LAS VEGAS — Turns out there IS a third Moore brother. And the Boise State football team wanted him, too.

Washington senior wide receiver and punt returner Cody Bruns grew up playing sports with former Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore and Boise State junior wide receiver Kirby Moore in Prosser, Wash.

Bruns was a year behind Kellen and a year ahead of Kirby, so he’s tight with both.

“I was kind of like the middle brother growing up,” Bruns said.

He and Kirby Moore will play against each other Saturday in Las Vegas.

The situation could have been much different. Bruns chose Washington over Boise State and a chance to play with the Moores; Kirby chose Boise State over Washington and a chance to play with Bruns.

“Kellen was very supportive, and so was Kirby,” Bruns said. “It’s where you feel best. It was hard. One of your best friends is going (to BSU).”

Bruns was always a Huskies fan in Cougar-filled Prosser, Kirby said. The town still hasn’t forgotten that. “Especially Apple Cup week, he gets a lot of calls,” Kirby said.

Kirby attended this year’s Apple Cup in Pullman during the Broncos’ bye week. Bruns wanted to make a game in Boise this year but didn’t. He did attend the Oregon State game in 2010, when “College GameDay” was in Boise.

And Kirby has made a habit of visiting Bruns in Seattle in the offseason. Most memorably, Kirby said, he, Kellen and Bruns attended the Seahawks-Saints playoff game in January 2011 — the game famous for Marshawn Lynch’s 67-yard TD run.

“I usually try to make a trip there for a weekend and go to a basketball game or something,” Kirby said.

Back in Prosser, Bruns and Kirby were two of the most prolific receivers in high school history — helping Kellen earn national attention for his gaudy passing stats. Bruns recorded a state-record 72 TD catches in his career; Kirby broke that, and the national record, with 95.

All three won state player of the year awards during their careers.

“It was a great team to be a part of,” Kirby said. “From a small high school, I guess you could say that’s a big accomplishment to have three people that close of age go on to play in college.”

Kirby is Boise State’s second-leading receiver this season with 36 catches for 368 yards and one touchdown.

Bruns is Washington’s seventh-leading receiver with 13 catches for 103 yards and two TDs. He also is the Huskies’ top punt returner (8.2-yard average) and holder. The TDs were the first of his career.

Like Kirby, Bruns played as a true freshman and redshirted later (2011).

“It’s been a wild ride,” Bruns said. “But I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

Chadd Cripe: 377-6398, Twitter: @IDS_BroncoBeat