Boise State
3-1 , 1-0
New Mexico
2-3 , 0-1
Broncos Down Lobos 32-29 in MW Opener
9/30/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
Video of head coach Chris Petersen's post-game press conference is below.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)- Joe Southwick passed for 311 yards and three touchdowns and Tommy Smith knocked down a fourth-down pass with two minutes to go Saturday to help No. 24 Boise State beat New Mexico 32-29 at University Stadium.
Boise State (3-1, 1-0) led by 25 points at halftime after turning three Lobos' fumbles into 18 points. The Broncos forced four fumbles on the day, recovering three of them. Mike Atkinson forced two of the fumbles while Sam Ukwuachu recovered a pair.
The Bronco offense was clicking in the first half behind Southwick and redshirt freshman running back Jay Ajayi. Southwick connected with Chris Potter and Matt Miller for touchdown passes in the second quarter.
Ajayi, who entered the game with one carry in his collegiate career, took his first carry of the game 71 yards. Two plays later he scored his first touchdown for the Broncos' third score of the quarter. The 71-yard scamper is Boise State's longest play from scrimmage this season and the longest rush by a Bronco since Doug Martin's 84-yard run in the 2010 MAACO Bowl Las Vegas.
Ajayi finished with 118 yards on six carries, becoming the first Bronco freshman to top 100 yards in a game since Matt Kaiserman in 2009 against Hawai'i.
New Mexico (2-3, 0-1) turned two Broncos' second-half fumbles into touchdowns to help close the gap. The Lobos did not throw a pass in the second half until its final play, but used a triple-option offense to put the Broncos on their heels.
Boise State's first fumble came on the opening kickoff of the second half. It was the Broncos' first turnover in more than 125 minutes of game time. The Lobos turned it into their first score of the game to cut the deficit to 25-7.
Another New Mexico touchdown left the Broncos' lead at 25-14 heading into the fourth quarter. Boise State responded with a 10-play touchdown drive. Southwick was 6-for-7 on the drive for 70 yards, including an eight-yard scoring strike to Shane Williams-Rhodes.
New Mexico quarterback Cole Gautsche scored twice in the fourth quarter and added a 2-point conversion to bring it back to a one-possession game. Gautsche carried the ball 11 times for 71 yards. Kasey Carrier added 86 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown.
Gautsche's second score came with 7:42 remaining in the game after New Mexico's defense returned a fumble to the Boise State one yard line.
The Broncos' next drive ended with a missed field goal, giving the Lobos the ball back with 3:24 to play. Boise State's defense forced a three and out, including Smith's batted pass on fourth down.
Team Stats
BSU 3, NM 0
BSU - FRISINA, M. 28 yd field goal 13 plays, 51 yards, TOP 5:30
BSU 10, NM 0
BSU - POTTER, Chris 10 yd pass from SOUTHWICK, Joe (FRISINA, M. kick) 3 plays, 77 yards, TOP 1:01
BSU 18, NM 0
BSU - MILLER, Matt 9 yd pass from SOUTHWICK, Joe (PETERS, Connor pass) 5 plays, 43 yards, TOP 0:45
BSU 25, NM 0
BSU - AJAYI, Jay 1 yd run (FRISINA, M. kick), 3 plays, 81 yards, TOP 0:55
BSU 25, NM 7
NM - PRESSLEY, J. 3 yd run (ADAMS, Justus kick), 6 plays, 26 yards, TOP 3:14
BSU 25, NM 14
NM - CARRIER, Kasey 5 yd run (ADAMS, Justus kick), 7 plays, 96 yards, TOP 3:22
BSU 32, NM 14
BSU - WILLIAMS-RHODES 8 yd pass from SOUTHWICK, Joe (FRISINA, M. kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:33
BSU 32, NM 21
NM - GAUTSCHE, Cole 7 yd run (ADAMS, Justus kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:17
BSU 32, NM 29
NM - GAUTSCHE, Cole 1 yd run (GAUTSCHE, Cole rush), 1 plays, 1 yards, TOP 0:04
