BOISE, Idaho (AP) -Freshman Kellen Moore threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns, and Tyler Shoemaker caught two passes for two touchdowns as Boise State defeated Idaho State 49-7 Saturday night.
Becoming the first freshman to start in the season opener for the Broncos, the left-handed Moore used his quick release and rifle arm to complete 14 of 19 passes and no interceptions. The two touchdown passes went for 80 and 56 yards.
For Idaho State, Russell Hill completed 15 of 22 passes for 74 yards, and Ken Cornist rushed 19 times for 98 yards.
It was the third consecutive year Boise State, of the Western Athletic Conference, opened the season at home against a team from a lower division, and for the third straight year, they routed their opponent.
But it didn't start out that way. The Broncos did not score their first touchdown until a little more than a minute was left in the first quarter. It was the first of four touchdowns in the span of 8 minutes to go up 28-0 with 7:48 left in the half.
It started with an 11-play, 76-yard drive, with Moore completing four straight passes for 49 yards and capped by Richie Brockel's 2-yard run.
After a Bengals punt, Moore found Chris O'Neill for 22 yards and Julian Hawkins for another 9. Running back Ian Johnson was stopped from the 3-yard-line for no gain twice before he finding the end zone on a third try, making it 14-0, after the kick, with 12:11 left in the half.
After gaining only 2 yards, the Bengals were forced to punt. When he got the ball back, Moore found wide receiver Titus Young behind the Idaho State defense for an 80-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive, pushing the lead to 21-0.
Three plays later, the Bengals had to punt again. But Johnson, in on special teams, blocked it and Ellis Powers recovered to give the Broncos the ball at the Idaho State 12-yard mark. Brockel powered in from 3 yards out to make it 28-0 with 7:48 left in the half.
Idaho State showed life with an 80-yard drive that included running back Ken Cornist's 18-yard pass to Isaiah Burel at the 2-yard line. Clint Knickrehm then ran in to make it 28-7 just before the end of the half.
But that was all the offense the Bengals could muster.
Boise State scored twice in the third quarter, the first a 24-yard run by Young on a reverse, and the second a 56-yard pass from Moore to Shoemaker to cap a 99-yard drive, making it 42-7.
