No. 25 Boise State holds off Nevada
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Joe Southwick threw for 199 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 19-of-26 efficiency as No. 25 Boise State held off Nevada, 27-21, at Mackay Stadium.
D.J. Harper totaled 130 yards and one score on 24 rushes for the Broncos (10-2, 7-1 MWC), who have won three in a row and assured themselves a share of the Mountain West Conference crown.
"We made plays when we had to," Southwick said. "Nevada didn't quit. We knew they weren't going to quit."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Matt Miller added 127 yards and a TD reception on seven catches, and Chris Potter also hauled in a Southwick pass for a score.
Cody Fajardo finished 14-of-20 for 203 yards, adding 81 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries for the Wolf Pack (7-5, 4-4), who finished the regular season with four losses in their last five.
"Unfortunately, our offense started clicking too late and it ended up in a loss," Fajardo admitted. "Their defense is very sound. They have 11 players playing together and it's tough to execute against that."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Stefphon Jefferson contributed 139 yards and two rushing scores on 28 attempts.
Jefferson's 8-yard run into the end zone pulled Nevada to 24-14 with 8:26 left in regulation, but Boise State pushed its margin to 13 after a 30-yarder from Michael Frisina to end a 12-play drive which stalled at the hosts' 13-yard line.
The Wolf Pack made it interesting on their next series, as Fajardo ran in from six yards out and it was 27-21. Zach Sudfeld aided the drive with a 47-yard reception to the BSU 15.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Even after holding Boise State to a three-and-out on its final series, a touchback on the ensuing punt found the hosts at their own 20 with 17 seconds remaining. Fajardo found Brandon Wimberly for 22 yards on second down, but his desperation heave on 2nd-and-10 fell well short of the goal line and was knocked away as time expired.
Potter's 17-yard TD reception in the back of the end zone was the lone score of the opening quarter and gave the visitors a 7-0 edge.
Harper then crossed into the end zone on a 2-yard scamper early in the second for a 14-0 game.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Frisina booted a 20-yard field goal on Boise State's final possession of the half.
Nevada used its first drive of the second half to get on the board, as Jefferson took it in from the 1-yard line on the ninth play from scrimmage to cap an 86-yard drive.
The Broncos responded one play later as Southwick found Miller for a 52-yard touchdown strike. Shane Williams-Rhodes gave the visitors excellent field position after he returned the kickoff 41 yards to the BSU 48.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Game Notes
BSU has won 12 of the last 13 meetings since 1999 ... Nevada racked up 23 first downs and 430 total yards to Boise State's 22 first downs and 438 yards of offense ... Potter ended with 42 yards on five catches, and Sudfeld totaled 67 yards on three grabs ... Boise State reached double digits in wins for the seventh straight season.