Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Boise State
Football Upset By Boise State, 35-30
10/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct 19, 2001
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FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Even at the moment David Carr was thrown into the turf, FRESNO State's star quarterback couldn't believe the Bulldogs' run at college football's biggest honors was ending.
Ryan Dinwiddie threw for 297 yards and four touchdowns, and Boise State sacked Carr 10 yards from the end zone with 51 seconds left as the Broncos beat No. 8 FRESNO State 35-30 on Friday night, ending the Bulldogs' improbable run at a Bowl Championship Series bid.
FRESNO State (6-1, 2-1 WAC) beat Colorado, Oregon State and Wisconsin earlier this fall to become the darlings of the sport. But the Bulldogs scored just two points in the final 27{ minutes against the Broncos (4-3, 3-1), who roared from behind for what was easily the biggest victory in school history.
It ended when Carr, desperately trying to buy time on fourth-and-4 at Boise State's 5 with less than a minute to play, was tackled as he fumbled. Until Carr went down, the Bulldogs said they firmly believed they would emerge victorious one more time in what seemed to be a season of miracles.
"You kind of get in a euphoric state when you're 6-0," said Carr, who went 30-of-49 for 345 yards and three TDs. "Even when you're going down, you can't believe it. You look at the clock, and you think, 'There's still some time left. We should be able to win this."'
FRESNO State's 17-game home winning streak - second-longest in the nation - ended.
Dinwiddie threw a 54-yard TD pass to Jay Swillie for the go-ahead score with 7:12 left as Boise State, in its first WAC season, silenced a sellout crowd at Bulldog Stadium. Boise State, which lost 45-14 to Rice less than two weeks ago, beat a ranked team for the first time in five tries.
First-year coach Dan Hawkins was Dirk Koetter's top assistant as Boise State rebuilt its program over the previous three seasons, culminating in two wins in the hometown Humanitarian Bowl, but almost no national exposure.
Standing in the first-base dugout on FRESNO State's baseball diamond - which doubles as the visiting team's locker room - Hawkins still was amazed by his young defense's poise.
"Even as they were driving at the end, there was no deer-in-the-headlights look from our guys," Hawkins said. "We just weathered everything they had, and we made one more big play at the end. I'm amazed by this team."
Dinwiddie, a sophomore from California's Central Valley, answered every big play made by Carr, a Heisman hopeful. Dinwiddie went 20-for-32, and he led the Broncos to touchdowns on four of five drives at one point.
"He's got tremendous poise," Hawkins said. "He's been solid for us, making great plays and delivering the football for us all year."
The Broncos scored 21 straight in the second half as FRESNO State's powerful offense lost its way. Carr couldn't get the Bulldogs going when it mattered the most.
"Our dreams of the BCS are over, but this can still be a very successful season," FRESNO State coach Pat Hill said. "The better team won tonight ... but if we had won, my tune would have been different. We just didn't make that one last play."
On Boise State's first play after FRESNO State punted midway through the fourth quarter, Swillie caught Dinwiddie's perfect pass 30 yards downfield, remained standing after a solid hit and sprinted into the end zone, putting the Broncos up 35-28.
"I dream about that play all the time," said Swillie, who worked on the play all week after Boise State's coaches spotted a weakness on film. "One hundred people are counting on me to do that."
FRESNO State got one last chance when its defense - which was carved up by Dinwiddie for much of the night - got a safety with 3:59 left. Nick Burley flew over a blocker and knocked Dinwiddie to the turf.
The Bulldogs got the ball back at their 43, and Carr moved them deep into Boise State's territory, converting a fourth down with 1:59 left. But Carr got trapped in the pocket and was sacked by a host of defenders, bringing the Broncos halfway onto the field in a wild celebration.
Rodney Wright - who had 14 catches for 179 yards - Bernard Berrian and Alex Greco caught TD passes for FRESNO State. Jeb Putzier caught two TD passes for the Broncos, while Brock Forsey caught a TD and ran for another.
"I guess they were a little hungrier tonight," Wright said.
The Bulldogs went up 20-7 early, but wasted several chances to pad their lead. Several missed scoring chances, an interception and even a failed extra-point kick cost them in the first half.
Kicker Asen Asparuhov, the hero of FRESNO State's overtime victory over Colorado State last week, also missed two field goals - including a 45-yarder with 11:41 to play.
FRESNO State led 28-14 early in the third quarter, but Boise State struck for two quick scores - the second coming after Paris Gaines committed FRESNO State's first fumble of the season. Forsey had a 3-yard TD run as Boise State tied it with 41 seconds left in the third.
The Bulldogs entered with just two turnovers - the fewest in the nation - but they made two more against Boise State, including Carr's third interception of the year.
