pass to the front corner of the end zone. Cornerback Jerrell Gavins reached up
-- he didn't appear to look at the ball -- and intercepted the pass at the goal line.
Boise State's offense responded with a quick 80-yard touchdown drive. Southwick hit sophomore wide receiver Dallas Burroughs on a post route for 47 yards and tailback Jay Ajayi crashed into the end zone from 4 yards for an 18-0 lead with 4:09 left in the half.
Moments later, UNLV wide receiver Marcus Sullivan fought for a first down but was stripped by cornerback Jamar Taylor. The ball popped right into the hands of Gavins, who ran 16 yards for the touchdown and a 25-0 lead.
Boise State missed a field-goal attempt early in the second half but added a touchdown on Harper's 1-yard run with 9:22 left in the third quarter for a 32-0 lead.
UNLV broke up the shutout with a defensive touchdown in the fourth quarter. Boise State backup quarterback Grant Hedrick fumbled on a scramble and cornerback Kenneth Penny scooped up the ball and returned it 30 yards for the score.
Notes: Boise State starting defensive end Demarcus Lawrence sat out the game because of a violation of team rules. ... UNLV starting safety Peni Vea didn't make the trip because of an arm injury. Freshman Kenny Keys replaced him. ... Boise State wore all-black uniforms for the first
time. ... Boise State tailback Drew Wright played for the first time in four games.
