It was far from pretty. In fact, it was downright ugly.
But, as far as Boise State was concerned, it looked pretty damn good to them.
An expected offensive shootout turned into a defensive struggle, and turned on a gutsy special teams call, as the Broncos capped a perfect season by downing fellow BcS buster TCU 17-0 in the Fiesta Bowl.
Boise becomes just the second team in college football history to reach the 14-0 mark, joining the 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes. (There’ll be a third member as both Alabama and Texas are 13-0 heading into the national title game.)
“This is unreal,” junior cornerback Winston Venable, who sealed the win with an interception with 18 seconds to go, said according to the Idaho Statesman. “I’m pretty sure it’s not a dream. I’m going to enjoy this one.”
Boise State’s historic win over Oklahoma in 2007 turned on a hook and lateral and a statue of liberty play. This one turned on a ballsy fake punt call. From the Broncos’ own 33-yard line.
With just under ten minutes to go and the game tied at ten apiece, special teams coach Jeff Choat strongly urged head coach Chris Petersen to call for the fake. Petersen did and, a perfectly thrown pass from punter Kyle Brotzman to tight end Kyle Efaw later, the Broncos were on the Horned Frogs’ 38-yard line, setting up their lone offensive touchdown of the day and giving them a 17-10 lead they would never relinquish.
“That’s what they expect out of us,” Petersen said of the fake punt, “so we’re happy to deliver. ...
“They don’t seem like they take guts to me. They just seem like plays that are going to work and get us what we need. We have tremendous confidence in our guys to make plays.”
The loss by TCU was the first for the Mountain West after the conference started the bowl season a perfect 4-0.