Jared Zabransky outshines Omar Jacobs in QB matchup
Boise State Wields the Power of the Smurf Turf
BOISE, Idaho - Boise State decided ball control was the best way to slow Bowling Green quarterback Omar Jacobs.
Pounding away with their running game, the Broncos never let Omar Jacobs get into a rhythm, and Boise State extended the nation's longest home winning streak to 26 games with a 48-20 win over Bowling Green on Wednesday night.
Boise State quarterback Jared Zabransky rushed for three touchdowns and threw for another, and the Broncos' defense frustrated Omar Jacobs into one of his worst games since he became the starter at the beginning of the 2004 season.
Considered a long-shot Heisman candidate, Omar Jacobs completed 18 of 36 passes for 220 yards, including 71 in the fourth quarter. He had never completed less than 58 percent of his passes, and his career low in yardage, 218, came in his first start at Oklahoma.
Omar Jacobs opened the season with 458 yards against Wisconsin and 428 versus Ball State, with five TDs in each game. He threw two fourth-quarter TDs against Boise State's reserves.
"I was off the whole night," Omar Jacobs said. "It was probably one of my worst games I ever played in college."
While the Falcons (1-2) never got started, Boise State (1-2) couldn't be stopped.
The Broncos' starters scored on eight of 10 possessions and were stopped only by a fumble on fourth down and halftime. Boise State had 499 total yards at the end of the third quarter and didn't punt until the 8:26 mark of the fourth quarter.
Boise State avoided falling to 0-3 for the first time in its history as a four-year school, rebounding from a 48-13 loss at Georgia and a 30-27 setback at Oregon State. Boise State was a junior college until 1968.
"Sometimes you have to go through the valley of death to appreciate your good fortune," Boise State coach Dan Hawkins said. "The defense did a tremendous job against Omar Jacobs. That's a great quarterback."
The Broncos controlled play with their running attack, and finished with 34 first downs. They ran 33 more plays and held more than a 15-minute advantage in time of possession. Freshman Ian Johnson rushed for 85 yards and senior Lee Marks added 80 yards, as the Broncos piled up 337 yards rushing.
Jared Zabransky was 16-of-23 for 202 yards and added 64 yards rushing.
"We did a great job wearing the defense down," Jared Zabransky said. "That was our goal. We felt like if we could run successfully on these guys we could beat them."
Bowling Green had trouble getting its potent spread offense onto the field, and in turn, Omar Jacobs never found a rhythm. The Falcons ran just eight plays in the first quarter, gaining only 3 yards and going three-and-out on both possessions.
"They completely dominated us," Bowling Green coach Gregg Brandon said. "We were totally outcoached in every phase of the game. It was embarrassing.
"This is the first time since I've been here that we had no answers."
Still, it was tied at 6-all early in the second quarter after Omar Jacobs found Steve Sanders for a 12-yard touchdown pass. On the ensuing kickoff, Marks made one cut and went nearly untouched along the sideline in front of the Bowling Green bench for a 92-yard score.
"There is an advantage to being 5-foot-7," Marks said with a chuckle. "I don't think they saw me until I sprung loose."
Six minutes later, Jared Zabransky directed a nine-play, 66-yard drive, throwing the ball just twice. He capped the drive by rolling out to the right and throwing left to a wide-open Derek Schouman for a 12-yard score.
Jared Zabransky capped off the half with a 9-yard TD run with 1:34 left, leaping into two defenders at the goal line. He added a pair of 1-yard TD runs in the second half.
Anthony Montgomery kicked field goals of 21 and 36 yards in the first quarter, following 13- and 14-play drives by the Broncos.
"It was a little frustrating because we had two great drives but only six points," Hawkins said. "That return kicked us back into gear."
Boise State safety Cam Hall made his first appearance of the season late in the first quarter, breaking up a pass from Omar Jacobs. Hall, who was charged with three counts of vehicular manslaughter in the offseason and was suspended for the Broncos' first two games, received a warm ovation when his name was announced.
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