Boise State, which finished 12-1 as the toast of the WAC a season ago, was
buoyed by rushing touchdowns from D.J. Harper and Doug Martin.
Kyle Efaw reeled in six passes for 53 yards and a touchdown and Matt Miller
had five receptions for 57 yards and a score for the new Mountain West
Conference denizens, who next play September 16, at Toledo.
Georgia, coming off a disappointing 6-7 campaign, received a respectable
effort from Aaron Murray, who completed 16-of-29 passes for 236 yards and two
scores against an interception.
Brandon Boykin had an 80-yard touchdown run and Orson Charles caught six
passes for 109 yards and a score for the Bulldogs (0-1), who host South
Carolina next Saturday.
"Obviously we knew going in they were pretty darn good," said Georgia coach
Mark Richt. "They just beat us tonight. They were better than we were."
The Bulldogs struck first, as Boykin ripped off an 80-yard touchdown run with
8:39 remaining in the first quarter.
Boise State punted on its first three possessions, but finally broke through
with 3:02 left in the opening quarter, when Moore connected with Miller for a
17-yard touchdown pass, capping a six-play, 58-yard drive.
Moore was intercepted by Branden Smith at the Georgia nine-yard line late in
the second quarter, but Murray gave to ball back three plays later with a pick
to Jerrell Gavins. Moore capitalized, leading the Broncos on a seven-play, 51-
yard drive which culminated with a 12-yard scoring strike to Efaw, giving
Boise State a 14-7 lead at the half.
The Broncos carried the momentum out of the tunnel, taking the ball 76 yards
down the field on their opening possession. Martin's seven-yard touchdown run
capped the drive.
Blair Walsh missed a 54-yard field goal attempt on the Bulldogs' next
possession and Moore's three-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Shoemaker put Boise
State on top 28-7 with 3:10 remaining in the third quarter.
Facing a 4th-and-2 late in the third, Murray found a streaking Charles for a
36-yard touchdown strike to give the Bulldogs and their raucous Georgia Dome
crowd life.
Moore again responded with poise, leading Boise State on a 76-yard drive that
lasted 4:36, and which Harper closed with a one-yard touchdown plunge.
The sophomore Murray proved seasoned himself, responding with a 51-yard
touchdown pass to Malcolm Mitchell on Georgia's next series. The Bulldogs
got no closer, however, as their remaining two drives ended in fourth-down
incompletions at the hands of an active Boise State defense.
Game Notes
Boise State spent the previous 10 campaigns in the Western Athletic Conference
where it captured an unprecedented eight league titles and sported a 75-5
record...The Broncos were winless in four previous games against SEC
opponents...The game marked just the second meeting between the two teams. The
first game came in 2005, when the Bulldogs downed Boise State 48-13.
09/04 01:29:14 ET