Tailback Eron Hurley rushed for a career high 183 yards and quarterback Nate Sparks threw three touchdown passes as Boise St. halted a two-game losing streak with a 24-13 non-conference win over Weber State Saturday night.
The win improved the Broncos' record to 4-3 while the Wildcats fell to 5-2.After Weber State's Scott Shields opened the scoring with a 19-yard field goal in the opening quarter, the Broncos took over behind Hurley's running and Sparks' passing.
Sparks hit wide receiver Rodney Smith with a 24-yard touchdown pass with four minutes remaining in the half for a 7-3 lead and the pair added a 31-yard touchdown pass with four seconds remaining before the intermission. Smith's second score was set up when Bronco line backer Shawn Sandoval returned a Wildcat fumble 37 yards to the Weber St. 31 yardline.
The Wildcats cut Boise State's lead to 14-10 in the third quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by Bryan Rubin. Kicker Todd Belcastro hit a 35-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to increase BSU's lead to 17-10.
The Wildcats' Jason Allen returned the ensuing kick off 74 yards to the BSU eight yardline, setting up a 25-yard field gaol by Shields slicing the Broncos' lead to 17-13 with 11:28 remaining in the game.
But Sparks put the game out of reach when he hit reserve wide receiver Mike Davisson with a 65-yard touchdown pass with 10:06 to go.
Sparks completed eight of 19 passes for 158 yards while the Boise St. defense limited Weber St. to 65 yards rushing and 114 yards in the air.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Big Sky standings
.. Conf. Overall
Team W L W L
Montana St. 2 1 4 2
Weber St. 3 1 5 2
E. Wash. 3 1 4 2
Portland St. 3 2 3 3
CS-North. 2 2 3 3
Montana 2 2 4 3
Idaho St. 1 3 1 5
N. Arizona 1 3 4 3
CS-Sacra. 1 3 3 4
Saturday's games
Portland St. 34, Montana St. 31
Montana 33, N. Arizona 20
E. Washington 44, Idaho St. 13
Boise St 24, Weber St. 13
CS-Sacramento 35, CS-Sacramento 21