Boise State notebook: Broncos get first taste of Kellen-to-Kirby connection

Since they were little kids, Kellen has thrown the football and Kirby has caught it.

Many times - too many to figure, probably - they've done it in football games.

But Saturday's connection between the Moore brothers had a different feel.

Kellen threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to Kirby in the first quarter of the No. 6 Broncos' 45-7 defeat of San Jose State.

Kirby, a true freshman, scored his first college touchdown on the play.

"It's kind of a dream come true, you could say," Kirby said. "It's a lot bigger stage than high school football or Grid Kids or anything like that."

The brothers lit up scoreboards together for two years at Prosser (Wash.) High. They also played together for a few years in Grid Kids, which is youth football.

Boise State was Kellen's best college option. Kirby, however, could have played in the Pac-10.

Moments like the one they shared Saturday certainly factored into his decision.

"That was awesome, it really was," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. "Everybody on our sideline had a smile on their face. To get a chance to play Division I football with your brother É I think that's why Kirby came here, for those situations."

The play wasn't designed for Kirby, who ran a streak down the left sideline.

He became the target when San Jose State blitzed.

"I had to get it off quickly," Kellen said.

Kellen threw a strike and hit Kirby in stride. Kirby thought he was going to be tackled for a solid gain, but he shook off the defender and cruised into the end zone.

"It felt like it was too easy at first," Kirby said. "I was looking around to make sure no one was there."

Kirby entered the game with two catches for 16 yards. His playing time has been growing in recent weeks.

He had four catches for a team-high 80 yards Saturday.

"This game helped me just with confidence," he said.

Kellen, meanwhile, added to his Heisman resume. He was 21-of-33 for 278 yards and three touchdowns. He has 24 touchdowns and two interceptions this season. He should maintain his national lead in pass efficiency (171.02) but he lost his lead in touchdowns. Case Keenum of Houston threw five TDs on Saturday and has 25 on the year.

Kellen also scored a rushing touchdown - a 1-yard sneak. The Moores are the first set of brothers to score touchdowns for the Broncos in the same game.

MARTIN STILL HOBBLED

Sophomore tailback Doug Martin didn't play until the fourth quarter as he tries to recover from a pulled muscle. He missed most of the Hawaii game, too.

Coaches expected him to be fine for Saturday's game but he wasn't able to do much in practice. They put him in the game late to see how well he could run and build confidence in his leg.

Martin responded with six carries for 63 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown run on which he broke several tackle attempts.

"We were trying to get his feet wet and let him work through some of the pain he still has," Petersen said. "We're trying to get him confidence that he can go. É I still could tell on that (touchdown) run that he was not 100 percent. I could see him dragging his leg a little bit."

YOUNG'S TIME LIMITED

Junior wide receiver Titus Young, who leads the Broncos with 10 touchdowns, didn't play much Saturday. He was put in a backup role as punishment for his celebration penalty at Hawaii, his second of the year.

Young had two catches for 19 yards.

"Hopefully he learned some lessons," Petersen said.

As for next week É

"You've got to earn your playing time," Petersen said.

QUICK HITS

San Jose State won the coin toss and deferred. É Freshman tailback Matt Kaiserman started for the Broncos after rushing for 122 yards at Hawaii. É Boise State has shut out the opponent in seven of eight first quarters this season. É Freshman wide receiver Mitch Burroughs of Meridian High scored his first college touchdown on an 18-yard pass in the second quarter. É Boise State has won 23 straight home games. É Kellen Moore had three passes dropped, including one that likely would have gone for a touchdown. É Backup defensive tackle J.P. Nisby missed Saturday's game. He had arthroscopic knee surgery.