By Justin Worsley,
Nevada erased a 17-0 deficit and Boise State kicker Kyle Brotzman missed two crucial field goals as the No. 19 Wolfpack upset the No. 4 Broncos 34-31 in overtime.
Nevada defeated a top-ten ranked opponent for the first time in team history and the Wolfpack did not disappoint their fans who witnessed the first ever match-up between two ranked opponents in Reno.
Boise State running back Doug Martin had two touchdown runs of four and 51 yards in the second quarter to give the Broncos a 24-7 lead at halftime.
Nevada, however, would not go down as easily as all of the Broncos other foes this season. The Wolfpack started off the second half reeling off 17 points by doing what the team does best, run the ball.
Quarterback Colin Kapernick ran 18 yards for a touchdown and Rishard Matthews broke free early in the fourth quarter for a 44-yard score.
After a 23-yard field goal by redshirt freshman Anthony Martinez tied the game, Boise State scored immediately with a 78-yard touchdown pass by Kellen Moore to Martin.
Kapernick led the Wolfpack in a two minute drill and tossed a seven-yard touchdown to Matthews to tie the game with 13 seconds left.
Moore threw a 54-yard bomb to receiver Titus Young to place the Broncos in field goal range with just two-seconds left in the game and the Broncos began their meltdown.
Brotzman booted a 26-yard field goal in between the hash-marks wide right to send the game to overtime.
Boise State took the ball first in overtime and were again able to drive into field goal range, giving Brotzman an opportunity to redeem himself with a 29-yard attempt which was also in between the hash-marks. Instead, Brotzman kicked it wide left and Nevada only had to score to win.
Nevada running back Vai Taua had a pair of four yard runs to give Martinez a 34-yard attempt which sailed through the uprights.
The loss take Boise State out of the national spotlight and places the Broncos with Nevada and Hawaii into a three-way tie for the Western Athletic Conference title.
The game also posted a match-up of two potential Heisman Trophy candidates; Moore and Kapernick. Moore complted 20/31 passes for 348 yards and two touchdowns while Kapernick completed 19-of-35 for 259 yards with a touchdown and an interception as well as 45 rushing yards and more importantly, the win.
The loss is only the second of Moore's collegiate career and snaps a 24-game winning streak by Boise State. The Broncos are in danger of not being conference champions for just the second time since 2002. The winner of the conference will be determined the who the highest ranked team is in tomorrow's BCS Poll.
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