Broncs state BCS case

By Associated Press     Jan 2, 2007

Boise State's Ian Johnson, left, and Jeff Cavender celebrate after Johnson scored a first- quarter touchdown. Boise State built a big lead, squandered it, then beat Oklahoma, 43-42 in overtime, in the Fiesta Bowl on Monday in Glendale, Ariz.

? Boise State proved it belonged in the BCS.

After tying it with seven seconds to go in regulation, the No. 9 Broncos stunned No. 7 Oklahoma, 43-42, in overtime Monday night, winning on Ian Johnson’s two-point conversion run after receiver Vinny Perretta threw a fourth-down touchdown pass to Derek Schouman.

The Sooners had taken a 42-35 lead on Adrian Peterson’s 25-yard run.

On the decisive play, Broncos quarterback Jared Zabransky looked at three wide receivers to his right, then handed the ball behind his back to Johnson, who raced untouched into the end zone.

That play was almost as amazing as the one that tied the game.

After falling behind 35-28, the Broncos tied it with a stunning 50-yard touchdown play on fourth-and-18 with seven seconds to play. Zabransky hit Drisan James at Oklahoma’s 35, and James pitched the ball to Jerard Rabb, who raced into the end zone.

In one of the most dramatic finishes in BCS history, the Sooners (11-3) and the Broncos (13-0) combined for 22 points in the final 86 seconds of regulation.

Johnson carried 23 times for 101 yards and a touchdown. Zabransky completed 19 of 29 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns, and he threw an interception. Drisan James caught three passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns.

Oklahoma’s Paul Thompson threw a career-high three interceptions. He completed 19 of 32 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns. In what might have been his last college game, Peterson ran for 77 yards and two touchdowns.

The wild finish came after Boise State dominated the first 40 minutes, making it clear that the Western Athletic Conference champion deserved a BCS berth.

Boise State is one of two unbeaten teams. The other is top-ranked Ohio State, which will play No. 2 Florida for the BCS national championship on the same field Jan. 8.

Oklahoma didn’t go quietly. The Sooners spotted the Broncos an 18-point lead midway through the third quarter, then rallied to take a 35-28 lead on cornerback Marcus Walker’s interception return with 1:02 remaining.

That came one play after the Sooners tied it at 28. They Sooners cut it to 28-26 on a five-yard pass from Paul Thompson to Quentin Chaney with 1:26 to play. After penalties on their first two two-point conversion tries, the Sooners converted when Thompson hit Juaquin Iglesias.

Thompson completed five passes for 59 yards on the tying drive and also ran for 8 yards.

The Broncos stunned the Sooners with two quick touchdowns to take a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

The first came on a 49-yard touchdown pass from Zabransky to James, a Phoenix product. Zabransky froze the defense with a play-fake to Johnson, then fired to James, who was all alone 10 yards behind cornerback Marcus Walker.

On the next series, defensive end Mike T. Williams sacked Sooners quarterback Paul Thompson, who fumbled. Williams recovered at Oklahoma’s nine.

Two plays later, Johnson scored from two yards out to give the Broncos a 14-0 lead with 7:28 left in the first quarter.

The Sooners responded on their next possession, driving 82 yards in 14 plays for a touchdown. Thompson hit Manuel Johnson with an eight-yard pass to cut Boise State’s lead in half.

Oklahoma drove to Boise State’s 33 on its next possession. Iglesias broke open at the goal line, but Thompson’s pass was short, and Boise State safety Marty Tadman intercepted in the end zone.

Oklahoma made it 14-10 on Garrett Hartley’s 31-yard field goal with 5:38 to go in the first half.

Late in the first half, Zabransky and James connected again to give the Broncos a 21-10 lead. With 47 seconds to go, Zabransky sidestepped a pass rusher and fired to James in the right flat. James shook off a tackle by linebacker Zach Latimer, then sprinted down the sideline and into the end zone.

A few moments later, the Broncos ran into the tunnel waving their helmets to thousands of orange-clad fans who flocked to the Phoenix area for the biggest game in school history.

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