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Boise State romps past error-prone Southern Miss

by From news services
| October 7, 2012 9:00 PM

* NORTHWEST

Joe Southwick threw for three touchdowns and Boise State took advantage of five turnovers to breeze past Southern Mississippi 40-14 on Saturday at Hattiesburg, Miss.

The Broncos (4-1) won their fourth straight by intercepting Golden Eagles quarterback Ricky Lloyd twice and recovering three of four fumbles by Southern Miss, which is 0-5 for the first time since 1976.

The 5-1 edge in turnovers came one week after coach Chris Peterson's team used three New Mexico fumbles to survive a 32-29 scare.

"I don't know how we keep getting turnovers," Peterson said. "But it sure makes things different for us. I'm not sure why we're getting them - whether we're just in the right place at the right time or what - but as long as they are coming like they did today, we're going to be in every game and we have a chance to win most of them."

The first interception came on Lloyd's fifth attempt of the game and set up Southwick's 11-yard scoring pass to Matt Miller that put the Broncos on top 7-0. Linebacker Tyler Gray returned his first-career interception 34 yards to the Golden Eagle 11-yard line, and Southwick and Miller connected on the ensuing play.

The lead swelled to 24-0 at the half when another Southern Miss turnover set up Southwick's second touchdown, a 33-yard strike to Chris Potter with 6 seconds left in the second quarter. That proved to be an insurmountable deficit for the Golden Eagles, who came into Saturday ranked 119th in the country in total offense.

"That was nice to get that score there," Southwick said. "We got the ball back after another turnover, and we're thinking, 'Let's just get into field goal range.' Luckily, (Potter) was able to get free and get some separation. I didn't think he had moves like that."

Southern Miss' two touchdown drives came on consecutive possessions in the third and fourth quarters after Anthony Alford replaced Lloyd at quarterback, but the Broncos answered both touchdowns with scores of their own.

Southwick connected with Kirby Moore for 27 yards and his third touchdown pass to make it 37-7, and Michael Frisina added his second field goal of the afternoon from 31 yards out with less than three minutes left to close out the game.

Southwick finished 17-of-26 passing for 201 yards with an interception.

D.J. Harper led the Broncos in rushing with 14 carries for 51 yards, including touchdown runs of 11 and 19 yards.

Defending Conference USA champion Southern Miss gained a season-high 424 yards to Boise State's 310, but averaged just 16.9 yards on kickoff returns, 2.5 on punt returns and missed two first-half field goals from 33 and 38 yards.

Desmond Johnson rushed 15 times for 116 yards and a touchdown to become the first Golden Eagle to rush for 100 yards in a game this season, and Alford picked up his second touchdown of the season on a 4-yard carry in the third quarter.

"We just try to stay demanding and positive," first-year coach Ellis Johnson said. "I don't know what else you do. I don't believe in all the motivational films and talkers and speakers and all that. I think you just have to be positive, stay with them, don't give up on them. Don't blame them.

"We as coaches have got to take the blame and try to fix it. As long as they come back and work hard, I have not seen anything where they have not done that. As long as they do that, we have a chance to get better."

Eastern Washington 55, North Dakota 17: At Cheney, Vernon Adams threw for four touchdowns and Demitrius Bronson rushed for 118 yards and a score as Eastern Washington defeated North Dakota.

Adams, in his third game as starting quarterback, was 12 of 15 for 151 yards for the Eagles (4-1, 3-0 Big Sky). Kyle Padron, the SMU transfer who started the season's first two contests, was 3 of 4 for 17 yards and a TD.

Braden Hanson was 16 of 22 for 141 yards for North Dakota (3-3, 1-2) in relief of starting QB Marcus Hendrickson.

Shaquille Hill returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown to give Eastern Washington a 20-10 lead in the last minute of the first quarter.

Montana 40, Northern Colorado 17: At Greeley, Colo., Peter Nguyen ran for 159 yards and a touchdown to lead a strong team effort on the ground, and Montana spoiled Northern Colorado's homecoming.

Trent McKinney and Nate Harris also scored rushing touchdowns for the Grizzlies (3-3, 1-2 Big Sky), who totaled 294 yards rushing. McKinney added 142 yards passing and hooked up with Cam Warren for a 17-yard score, and Caleb Walden intercepted a pass on a fake punt and returned it 18 yards for a TD.

Montana led just 10-0 at halftime, and Dominic Gunn made it 10-7 when he returned the second-half kickoff 98 yards for a score for the Bears (1-4, 0-2). It was all Grizzlies after that.

Portland State 77, Idaho State 10: At Portland, Ore., D.J. Adams ran for 148 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries, Kieran McDonagh added 66 yards and four touchdowns on 10 carries, and the Vikings (2-4, 1-2 Big Sky) racked up 758 yards of total offense in a rout of the Bengals (1-4, 0-2).

Idaho State's Kevin Yost was 26-of-44 passing for 281 yards, one TD and two interceptions.

Willamette 38, Whitworth 24: At Spokane, Josh Dean completed 23 of 41 passes for 392 yards and four touchdowns to lead Willamette (5-0, 1-0 Northwest Conference) past Whitworth (5-1, 1-1) in D-III play.

Whitworth's Bryan Peterson was 24-of-43 passing for 262 yards and two touchdowns. Jake DeGooyer hauled in 10 passes for 104 yards and one TD.

New Mexico 35, Texas State 14: At Albuquerque, N.M., Kasey Carrier ran for 191 yards and four touchdowns on 23 carries to lead New Mexico (3-3) past Texas State (2-3).

Louisiana Tech 58, UNLV 31: At Ruston, La., Colby Cameron completed 31 of 46 passes for 331 yards and one touchdown to lead Louisiana Tech (5-0) past UNLV (1-5).

Ray Holley added 138 yards and one TD on 22 carries, and Quinton Patton hauled in nine catches for 116 yards and another score.