Notebook: Johnson ends Boise State career in WAC record book

SAN DIEGO - Boise State senior tailback Ian Johnson earned his place in WAC history Tuesday night at Qualcomm Stadium despite the Broncos' 17-16 loss to TCU in the Poinsettia Bowl.

Johnson broke the WAC record for career rushing touchdowns on a 20-yard scamper in the first quarter. His 58th rushing touchdown came on the second carry of his last college game.

He topped the previous record of 57 touchdowns set by San Diego State's Marshall Faulk, who played his home games at Qualcomm and became an NFL superstar with the St. Louis Rams. His record had stood for 15 years.

"It was a great record and everything to get; it was a real happy moment at first," Johnson said. "I told you guys I didn't want to get the record and lose and it ended up happening. I'll still take that record and be happy about it, but it's going to take a while to get over this loss."

Johnson's touchdown came out of shotgun formation. He took a handoff, started up the middle, then broke to the right. He beat safety Tejay Johnson to the corner of the end zone, lifted the ball in the air and asked the game officials for permission to keep it.

Johnson had seven carries for 28 yards and three catches for minus-5 yards in the game. He was the only Bronco to rush for more than 6 yards.

Johnson finished his career with 4,183 rushing yards (second Boise State, fourth WAC), 58 rushing touchdowns (first, first) and 59 total touchdowns (second, second).

A BIG SPLASH FOR HOUT

Boise State true freshman defensive end Byron Hout got his first career start in the Poinsettia Bowl - and he delivered one of the game's biggest plays.

Hout intercepted a screen pass - his first college interception - and rumbled 62 yards to set up a field goal. The Lake City High grad used a spin move, a couple of cuts and a stiff arm to reach the TCU 11-yard line.

Hout had four tackles, including an assist on a tackle for loss.

"He's a heck of a football player, he really is," coach Chris Petersen said. "He sparked us big time and we couldn't capitalize like we needed to."

PERRETTA'S PLACE

Boise State senior wide receiver Vinny Perretta had a busy night in his homecoming. He grew up in Encinitas, Calif., and his dad is a former San Diego Chargers offensive lineman.

Perretta grabbed two catches for a team-high 78 yards, rushed five times for 4 yards and threw a lateral on a kickoff return.

He had the Broncos' biggest offensive play, a 65-yard reception, and maybe their most disappointing play, a 13-yard reception on which he stepped out of bounds and likely cost himself a touchdown.

KICKOFF TRICKERY

The Broncos enhanced their reputation for trickery on the opening kickoff, when Perretta fielded the kickoff and Johnson flopped on the grass at the 10-yard line. Johnson popped up and Perretta lateraled to him, with Johnson taking the ball out to the Boise State 49-yard line.

Perretta and Johnson hadn't been the regular kickoff returners all season. Tailbacks Jeremy Avery and Doug Martin were back at the return positions for the next kickoff.

MUSICAL O-LINE

Freshman Garrett Pendergast got his first start Tuesday night, giving the Broncos their 11th offensive line combination of the season. Pendergast started at right guard in place of sophomore Kevin Sapien.

Pendergast was the eighth different offensive lineman to start a game this season and the seventh to get his first college start.

Sapien twisted an ankle in the regular-season finale and hadn't practiced much. He could have played, but the Broncos decided to go with Pendergast instead, Petersen said.

QUICK HITS

Boise State's captains were seniors Ian Johnson, Kyle Gingg, Ellis Powers and Vinny Perretta. TCU won the coin toss and deferred. The Broncos wore blue pants and white jerseys as the designated visiting team. Gingg and senior Tim Brady were the starters at linebacker. True freshman defensive end Hout got his first start, giving the Broncos two true freshmen in the starting lineup on defense. The other was safety George Iloka. Spotted at the game - Chargers tailback LaDainian Tomlinson (a TCU graduate), former Boise State coach Dan Hawkins and former Bishop Kelly High quarterback Cody Hawkins. Drew Hawkins, Dan's other son, is a walk-on quarterback for the Broncos. The halftime show included a huge fireworks show. TCU outgained Boise State 246-105 in the first half but trailed 13-7. Boise State improved to 3-15-2 in the first quarter of its past 21 games against BCS-conference teams, ranked teams and bowl opponents. TCU has won four straight bowl games.