Alexander Comes in Handy for Broncos

When San Jose State lined up for a 30-yard field-goal attempt that could have ended Boise State’s winning streak, Gerald Alexander figured the Broncos had used up all their lucky breaks.

He would have to do something extraordinary -- and the cornerback’s block was the biggest of several plays that kept Boise State unbeaten.

Jon Helmandollar scored his third touchdown in the second overtime, and the 14th-ranked Broncos extended the nation’s longest Division I winning streak to 20 games with a wild 56-49 victory Saturday.

Jared Zabransky passed for 200 yards and scored one of eight rushing touchdowns by the Broncos (9-0 and 6-0 in the Western Athletic Conference), whose bowl championship series dreams got a reality check when they were mostly outplayed by one of the WAC’s worst teams.

The Spartans (2-7, 1-5) might well have won it with that final boot from their solid kicker, Jeff Carr, with 1:07 left in regulation.

But Alexander still believed.

“I have great confidence that I can get up and get a ball in a situation like that,” he said.

Boise State’s defensive line, after being dominated for much of the afternoon, got a strong push up front, and Alexander got his hand on the ball.

“I totally had faith our guys would figure it out,” said Coach Dan Hawkins, whose team committed 14 penalties for 118 yards. “I thought they would come up with a play.”

San Jose State’s Lance Martin scored from the one with 4:42 left in regulation to make the score 42-42, and the Spartans rallied for another lengthy drive. But they couldn’t believe Carr’s kick was blocked.

“I just knew we had it,” Martin said. “Carr, he’s money. You knew it was going to be time to tear down the goalposts. When it got blocked, I was just shattered.”