No. 5 Boise State Holds off Tulsa 28-21

Boise State's Austin Pettis pulls down a long pass reception as Tulsa's James Lockett defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tulsa, Okla., on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/David Crenshaw)

(AP)

Kellen Moore threw two short touchdown passes to Tommy Gallarda, and No. 5 Boise State survived a late scare from Tulsa to escape with a 28-21 victory Wednesday night in one of the last road tests standing between the undefeated Broncos and the BCS.

With Boise State (6-0) trailing for the first time all season, Moore was perfect on two scoring drives to put the Broncos ahead to stay.

Tulsa (4-2) got within 28-21 in the fourth quarter when G.J. Kinne and Slick Shelley connected on consecutive passes for 91 yards, including a 55-yarder for a touchdown. The Golden Hurricane had one last chance to tie it in the final 2 minutes, but Boise State forced its fourth three-and-out of the second half to ice the game.

Moore finished with 187 yards passing and three touchdown passes.

Doug Martin had 112 yards on 23 carries in his second 100-yard game since moving back to offense after the Broncos lost running back D.J. Harper to a knee injury. Jeremy Avery added 73 yards as Boise State trampled Tulsa on the ground in the third quarter and then held on for the win.

Except for the two long connections between Kinne and Shelley, Boise State's defense limited the Golden Hurricane — who led the nation in total offense each of the last two seasons — to 30 yards in the second half.

Kinne missed a wide-open Charles Clay on fourth-and-6 to end Tulsa's last possession, as he rolled out of the pocket to the left. He finished with 154 yards on 14-for-27 passing.

"Our O-line got going pretty well and it would have been nice to punch it in down there for some breathing room," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. "If our O-line is doing what they need to do we can make some plays."

Tulsa represented one of the few challenges remaining on Boise State's schedule as the Broncos move into Western Athletic Conference play. The rest of the teams on their schedule have a combined 16-21 record, and in-state rival Idaho (5-1) is the only one with a winning mark.