The Boise State Broncos Defeat Fresno State, 57-7

The Battle for the Milk Can is over for 2011 and the Boise State Broncos (5-0) will be bringing the trophy home again after a 57-7 drubbing of the Fresno State Bulldogs (2-4). Boise State QB Kellen Moore was 23 of 31 for 254 yards and 3 TD's. The game was the 43rd win for Moore and another record-setting performance that puts him in second place in career wins in Football Bowl Subdivision history.

The stars were shining before the evening game ended. And none more so than both Moore and WR Geraldo Boldewijn, who made his much anticipated debut after spending the first four games of the season waiting to be cleared by the NCAA. He didn't disappoint. He only had three catches, but two were for touchdowns. Boldewijn had to compete for the ball with WR's Matt Miller, who had five catches for 78 yards and a TD, and Mitch Burroughs, who had 68 yards and a TD. Tailback Doug Martin continued to improve his ground game and pushed the Bulldog defenders out of his way to gain 94 yards on 16 carries and a TD. Fellow tailback D.J. Harper punched in two more TD's as well.

"We wanted to let the nation know what we can do," cornerback Quaylon Ewing-Burton said after the game. He led the team with nine tackles.

Moore and his offensive squad came in and took control of the game early on. But they didn't do it alone. Credit the highly vaunted Bronco defense consisting of the likes of DE Shea McClellin, DE Tyrone Crawford, DT Billy Winn, Chase Baker, and backed up with linebackers Aaron Tevis and Byron Hout. Another who made all the difference was nickle Hunter White who had a blocked punt and a forced fumble.

It was clear from the first quarter on that Fresno State’s offensive line, anchored by four huge, tough 300-pounders, were no match for the Bronco defenders. The 'Dogs, who racked up 444 yards against the #10 Nebraska Cornhuskers four weeks ago and last week had 430 yards against Ole Miss, came into the game averaging 384 yards of total offense per game but were held to just 278 yards. Fresno QB Derek Carr struggled all night against the Broncos, going 17 of 30 for 126 yards that included an interception and a lost fumble. Fresno State star running back, Robbie Rouse, was held to just 72 rushing yards and ended Rouse's streak of four 100-plus yard performances.

"We were never really able to get anything going," Fresno State head coach Pat Hill said after the game. "We wanted to establish the run and we wanted to play action... We spent the whole night inside our 20 and we weren't in position to do anything."

The only criticism that might be leveled at the Broncos is on special teams. Kicker Dan Goodale missed two extra points, bounced the pigskin off the uprights once on a field goal that ricocheted in for three points, and the special teams as a whole letting Fresno State's Devon Wylie get by them with a 79-yard punt return in the 4th quarter.

But it's hard to really find fault with anyone in particular. It was a resounding victory over a very good team on the road.

Next up for the Broncos: Their Mountain West Conference opener next Saturday at Colorado State.