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LOGAN, Utah (AP) Utah State contained the Western Athletic Conference's best rushing team.
But the Aggies couldn't stop the pass.
Jared Zabransky threw for a season-high 328 yards and four touchdowns to lead Boise State to its fourth straight win, a 45-21 victory over Utah State on Saturday.
"He did a great job," Broncos head coach Dan Hawkins said of Zabransky. "He did an awesome job and made some real key throws. The big thing was he played real clean and our whole team played that way by not turning the ball over and winning the turnover battle."
Zabransky completed 26 of 39 passes. His favorite target was Jeff Carpenter, who caught seven passes for 99 yards and a touchdown.
"The ball felt like it was coming off my hand well," Zabransky said. "I feel if I give my receivers a chance, they can go make a play."
Boise State (5-2, 3-0 WAC) has won a record 29 consecutive league games, the longest current conference winning streak in the nation. The Broncos' last league loss was Nov. 3, 2001, at Louisiana Tech.
"Thats a team that knows how to capitalize when another team makes a mistake and that is what I saw most of tonight," Utah State head coach Brent Guy said. "Their ability to capitalize is the reason they have 29 straight wins and we are struggling to get a win."
Boise States league winning streak includes 15 straight on the road.
Leon Jackson was 16-for-29 for 206 yards and three touchdowns for the Aggies (2-4, 1-3), who have lost five straight to the Broncos. Jackson began the game by completing his first nine passes.
Jackson also led Utah State in rushing with 49 yards on 22 carries.
"I like him," Hawkins said of Jackson. "The kid is very athletic and competitive. He can run around and he has a good arm and can throw the ball, too."
Ahead 14-10, Utah State was about to get the ball back on its own 20-yard line following a punt by Boise State's Kyle Stringer with 9:14 left in the second quarter.
But the Aggies were called for holding prior to Stringer's punt and the Broncos got the ball back on Utah State's 49.
"There was a guy inside holding," Guy said. "I didnt see it, but thats who they called it on a guy in the box."
Boise State capitalized on the penalty as Zabranskys 16-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Putnam gave the Broncos the lead back for good, 17-14 with 6:01 left in the second quarter.
Guy didnt feel that was the turning point in the game but knows you can't make mistakes like that against good teams.
"It was a big swing right before half, but nothing that we couldn't overcome," Guy said. "We still had time."
Cole Clasen caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Zabransky to give Boise State a 24-14 lead at halftime.
A fumbled punt by Utah States Kevin Robinson set up Zabranskys fourth touchdown pass, a 15-yarder to Carpenter that gave the Broncos a 31-14 lead with 3:07 remaining in the third quarter.
"We fumble the punt and it give it back to them on a short field," Guy said. "It's those things Im talking about that we did in the second half that caused the problems. You cant do those things.
"That was the only turnover of the game and it cost us."
Antwaun Carter added 53 yards rushing and two touchdowns for the Broncos, who were held to a season-low 84 yards rushing.
Tony Pennyman led the Aggies with four receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown. Robinson also caught a touchdown pass, the fifth straight game he's done that for Utah State.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
