Seven turnovers spell doom for Vandals

When the Idaho Vandals reflect on their latest debacle on the blue, they'll focus on one number.

Seven.

That's how many turnovers the Vandals committed Saturday afternoon at Bronco Stadium - keying the No. 6 Broncos' 63-25 romp in the annual football rivalry game.

Boise State intercepted quarterback Brian Reader five times and recovered two fumbles. Cornerback Brandyn Thompson (two), linebacker Derrell Acrey, linebacker Aaron Tevis and cornerback Kyle Wilson recorded interceptions. Tevis and defensive end Byron Hout recovered fumbles.

Boise State didn't have a turnover.

"When you're playing a team like Boise State, you can't make mistakes," Idaho senior receiver Max Komar said. "And we made way too many."

The Broncos, who went two games without forcing a turnover earlier this season, have forced 27 in the other eight. They are plus-17 in turnover margin.

The Broncos scored 28 points off turnovers against the Vandals, including the first two touchdowns of the game. Tevis' fumble recovery and Acrey's interception gave the Broncos the ball at the Idaho 15-yard line and Idaho 31 for their first two drives.

"It feels great after you get a turnover and the offense gets a score," Acrey said. "É That's when you know the other team's probably feeling it."

Wilson's interception gave him one in each of the past three games. He returned the interception 71 yards for a touchdown - his second pick six in those three games.

The All-American didn't have any interceptions in the first seven games.

"In the biggest games, the playmakers arrive," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. "He's one of our best."

YOUNG TIES RECORD

Boise State junior wide receiver Titus Young tied the school record with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with 14 seconds left in the first half.

The only other 100-yard return in school history was by John Broadous in 1981 against Idaho.

College statistics don't give credit for yards run to get the ball out of the end zone, unlike the NFL.

Young was about 7 yards deep when he caught the ball and was coaxed out of the end zone by fellow returner Doug Martin. Martin initially told Young to take a knee, as they are coached on deep kickoffs.

"Then I realized there were 27 seconds left," Martin said, "and figured, 'What the heck?' "

Martin became the lead blocker and wiped out an Idaho defender.

"I had to at least make sure he got to the 20," Martin said.

Young also had a touchdown catch and has 13 touchdowns this season. He has 23 touchdowns in 26 career games.

KAISERMAN, BROCKEL INJURED

Boise State freshman tailback Matt Kaiserman appeared to suffer a serious leg injury in the fourth quarter. He was carted off the field, surrounded by teammates.

Kaiserman missed the first six games this season while he recovered from a concussion.

Petersen didn't immediately know the extent of the injury. Kaiserman threw a touchdown pass on a trick play earlier in the game and rushed for 122 yards earlier this year at Hawaii.

"He's had some hard, tough luck," Petersen said. "He is a tremendously important member of this team, a really good player."

Senior tight end/fullback Richie Brockel also was injured. He was on crutches on the sideline with a foot injury. Petersen said Brockel needs additional X-rays to determine the extent of his injury.

RED-ZONE PERFECTION

The Broncos scored touchdowns on all five of their red-zone possessions. They had scored touchdowns on just 54.9 percent of their red-zone possessions entering the game.

"We've been trying to come up with some answers," Petersen said. "When something's not right around here, we're trying to fix it. É Sometimes it's hard to be fixed in one week and I don't know if it's fixed fixed, but we're pleased with the energy they brought to this game and to the red zone."

O-LINE BOUNCES BACK

The Broncos' offensive line had a rough outing Nov. 6 at Louisiana Tech, when the Broncos struggled to finish drives.

On Saturday, the Broncos averaged 5.7 yards per carry in the run game and didn't allow a sack.

"I know they played with more energy, I know they played better and that was really, really nice to see," Petersen said.

BIG DAY FOR WOOLRIDGE

Idaho senior running back DeMaundray Woolridge rushed 24 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns. He dominated early in the game, including a touchdown drive on which he rushed for 70 yards. Woolridge has 16 touchdowns this season.

The Broncos stopped him by scoring so many points that the Vandals had to try throwing the ball.

"They were doing a nice job running the ball," Petersen said.

QUICK HITS

Idaho athletic director Rob Spear said on the Vandals' postgame radio show that he will personally pay for any possible expenses incurred after refusing to board a Boise State-themed airplane in Moscow last week. Instead, Spear drove to Spokane for his flight to Boise. É Boise State won the coin toss and deferred. É Boise State's single-game captains were defensive end Byron Hout and offensive tackle Nate Potter. Hout was a captain on the same day that Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount returned from his suspension for punching Hout. Hout was the Broncos' defensive player of the week against Louisiana Tech. É Idaho is the third team this season to score against Boise State in the first quarter. É The ESPNU broadcast was knocked off the air briefly because of a power outage on the bottom level of Bronco Stadium. É Acrey made his first start since the Fresno State game Sept. 18. Linebacker starters are determined in practice each week. É Boise State sophomore tight end Kyle Efaw scored his first career touchdown on his 38th catch. Efaw is from Capital High. He also scored his second two-point conversion. É Idaho starting strong safety Jeromy Jones didn't play. He was injured a week earlier against Fresno State.