RUSTON, La., Nov. 3 (UPI) -- In a game featuring 12 touchdowns, 90 points and 1,022 total yards, Louisiana Tech used a big play on defense Saturday to down Boise State, 48-42.
Defensive end Brandon Avance's interception with 22 seconds left stopped a potential go-ahead drive and preserve Louisiana Tech's Western Athletic Conference victory.
The wild win gave Bulldogs (5-3, 5-1 WAC) control of the league and the inside track to the automatic berth in the Silicon Valley Bowl on New Year's Eve. Rice also has just one WAC loss, but that was to Louisiana Tech.
Luke McCown, who completed 30 of 46 passes for 464 yards, found Allen Stark with a 56-yard touchdown pass -- his fourth of the game -- in the final minute of the third quarter, giving Tech a 45-28 lead.
But the Broncos (5-4, 4-2), who toppled unbeaten Fresno State last month, stormed back. David Mikell ran eight yards for a score and Wes Nurse went 27 yards with a blocked punt, making it 45-42 with just under five minutes to go.
Boise State held Tech to a 31-yard field goal by Josh Scobee on the next possession and got back the ball with 3:01 remaining. Ryan Dinwiddie drove the Broncos to a first down at the Tech 25, but Avance came up with the big play at the line of scrimmage.
McCown also ran for a score, but did most of his damage with his arm. He found John Simon nine times for 59 yards and a score and D.J. Curry eight times for 184 yards and two touchdowns.
Dinwiddie was 30 of 49 for 351 yards and three touchdowns, but also was picked off twice. Brock Forsey had 10 catches for 98 yards and a touchdown and Jeb Putzier had seven for 112 and a score.
Louisiana Tech outgained Boise State, 516 yards to 506.
