Bowl Season '08: TCU Spoils Boise State's Perfect Season in Poinsettia Bowl

The 12-0 Boise State Broncos came to San Diego with an eye on perfection. If they had studied history they would have known to exercise extreme caution. San Diego was where famed thoroughbred Cigar was felled after a 16-race win streak. He very nearly won the Pacific Classic at Del Mar but was passed not far from the finish line. Football teams aren't horses but they can suffer the same athletic tales of defeat.

And so it was for the previously unspoiled Broncos who held a lead for much of a tightly fought game before falling behind in the fourth quarter. At different points in the game TCU had outgained Boise nearly 3-to-1 and 2-to-1, but Boise also built a 13-0 lead before surrendering a touchdown just before halftime. TCU further carved into that, making it 13-10 in the third quarter before taking a 17-13 lead on the strength of a gamelong 278-yard ground assault marked by a ridiculous nine (!) third down conversions.

Boise State rallied to 17-16 after another field goal, but giving the ball to TCU with just over four minutes left was a bad choice as TCU chewed up over three minutes of clock to hold on. Coffee is for closers and after blowing a fourth quarter lead against Utah earlier in the year, TCU redeemed itself and got its coffee while Boise State wonders what 13-0 and several weeks of BCS complaining could have felt like.

This thing lived up to the hype, but not in a way most fans expected.

While many expected something of a shootout -- mind you between two very good defenses -- defense ruled the day. TCU did ring up over 450 yards, but did so slowly and methodically, and without much success putting points on the board. Boise State opened up on fire, then went into a shell when TCU scuttled their run game and put the entire Boise offense in the hands of capable, but young, redshirt freshman quarterback Kellen Moore.

Moore was solid, sometimes nearly spectacular in the face of constant pressure. However, when it counted with the game on the line late in the fourth quarter trailing by one point he almost immediately threw an interception to effectively end the game.

Of note, Ian Johnson did set a WAC career touchdown record with a 20-yard dash in the first quarter. That was about it for him the rest of the night, however, as TCU repeatedly stopped Johnson and his fellow backs at or behind the line of scrimmage. Boise State finished with just 20 rushing yards, freeing the TCU defense up to harass Moore all night.

As commentator Rece Davis said, neither team should hold their head in shame after this season and this game. It was entertaining and dramatic, a test of wills that went to the very last play. Both coaches, Chris Petersen and Gary Patterson, have shown once again why their names keep popping up for big openings around D-I football.

Latest College Football Photos

TCU quarterback Andy Dalton, right, breaks away from Boise State's Jeron Johnson, left, on a 24-yard run during the third quarter of the Poinsettia Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008, in San Diego. TCU won 17-16. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

TCU coach Gary Patterson, foreground, celebrates with the team after TCU beat Boise State 17-16 in the Poinsettia Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Boise State's Andrew Woodruff watches the final seconds tick off the scoreboard as he sits on the bench at the end of the Poinsettia Bowl NCAA college football game in San Diego on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008. TCU won 17-16. (AP Photo/Chris Park)

TCU tailback Aaron Brown (23) celebrates with the teammates and cheerleaders after TCU beat Boise State 17-16 in Poinsettia Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

TCU's Joseph Turner, left, dives into the end zone on a 17-yard touchdown run while Boise State's Derell Acrey, right, defends during the second half of the Poinsettia Bowl NCAA college football game in San Diego on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008. TCU won 17-16. (AP Photo/Chris Park)

SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 23: Players from the TCU Horned Frogs prepare to enter the stadium against the Boise State Broncos during the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium on December 23, 2008 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

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SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 23: Linebacker Bryon Hout #94 of the Boise State Broncos is congratulated by teammates after his interception against the TCU Horned Frogs during the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium on December 23, 2008 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Bryon Hout

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SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 23: Quarterback Kellen Moore #11 of the Boise State University Broncos throws against the TCU Horned Frogs during the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium on December 23, 2008 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kellen Moore

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SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 23: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of TCU throws the ball against Boise State during the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium on December 23, 2008 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Andy Dalton

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SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 23: A fan of the Boise State Broncos dressed like the Statue of Liberty cheers from the stands against the TCU Horned Frogs during the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium on December 23, 2008 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

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