Three times in the second half Saturday at Bronco Stadium the Air Force football team got within a touchdown of No. 5 Boise State.

And all three times, Broncos senior quarterback Kellen Moore shooed away the pesky Falcons with a smooth scoring drive to rebuild the lead.

Those scores allowed the Broncos to overcome their inability to stop the Falcons’ diabolical offense for a hard-fought, 37-26 victory.

The win was the 45th of Moore’s college career — tying the Football Bowl Subdivision record set by Colt McCoy of Texas in 2009. It also was the Broncos’ national-best 35th straight at home.

“Really important,” Boise State coach Chris Petersen said of those second-half scoring drives. “And when you’ve got Kellen at the controls you kind of think, ‘Hey, there’s nobody better to just be a surgeon and be efficient.’ ”

Moore’s efficiency was never more important than Saturday. The Broncos’ offense only got the ball eight times because the Falcons played an exceptional game of keep-away with their triple-option attack.

The Broncos (7-0 overall, 2-0 Mountain West) drove inside the Falcons’ 30-yard line on all but one possession and would have had an almost perfect night if not for two turnovers on promising drives — a fumble by tailback Doug Martin and an interception on a ball that slipped through wide receiver Geraldo Boldewijn’s hands in the end zone.

“That’s what really kept them in it, because we really could have gotten some breathing room,” Petersen said. “It was almost the perfect storm against us.”

Air Force’s offense was as maddening as advertised — methodically generating 408 yards and 26 points, below the Falcons’ season averages but the most of each allowed by the Broncos since last year’s loss at Nevada. The Falcons converted nine third downs and four fourth downs, scored on three straight drives in the second half and averaged 12.4 plays and 73 yards per scoring drive.

The offense almost always baffles teams that haven’t seen it.

“It was very hard,” senior defensive tackle Billy Winn said. “We had to try our very best to try to keep up with the speed of their offense. It was rough for us.”

Said Petersen, whose team isn’t scheduled to play the Falcons again until 2014: “Three years is too soon, if you ask me.”

Every time the Broncos plugged a hole, the Falcons punched one somewhere else. Fullback Mike DeWitt rushed for 108 yards and receiver Zack Kauth made three catches for 93 yards.

“This was their first time seeing the option and we found ways to gash their defense here and there,” said quarterback Tim Jefferson, who was 8-of-16 for 144 yards and scored two touchdowns. “We started out running to the outside and they tried to take that away with their speed, so then we started running up the middle where they weren’t expecting it. That’s just option offense doing what it does best.”

The Broncos’ defensive highlight came on special teams. Late in the first half, the Falcons lined up to punt on fourth-and-4 from their own 31-yard line.

Boise State special teams coach Jeff Choate had warned his players that Air Force likes to take chances in the kicking game — and linebackers Byron Hout and J.C. Percy spotted a tell in the Falcons’ formation.

They began making hand signals — as did Petersen, from the sideline — indicating the Broncos should switch into a “caution” scheme.

“We knew they were going to tip their fake punt,” Hout said. “We saw the key.”

Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said he didn’t mind if the Broncos figured it out because the plan was for a reverse that might beat them anyway.

But Percy beat the blockers and stripped Mikel Hunter. Senior nickel Hunter White grabbed the loose ball and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown that gave the Broncos a 20-7 lead.

“It was obviously the play of the game,” Petersen said.

The Falcons (3-4, 0-3), unlike most opponents on the ropes at Bronco Stadium, didn’t flinch.

They pulled within 20-13 in the third quarter and began trading touchdowns with the Broncos. It was 27-20 and 34-26 before the Broncos recovered an onside kick, drove 36 yards and kicked a field goal to clinch the win.

“The game went like we were hoping it wouldn’t but it usually does, where they control the ball and they’re not going to give you many possessions,” Petersen said. “You better be efficient.”

That’s Moore’s game.

Leading 20-13, he converted a critical third-and-7 with a 20-yard throw to Tyler Shoemaker. That led to a 15-yard TD run by Martin, who rushed for 125 yards.

Leading 27-20, he fired under pressure to Shoemaker for 22 yards. On second-and-goal at the 2, the Falcons shut down the Broncos’ play-action pass but Moore scrambled to his left and spotted Martin all alone in the end zone.

Martin, who began the play as a blocker, doesn’t even have a route on that play.

“It was a good play by Doug,” said Moore, who was 23-of-29 for 281 yards and three TDs. “I just spotted him there.”

And leading 34-26, Moore completed a 16-yard pass to Boldewijn — throwing on the run and into tight coverage. That set up Dan Goodale’s 25-yard field goal.

“We had some key third downs that we converted,” senior left tackle Nate Potter said, “and that was essential.”

Chadd Cripe: 377-6398