Boise State storms back to beat New Mexico 60-49

Boise State storms back to beat New Mexico 60-49

Published Nov. 8, 2014 11:09 p.m. ET

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) Grant Hedrick threw for four touchdowns and rushed for two more Saturday to help Boise State overcome two first-half, 14-point deficits in a wild 60-49 victory over New Mexico.

Chaz Anderson's 36-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown reception gave Boise State its first lead at 52-49.

''It was great to get Chaz in the end zone,'' Hedrick said. ''He's made some big plays for us downfield so it was fun to have him actually score a touchdown. '' Hedrick finished with 367 yards passing and another 131 on the ground.

Jay Ajayi added 177 yards rushing and two touchdowns for the Broncos (7-2, 4-1 Mountain West), plus one reception for a 75-yard touchdown.

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Thomas Sperbeck had nine catches for 164 yards.

New Mexico got 205 yards and three touchdowns from halfback Teriyon Gipson and 154 yards and two touchdowns from running back Jhurrell Pressley, who didn't play the second half because of an ankle injury.

The teams combined for 1,301 yards of total offense, with New Mexico compiling 505 yards on the ground.

The teams opened the game by trading 75-yard scoring plays on their respective first plays from scrimmage with Pressley going up the middle for the Lobos (3-6, 1-4), followed by Ajayi's going the distance on a swing pass.

It was something Boise State actually talked about before the game, Ajayi said.

Offensive coordinator Mike Sanford ''told me, `Hey, don't be afraid to score on the first play,'' he said. ''It just happened to open up so great like it did and I just tried to take it all the way to house and I did.''

New Mexico held a 42-28 lead at halftime, but the Broncos held the Lobos to one touchdown in the second half.

''The biggest thing in the second half, we made some adjustments,'' Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said. ''I don't know how much it was about schemes, it was more of an attitude.''

Despite his big offensive numbers, Hedrick said it was the Broncos' defensive effort that was the difference.

''It was good that we kept executing and putting points on the board,'' he said. ''I knew that our defense would get a stop in the second half. I knew they would figure it out. They made some huge stops for us and we just kept executing and scoring, which is what we needed to do.''

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