Game balls for Boise State versus Nevada

Bronco Nation got its vicarious revenge Saturday with Boise State's 58-10 win disguised as a 30-10 win over the Nevada Wolf Pack. There were many players, plays, and performances that deserve recognition (though surprisingly few left-handed ones), and I'll do my best to honor each of them with a gameball after the jump. Let me know which ones I forgot. 

Let these Mtn.tv studio guys yell some highlights at you.

Reader's choice award for player of the game

Doug Martin

Martin had his first 100-yard game of the year, his new longest run of the year, and his new longest run of the year that didn't count. He was the best offensive player on the field on Saturday, which is never an easy accomplishment when you share a field with Kellen Moore.

Bronco fans were treated to some classic Martinizing, and it just goes to show how good he can be when he has a little bit of daylight and space. His natural instincts and athleticism just take over, and before you know it, he's 30 yards downfield in an end zone. More please!

Unit of the game

Boise State defense

Amazingly, 12 different Boise State players recorded tackles for loss in the Nevada game, and the Wolf Pack offense couldn't get out of its own way fast enough to avoid the impending onslaught of the Boise State defense. It's a little like those scary movies when the kids are trying to run away from the chainsaw guy or hockey mask guy or sharktopus but they end up tripping over their own feet in their haste to avoid the inevitable. Boise State's defense was the sharktopus. Nevada was the token single guy.

Players of the game, Nevada version

LBs Brandon Marshall and James-Michael Johnson

Just thank goodness it wasn't Rishard Matthews again.

Marshall finished with 14 tackles and Johnson had 11, and while some of that was due to their being on the field all the time, the two Nevada linebackers really were making plays all over the field. I don't have my WAC defensive depth charts memorized anymore (thank goodness, more brain space for xx), but I'm pretty sure these are two of the best linebackers in the conference.

Worst drop of the game

(tie) Jamar Taylor and Mitch Burroughs

Taylor dropped a would-be pick-six that hit him square in the hands. Burroughs dropped a sure-thing touchdown bomb that would have made Kellen Moore's day look significantly better. So let's just pretend it was a 44-10 win and no harm done.

Most uncomfortable halftime interview

Versus sideline reporter Anthony Herron and Coach Pete

Versus sideline man Anthony Herron grabbed Coach Pete as he was leaving the field to ask far-too-happy questions about the Boise State offense. Coach Pete answered something along the lines of: "No, the offense isn't playing well at all." Subtext: You're an idiot. This was followed by awkward silence and then I left the room because I couldn't take it any more.

Note to future sideline reporters: Begin all future halftime interviews with the question, "You can't be happy with anything, am I right or am I right?"

Season achievement game ball

Boise State special teams

I'm not sure the Bronco special teams have received enough credit so far this year. And I'm not sure a game ball will fix that. Nevertheless, special teams has played a huge role in Boise State's 4-0 start. On Saturday, Nevada had 14 drives - one started outside its own 30 and 11 began from the 20 or worse. That is not a recipe for Tyler Lantrip success (that recipe: Not wearing gloves on both hands). Credit goes to Brad Elkin for punting like a champion and the Boise State kickoff team for covering like they mean it.

Best performance in a supporting, relief role

Quaylon Ewing-Burton

Q-Burt got the start opposite Jamar Taylor at corner after Jerrell Gavins was ruled out with a knee injury. And all QEB did was lead the team in tackles and not give up any huge plays in the passing game. To be fair, I'm not sure Nevada was capable of big plays in the passing game (at least not outside the final two minutes of the game), but for Ewing-Burton to step in and play so well makes the corner spot a little less depressing from here on out.

Best catch by a person who has no business making catches like that

D.J. Harper

His touchdown grab over a defender was Austin Pettis-like.

Runner-up: J.C. Percy. I'm not sure I had even seen his hands until Saturday.

Gameball for best under-bus throwing 

Chris Ault

Did you notice that freshman sensation Cody Fajardo did not play quarterback for the Wolf Pack on Saturday? Chris Ault may have noticed.

I really felt like Cody could have possibly played this week, and yet there wasn't much of an effort from his side of it.

Burn!

And what was Ault's assessment of the universally panned performance by senior starter Tyler Lantrip?

Tyler is Tyler - he was OK.

Now there's a man you want to play for.

Technical awards

• Best broadcast, non-ESPN category: Versus. I enjoyed the fun camera angles and semi-professional production so much that I'm actually looking forward to BSU's remaining games on Versus (Air Force and TCU). Now if Sean King could just get off Kellen Moore's back ...
• Seriously, what was up with Tyler Lantrip's gloves award: Tyler Lantrip. It looked like Kurt Warner was giving him fashion advice.
• Most WAC-like officials: The Mountain West crew. Seriously, were they working with a quota?
• Kicker of the year: Dan Goodale. I may be exaggerating a little bit, but it sure was nice to see a field goal go through the uprights.
• Cover corner of the game: Jamar Taylor. I'm not sure Tyler Lantrip had the wherewithal to get the ball to Rishard Matthews, but Taylor made sure that wasn't even an option, covering Matthews like a wet blanket all afternoon. Matthews' first catch didn't come until the second half.

Your turn

What plays, players, and performances do you think deserve game balls? What was your favorite defensive play? What was your favorite score? Share your thoughts in the comments.