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BOISE, Idaho (Ticker) -- BYU kicker Matt Payne spent most of Friday's game causing No. 21 Boise State pain. After missing the game's biggest kick, it was Payne and the Cougars who were feeling it.
Payne pushed a 38-yard field goal wide left with 19 seconds remaining, allowing the Broncos to escape with a 28-27 victory over the Cougars.
Payne connected on his first two field-goal attempts of the contest, 32- and 42-yard kicks in the second quarter, and made a pair of crushing hits on Boise State punt returner Chris Carr.
Down 16-0 in the first quarter, BYU (1-2) rallied to take a 27-22 lead before Boise State (4-0) went back on top on a 44-yard touchdown pass from Jared Zabransky to T.J. Acree with 3:42 remaining.
"It's great that our guys perservered and made the plays they had to make," Boise State coach Dan Hawkins said. "I never for a moment doubted that we would win the game."
The Cougars, aided by a pass interference penalty, moved deep into Boise State territory and set up Payne with a chance to be the hero.
With the win, the Broncos extended the nation's longest winning streak to 15 games and their home winning streak to 21. They are 35-1 in their last 36 games on the blue turf of Bronco Stadium.
Zabransky completed 20-of-28 passes for 299 yards and a pair of TD passes for Boise State. Acree was his favorite target, hauling in seven passes for 132 yards and two scores.
BYU's John Beck was sacked eight times but managed to have a big day anyway. He completed 20-of-35 attempts for 390 yards and a pair of scoring strikes. Todd Watkins led all receivers with nine catches for 212 yards and a TD.
"Some of those sacks and big plays come off of pressure," Hawkins said. "You've got to live and die with that a little bit."
BYU had a chance to put Boise State in a serious hole early in the fourth quarter. Already holding a 27-22 lead, Beck found Watkins beyond the Broncos' defenders down the left sideline, but the receiver lost his balance and fell over at the Boise State 42 instead of running for a touchdown. The Cougars' drive soon ended with a punt.
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