FORT COLLINS – Grant Hedrick is a capable replacement for quarterback Joe Southwick; the redshirt junior verified that Saturday night for Boise State.
Hedrick took control of the offense when Southwick was injured on the first play of the game against Nevada on Oct. 19. He made his first start in a loss at BYU.
“Grant has been around us quite awhile and studied like he’s been the starter for four years,” Boise State head coach Chris Petersen said. “He’s done a great job. He’s just hasn’t gotten a lot of opportunities.”
Hedrick scorched the Colorado State secondary for five passing touchdowns and 305 yards leading Boise State to a 42-30 victory Saturday night.
Making his second start, Hedrick completed 19-of-27 passes and contributed a 2-yard rushing touchdown for Boise State (6-3, 4-1 Mountain West). Jay Ajayi had 91 yards on 13 carries and surpassed 1,000 yards rushing on the season.
“Each game Grant seems to be getting a little bit better,” Petersen said. “It looks to me like he’s probably seeing things better in the passing game and in the running game, too.”
Hedrick ran for 30 yards and frustrated the Colorado State pass rush with his speed.
The Broncos trailed 10-0 early in the game but scored the final 14 points of the first half and took a 28-17 lead into intermission.
Kapri Bibbs ran for 69 yards and three touchdowns for Colorado State (4-5, 2-2 Mountain West). Garrett Grayson was 36-of-53 passing for 397 yards and a touchdown.
“This one really hurt,” Rams wide receiver Charles Lovett said. “We had lost big to them, but this one was close.”
The Broncos weren’t frustrated by the first quarter deficit. Hedrick threw two of his five touchdown passes in the last 5 minutes, 5 seconds of the first half to take a 28-17 lead.
Jason Roberts kicked a 29-yard field goal, and the Rams turned a fumble by Hedrick into a 3-yard touchdown run by Bibbs to lead 10-0.
Hedrick completed all three passes and scored on a 2-yard run on its next drive. Then, Boise State stopped the Rams on a fourth-and-inches at the Broncos’ 13. Two series later, Hedrick found Geraldo Boldrwijn alone in the end zone on a 20-yard touchdown pass to put Boise State up 14-10.
Colorado State took its final lead of the game, 17-14, on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Grayson to Lovett with 6:20 left in the half.
Shane Williams-Rhodes tiptoed the sideline on a 68-yard scoring pass play and after Grayson fumbled the ball away on a scramble. Hedrick beat blown coverage for a 15-yard touchdown pass to Matt Miller with 1:13 left before halftime.
The Broncos scored again on the opening drive of the second half. Hedrick found Miller in the corner of the end zone from 15 yards out and appeared to seal the game with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Burks three minutes into the fourth quarter.
Bibbs scored twice and got the ball back when the Rams recovered the onside kick with 4:47 left. But Grayson threw the ball right to Broncos cornerback Donte Deayon.
