2009 Boise State Downs 2004 USC in SFL Playoffs

(Note:  The regular season games were played with just one simulation and the result was recorded.  To ensure the best chance for an accurate result in the playoffs, 50 simulations were played (they take about five seconds each.)  For the team that won the most simulations in those 50, an appropriate sample was chosen for the game below.)


2009 Boise State 59, 2004 USC 37
The Boise State defense limited the high-flying 2004 USC offense to just eight second half points as the Broncos broke open a close game to run away from the Trojans 52-37 this afternoon in the first Simulation Football League semifinal.





The Boise State offense was balanced in all areas, rushing for 268 yards while passing for 278 and scoring 31 points in the first half and 28 in the second half.  Junior field general Kellen Moore's heady play sparked the Broncos, connecting on 20-of-32 passes for 278 yards and three scores with zero interceptions while leading his team on eight touchdown drives.  Doug Martin, Jeremy Avery and D.J. Harper continually kept the aggressive Trojan defense off guard, then played ball control once the Broncos gained the upper hand.  Martin ran for 136 yards and three touchdowns on just 12 carries, while Avery picked up 110 yards and two TD's on 21 carries and Harper gained 51 yards on eight.





It didn't take long for Boise State to get the first break.  On the third play from scrimmage, esteemed Trojan running back Reggie Bush fumbled, with Bronco safety George Iloka recovering the loose ball on the USC 44.  Moore backed up and tossed a strike to Austin Pettis at the 42, who maneuvered past a couple of defenders to the USC 27.  On the next play, Avery took a pitch, cut right, and scampered down the sideline untouched to put Coach Chris Petersen's team up 7-0.  

                                       Jarrett's great end-zone catch gave USC their first lead.


The Broncos held USC on their next possession to force a punt which stopped on the Bronco nine-yard line. But consecutive sacks of Moore by Travis Tofi and Ryan Ting resulted in a safety.  USC took advantage on the ensuing kick as quarterback Matt Leinart completed two passes which put the Trojans on the Bronco seven.  Leinart's first pass to Steve Smith was underthrown, and his second attempt to Smith was just past Smith's outstretched fingertips.  On third down, Leinart floated a pass to Dwayne Jarrett, who came down with the ball in the end zone for a 9-7 USC lead.


Moore and the Broncos drove to the USC nine on their next possession but again penetration led to two sacks and Kyle Brotzman had to come on to kick a 29-yard field goal.  That put Boise State ahead once again 10-9.  USC's Ryan Killeen answered with a 32-yarder of his own early in the second quarter and the early see-saw game was living up to all expectations.  

                          Kirby Moore is off to the races on 47-yard TD


An exchange of punts gave Boise State the ball in good field goal position at the Boise State 46 after Kyle Wilson returned a punt for 34 yards.    The brother-to-brother combination that Bronco fans had been dreaming of hooked up as Moore hit brother Kirby on the run for a 47-yard scoring play.  With Brotzman's extra point, the Broncos regained the lead 17-12.  That lead was short-lived, as 21 seconds later, LenDale White exposed an opening in the Bronco defense for a brilliant 68-yard run to paydirt and the Trojans were out in front 19-17.



        White fools the Broncos a second time

The wild second quarter continued as five plays into Boise State's sixth drive of the game, Martin burst through tacklers for a 45-yard run of his own that gave Boise State a 24-19 lead.  But USC returned to the same play call that had resulted in their last touchdown, and once again White broke free for a 60-yard touchdown.  The bewildered Broncos lined up for the PAT by Killeen, and USC was ahead 26-24.  In a game that had so far included just two punts, Boise State drove down the field on their next possession, capitalizing on another Moore-to-Moore play, this one from eight yards out.  It was the eighth lead change of the half and the Broncos now led 31-26.





Knowing every point was precious, USC Coach Pete Carroll ordered Leinart in a hurry-up offense as the Trojans had 1:19 to work with and the ball on their 32.  Leinart completed a couple of passes and his 18-yard scramble with 17 seconds left put Killeen in range, and the senior responded with a 33-yarder with four seconds left.  The Broncos clung to a narrow 31-29 advantage as the battle-torn warriors went into the locker room.

On Boise State's opening possession of the second half, the Bronco running game took over, and Martin finished the drive with a punctuating 29-yard run.  Bronco fans went wild in the stands as their team went up two scores.  The tough Boise State defense forced USC's second punt of the game with 11:49 remaining in the third quarter, and the Broncos drove to the USC 31, but a 48-yard attempt by Brotzman was wide left.  The Trojans charged forward to the Boise State 42, but Bush fumbled for the second time on a jarring hit by Jeron Johnson and Brandyn Thompson dove on the loose ball.


Consecutive 25-yard plays by Harper (run) and Pettis (pass) paved the way for an 11-yard TD run as Avery went between center Thomas Byrd and guard Will Lawrence.  The Bronco senior back, who rushed for 1,573 yards and was second only to Brotzman with 162 points in the regular season, gave Boise State a commanding 45-29 lead.


USC drove to the Boise State 40 yard-line on its next possession, but a Ryan Winterswyck interception effectively ended the game.





Pettis was the top Bronco receiver with five receptions for 83 yards while tight end Kyle Efaw had four catches for 48 yards and Tyler Shoemaker hauled in three passes for 38.


White was magnificent for the Trojans with 250 yards rushing.  Leinart finished 17-31 for 217 yards and two TD's.  Smith topped the USC receiving corps with five catches for 79 yards.  USC finished the SFL season with a 9-4 record.


The Broncos, who won the Boise State Division with an 11-1 record, are now in the SFL Championship against the winner of the other semifinal between the 2010 Broncos and the exciting 2001 team from Miami of Florida.