Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Boise State holds off Oregon rally for 38-28 win in the Las Vegas Bowl
MW champ Boise State scores first 24 points as TD ’dog to Oregon
Boise State committed three turnovers in the red zone in the first half — two that were returned for touchdowns — and had to fend off an Oregon rally in the second half.
But the Broncos never lost control of Saturday’s Las Vegas Bowl.
They were 7-point underdogs, but scored the first 24 points en route to a 38-28 victory before an announced crowd of 36,432 at Sam Boyd Stadium.
No. 25 Boise State (11-3) ran its record to 4-0 in the Las Vegas Bowl, and the Broncos closed the season with nine victories in 10 games. The Mountain West champions outgained Pac-12 Conference representative
Oregon (7-6) 481 yards to 280 and doubled the Ducks in first downs 28-14.
Boise State wide receiver Cedrick Wilson, named the game MVP, caught 10 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown.
“I thought our offense moved the ball up and down the field, and Oregon had a very tough time stopping it,” Broncos coach Bryan Harsin said.
The game would have been more one-sided if Boise State hadn’t had two interceptions and a lost fumble inside the 20-yard line in the first half. Two of those turnovers were returned for touchdowns within the final 37 seconds, bringing the Ducks to within 24-14 at halftime.
But the game was never truly close; the Ducks didn’t cross the 50-yard line until 6:34 remained in the third quarter. Oregon, which was without star running back Royce Freeman, who didn’t play so a potential injury wouldn’t damage his NFL draft status, was held to 47 yards rushing.
“I thought the defense was dominating today,” Harsin said. “We spotted them a few points. Otherwise, the score’s completely different.”