No. 5 Boise State survives scare, pulls past upstart Louisiana Tech

RUSTON, La. (AP) — Just when Boise State looked vulnerable, Kellen Moore and the Broncos quickly reminded a national television audience why they’ve been unbeatable.

Moore threw for 354 yards and three touchdowns, and No. 5 Boise State survived a brief scare on the road with a 45-35 victory over upstart Louisiana Tech on Friday night.

Still, Boise State could have used a more dominant victory in its quest to prove it is more deserving than unbeaten Texas Christian for a Bowl Championship Series bid.

Tech had pulled within 30-28 early in the fourth quarter on Dennis Morris’ leaping catch in the corner of the end zone. The Broncos defense buckled down long enough after that for Boise State to pull away with touchdowns on consecutive drives, the second score coming on Jeremy Avery’s 44-yard touchdown run.

Avery finished with 146 yards rushing, while Titus Young caught eight passes for 110 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown for Boise State (9-0, 4-0 Western Athletic Conference).

Trailing 27-7 at halftime, Tech (3-6, 2-4) made a game of it in the third quarter, starting with Josh Victorian’s first career touchdown on Moore’s third interception of the season.

It was an ill-advised throw under pressure that hung in the air for Victorian, who raced down the sideline and cut inside Moore to cap a 75-yard return.