The Boise State Broncos rudely welcomed interstate rival BYU by demolishing the visiting Cougars 55-30 on Friday night.

The Broncos used a battery of big plays to score early and often on BYU, who has now lost four games in a row since starting the season 4-0 with thoughts of an at-large bid into the inaugural NCAA college football playoffs.

Boise State, which often battles BYU in the recruitment of Idaho athletes, scored the first ten points of the game and exploded for 31 second quarter points to make the rivalry contest look more like an intramural flag football matchup.

Grant Hedrick, who not long ago was fighting to keep his starting job, threw for 410 yards on 24 completions and hit on scoring passes of 78, 49, 19, and 8 yards. All told the Broncos offense had over 20 plays of 10 yards or more against the once vaunted BYU defense.

The BSU ground game was just as effective with 227 yards. Jay Ajayi led the way with 118 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Over the last four contests, BYU has obviously missed the services of Heisman Trophy candidate Taysom Hill, an Idaho native, who broke his leg four weeks ago in the Cougars’ loss to Utah State.

Backup quarterback Christian Stewart has been less that Hill-like in the four straight losses. On this night, the senior from Orem, Utah threw for 259 yards but had only one touchdown toss. He did scramble for a six-point run late in the game, but it proved to be meaningless. It was, however, the lone bright spot for the Cougars’ running game that was held to just 63 yards.

For the Broncos, wideout Thomas Sperbeck has helped fill the void left by the injured Matt Miller, one of the best receivers in BSU history who is now out for the season with a leg injury. Sperbeck grabbed six balls, including the aforementioned 78 yard touchdown reception which both livened the Boise State crowd and gave the home team a 20-0 lead early in the second quarter.

The Broncos tallied 637 total yards and put up 41 first half points.

Boise State now moves to 6-2 overall after an early loss to Mississippi on the road and a lackluster, seven turnover performance against Air Force. The Broncos appear to be catching stride under first-year head coach Bryan Harsin and hold out hope for an at-large bid to a New Year’s Day bowl game. The Broncos have a week off before traveling to New Mexico to face the Lobos on November 8.

BYU, on the other hand, will try to regroup as the Cougars travel South to take on Middle Tennessee State next Saturday.