ATLANTA -- To hear the Boise State Broncos talk afterward, you'd think this was no big deal.
Ho-hum, they beat a Southeastern Conference power.
Except, the Broncos have never done this before.
The program that keeps breaking new ground handled No. 19 Georgia, 35-21, on Saturday night at the jam-packed, red-filled Georgia Dome -- punching another hole in the skeptics' argument against the Broncos being a national power.
"They've got a bunch of well-coached, great athletes who just played a great game," Georgia sophomore quarterback Aaron Murray said.
The No. 5 Broncos dominated the showdown from the middle of the second quarter to the second-to-last play, when defensive end Jarrell Root buried Murray on his own 3-yard line with a few ticks left.
The Broncos were 0-4 against the SEC previously, including an embarrassing 48-13 loss to the Bulldogs in 2005 in Athens.
"It means a lot to us," said coach Chris Petersen, who is 7-1 against BCS-conference teams and 62-5 overall in six seasons. "We have tremendous respect for the conference and Georgia. Last time we were down here it wasn't even a game. It's something these kids will be very proud of."
And yet, Petersen quickly reminded his players that they don't have time to thoroughly celebrate this success.
Players already are talking about their Sept. 16 game at Toledo.
"It means that we got a W, but we've got to focus on Toledo next week, so we're going to throw this behind us," senior tailback Doug Martin said. "We'll celebrate for a little bit, but come Monday it's back to practice."
The Broncos seized control of the game late in the first quarter when they went to their no-huddle offense. Senior quarterback Kellen Moore, protected by a youthful offensive line, started discovering gaping holes in the Bulldogs' zone defense.
He hit redshirt freshman wide receiver Matt Miller for a 17-yard touchdown in the first quarter and senior tight end Kyle Efaw for a 12-yard score with 48 seconds left in the first half to take a 14-7 lead.
The Broncos made it 21-7 on the opening drive of the second half as Moore hit all seven of his passes for 69 yards, using five different wide receivers.
The Broncos snapped the ball so fast at times that the Bulldogs weren't even getting set and at least once called a timeout to catch up.
"We were a little more in shape than they were, so our hurry-up offense really had an effect," said Martin, who rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown.
The change of pace also seemed to spark the offensive execution, which had been spotty early in the game.
Moore finished 28-of-34 for 261 yards and three touchdowns with one interception and no sacks.
"It's hard to come out of the gate in a real good rhythm," Petersen said. "Practice is so darned different. He's got some new receivers he's working with. We knew it'd be a while. I'm just glad we got it going in the second quarter."
Moore completed passes to nine different wide receivers in the game. Efaw made six catches for 53 yards and a touchdown and Miller and junior wide receiver Mitch Burroughs added five catches each. Moore completed two passes for 21 yards to his younger brother, Kirby.
Moore's third TD, a 3-yarder to senior wide receiver Tyler Shoemaker, gave the Broncos a 28-7 lead late in the third quarter. The Broncos' run game did the rest -- tailback D.J. Harper led a scoring drive that made it 35-14 in the fourth and Martin milked the clock on the next drive.
Meanwhile, the renowned defensive line dominated. The group contributed 5.5 of the team's six sacks and gave the Bulldogs' tailbacks fits. Senior defensive end Shea McClellin stuffed a fourth-and-1 play and recorded 2.5 sacks.
Senior cornerback Jerrell Gavins added an interception and junior punt returner Chris Potter provided a 49-yard punt return -- both of which set up touchdowns.
Some Georgia fans in the crowd of 73,614 began leaving in the third quarter. They grumbled as Moore dissected the defense.
"They protected (Moore) well," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "We didn't get enough pressure on him. But when you run and pass well, it's hard to get that rush."
The Broncos collected The Old Leather Helmet Trophy for their victory -- fitting for a team that prides itself on an old-school, blue-collar attitude.
A couple players even donned the helmet.
That was as close to giddy as they got.
The players say their preparation -- in practice and in offseason workouts -- led to confidence.
"It just shows what type of football program we are," Burroughs said. "Not a lot of talk. We're going to work hard and then we're going to come in and play our type of game.
"It doesn't stop here."
