RUSTON, La. -- Boise State football coach Chris Petersen told his team all week to expect a dogfight Friday night at Louisiana Tech.
When the Bulldogs rallied within two points in the fourth quarter, the No. 5 Broncos became believers.
They also embraced the fight.
The Broncos' defense produced back-to-back stops and the offense scored two straight touchdowns as they pulled away for a 45-35 victory.
The Broncos led 27-7 at halftime and were driving toward another score to open the second half when quarterback Kellen Moore threw an interception for a touchdown. The play turned the momentum toward the Bulldogs, who were within 30-28 with 14 minutes, 7 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Boise State responded with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Moore to Austin Pettis and a 44-yard touchdown run by Jeremy Avery for a 45-28 lead.
The victory pushed the Broncos to 9-0 overall and 4-0 in the WAC. They grabbed their school-record 11th straight road win -- and they get to play three of their final four at home.
It was a solid win in a difficult place to play -- but, as has happened several times this year, the Broncos left trying to explain why they didn't win by more.
The Broncos kicked three red-zone field goals, missed two field goals and punted after failing on two third-and-1s near midfield. They reached Bulldogs territory on every possession but one, when they punted from their own 49-yard line.
In fact, missed opportunities were the theme right from the start of the game.
The Broncos settled for field goals after reaching the red zone on their first two drives of the game. In between, Louisiana Tech drove 68 yards for a touchdown -- making the Bulldogs the second opponent this year to lead the Broncos and to score in the first quarter.
The Broncos erased the 7-6 deficit late in the first quarter. They drew a pass-interference penalty on a trick play, Pettis made a 20-yard catch and Mitch Burroughs made a 12-yard grab at the 2-yard line. Moore cashed in the opportunity with a 2-yard touchdown pass to fullback Richie Brockel for a 13-7 lead.
The Broncos pulled away in the second quarter.
Kyle Wilson fielded a punt on the right side of the field, dashed all the way to the left sideline and cut upfield for a 59-yard return. He was tackled at the 3, but Doug Martin crashed into the end zone two plays later for a 20-7 lead.
Titus Young added a 40-yard touchdown catch from Moore with 7 minutes, 35 seconds left in the first half for a 27-7 lead. Kicker Kyle Brotzman missed a 44-yard field-goal attempt with 33 seconds left in the half.
The 27-7 halftime lead was the Broncos' first in five WAC games at Louisiana Tech.
The third quarter was a near disaster for the Broncos.
They easily marched into Bulldogs territory on the opening drive. However, on second-and-10 at the Louisiana Tech 26, defensive tackle D'Anthony Smith drove an offensive lineman into Moore's lap and the sophomore tried to make a long throw across the field. Josh Victorian intercepted the pass along the sideline. He dashed 75 yards for the touchdown, running right through Moore.
The Broncos responded with a nice drive but again settled for three points in the red zone -- a 25-yard Brotzman field goal for a 30-14 lead.
That's when it got hairy for the Broncos.
The Bulldogs, who went seven possessions without a first down to close the first half, drove 73 yards in 11 plays to make it 30-21 late in the third quarter. Quarterback Ross Jenkins scored on a 9-yard keeper.
The Bulldogs kept the ball with an onside kick. Kicker Matt Nelson dribbled the ball, ran in front of it and grabbed it when the ball crossed the 40-yard line. The Bulldogs capitalized, too, on a 5-yard strike from Jenkins to tight end Dennis Morris. Morris made a tough catch in tight coverage from Wilson. That made it 30-28 with 14:07 left in the game.
The Bulldogs had outscored the Broncos 21-3 in the third quarter at that point. They ran 18 straight plays.
Boise State responded with a long drive but stalled at the 14-yard line when Pettis dropped a pass on third-and-5. Brotzman missed a 31-yard field goal -- his second miss of the night from the left hash, his bad side.
Boise State scored on its next two possessions for the 45-28 lead. Louisiana Tech answered with a touchdown set up by a 71-yard kickoff return.
The Broncos outgained the Bulldogs 507-250 in the game. The Bulldogs rushed for 136 yards, making them the second team to rush for 100 yards against the Broncos this season. The other was Fresno State.
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