Disappointed in the way he played a week ago, Boise State running back Jay Ajayi said he was determined to do more to help the Broncos win this week.
BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Disappointed in the way he played a week ago, Boise State running back Jay Ajayi said he was determined to do more to help the Broncos win this week.
He didn't disappoint.
Ajayi provided the spark Boise State needed with 150 yards rushing and three touchdowns to lead the Broncos to a 34-9 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette Saturday night.
"Every week I want to make sure I can go out and do what I can to help our team win," Ajayi said. "Last week, I felt like I didn't do as much as I could have. So, I just approached this game with the mindset that I'm going to make sure I do all I can."
Ajayi finished with 187 total yards, including 37 yards receiving on five catches.
"I like to believe that when I'm doing good, our offense is going to go well," Ajayi said. "When you see us clicking with everything - the run game is going well and the passing game is going well - we've got an explosive offense."
The Broncos (3-1) have won three straight since losing its opener while Louisiana-Lafayette (1-3) has dropped its last three.
Boise State quarterback Grant Hedrick was 24-of-31 passing for 237 yards. Matt Miller led the Broncos' receiving corps with five catches for 107 yards.
Louisiana-Lafayette entered the game averaging more than 200 rushing yards per game. However, the Ragin' Cajuns mustered just 67 yards on 23 carries, the lowest total since Arkansas State held them to 66 yards on Nov. 12, 2011.
"We take pride in stopping the run," Boise State linebacker Blake Renaud said. "We knew they had a good offensive line and good backs and we really wanted to show them we could stop them."
The Broncos frustrated Louisiana-Lafayette's passing attack as well.
Terrance Broadway, who finished with 20-of-38 passing for 160 yards with one interception, remained under duress most of the game from Boise State's pass rush.
Boise State had little problems against Louisiana-Lafayette's defense. The Broncos took their opening drive 70 yards, 45 of which was gained on the ground by Ajayi, including a 2-yard touchdown run to take a 7-0 lead.
After holding the Ragin' Cajuns without a first down, the Broncos marched 64 yards in four plays on its ensuing possession, capped by another 2-yard touchdown run by Ajayi. Dan Goodale's extra point pushed Boise State's lead to 14-0 with 6:21 remaining in the first quarter.
The Ragin' Cajuns responded with their best drive of the first half, a 12-play, 70-yard drive that included two fourth downs on which Louisiana-Lafayette attempted to kick.
On the first fourth down, Boise State roughed punter Daniel Cadona, giving the Ragin' Cajuns a first down. Six plays later on fourth down from the Boise State 21, Stover Hunter lined up to attempt a 38-yard field goal. However, the snap sailed over his head, but he scrambled to pick it up and completed a 14-yard pass for a first down to tight end Evan Tatford.
The drive finally ended when it stalled at the 5 and Stover booted a 22-yard field goal to cut Boise State's lead to 14-3 with 2:01 left in the opening quarter.
Ajayi tacked on a 16-yard scoring run to give Boise State a 21-3 halftime lead.