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The Maaco Las Vegas Bowl win brought the Broncos' 2012 season to an end, and tomorrow the entire year will be in our rearview—so, here's our 2012 season in a nutshell. Nothing else happened outside of football, right?
August 26, 2012
Joe Southwick is named the Broncos' starting quarterback, causing Nick Patti fanboys ("the Patti Wagon") to angrily tear down their Patti posters in protest. Say that last bit five times fast.
August 31, 2012
Despite creating 4 turnovers—including 3 interceptions (one, a pick-six)—the Broncos fall to Michigan State 17-14 at Spartan Stadium. The Broncos led for much of the game, only relinquishing in the 4th quarter, but Le'Veon Bell's 210 rushing yards and the Broncos failure to score an offensive TD were their undoing. No offensive TDs, you say? Pfft...that wouldn't happen again in a million years!
September 15, 2012
The Broncos held the Miami Redhawks to just 227 yards of total offense and put up 599 of their own, and it only took DJ Harper 16 carries to gain 162 yards and score 3 TDs. Harper's 10.1 YPC on the day ensured that the 8 yards on 15 carries he'd tallied two weeks before wouldn't drastically affect his averages.
September 20, 2012
A dazzling defensive display by the Broncos is overshadowed by an abysmal offensive showing, but Boise State is able to hang on for a 7-6 win over BYU. The Broncos forced 5 turnovers in the contest, including the most magical fat guy touchdown of the year, and held the Cougars to just 200 total yards of offense. Sadly, the thing that sticks out most in my mind from the sloppy win was the Broncos being stuffed 4 straight times at the 1-yard line. Fans start to wonder about this Joe Southwick fellow.
September 29, 2012
The Broncos lead by 25 at the half, but hold on for a 3-point win over the sad Lobos of New Mexico. Jay Ajayi entered the game in the 2nd quarter for the first real action of his career and did not disappoint—rushing for 118 yards and a TD on just 6 CARRIES. The Broncos improved to 3-1 with the win...but a more depressing 3-1 would be tough to conjure.
October 6, 2012
Finally, a complete game! The Broncos made short work of Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, rolling to a 40-14 win over the surprisingly craptastic Golden Eagles. The Broncos again forced five turnovers in the win, and Southwick's 3 TD performance made people want to heckle him slightly less at the supermarket.
October 13, 2012
The fanbase finally starts to feel better about the rocky start after the Broncos manhandle a good Fresno State squad on The Blue™. Boise State struggled to put points on the board offensively, but held the Bulldogs without a TD until garbage time—ensuring that a Carr will never defeat the Broncos, unless they have a talented 2nd cousin or something.
October 20, 2012
The Broncos don black uniforms and the fans followed suit, as Boise State stomps UNLV at Bronco Stadium 32-7. The defense again starred for the Broncos, holding the Rebels to just 71 passing yards and 210 yards total. The defensive shutout was ruined by a Grant Hedrick fumble, that was summarily housed by UNLV corner Kenneth Penny.
October 27, 2012
The Broncos beat Wyoming like a drum in Laramie adding insult to the injury of having their head coach suspended due to this hilarious meltdown (careful, language!) two weeks prior. Wyoming became the first team in 6 games to score a first half TD on the Broncos, but it did little to stop the Broncos from picking up their 48th straight win in the month of October.
November 3, 2012
I don't know. I'm still not sure how the Broncos dropped a 21-19 home contest to the Aztecs of San Diego State, but that's exactly what happened this night in early November. The Broncos special teams allowed a touchdown on the opening kickoff return and then allowed a punt to be blocked deep in our own territory in the 3rd quarter, to make the Aztecs upset bid a bit easier. A Bronco failed two-point conversion earlier in the contest gave the special teams a hat trick of failure on the night. To further the Broncos' turmoil, Mike Atkinson is lost for the year with a torn ACL. At this point in the season, the Broncos knew they'd need to win out to gain a share of the title.
November 10, 2012
The Bronco special teams continue their struggle, allowing a kick return TD for the second straight week, but this time the other units did their part, as Boise State defeated Hawaii 49-14 on the island. The Broncos held the Warriors to -14 rushing yards in the contest, and again forced five turnovers with stellar defensive play. Darren Koontz has a breakout game subbing for the injured Atkinson and Sam Ukwuachu also makes his presence known in the win. Joe Southwick's mustache is born.
November 17, 2012
Boise State celebrated senior day with a dominating win over Colorado State, winning easily 42-14. The game featured a little senior day magic for DJ Harper, as he took the opening offensive play 80 yards for a score, and finished with 107 yards and 2 TDs on just 10 carries in the win.
December 1, 2012
The Broncos road to a league title once again runs through Reno, meaning Hepatitis shots for the team and traveling fanbase. The Broncos roll to a 17-0 halftime lead, and then remember they're playing Nevada, so make sure to give us all heart palpitations before clinching the 27-21 win. Matt Miller has 127 yards on 7 catches and Jeremy Ioane makes the most amazing non-interception I've ever seen (the play was called back due to penalty).
December 5, 2012 - Noon
Chris Petersen is announced as head coach at Arkansas at a glitzy press conference in Fayetteville.
December 5, 2012 - 12:15 pm
Chris Petersen buys a Baja style chicken burrito at the Baja Fresh on Broadway in Boise.
December 22, 2012
The Broncos defeat the University of Washington 28-26 by hitting a clutch field goal near the end of regulation at the Maaco Las Vegas Bowl. Jeremy Ioane seals the victory by intercepting a Keith Price pass. Michael Frisina is carried off the field (in a medium-sized duffle bag). The Broncos win their 11th game of the season and all is right with the world.
Your turn
What was your favorite 2012 Bronco moment? If you say "Joe Southwick's" mustache, you are so banned.