LANDOVER, Md. -- Kellen Moore and Boise State look as if they are going to be in this national championship chase for a while.
Moore hit Austin Pettis with a 13-yard touchdown pass with 1:09 left and No. 3 Boise State passed what might be its toughest test of the season, beating No. 10 Virginia Tech 33-30 on Monday night.
The Broncos (1-0) came to FedEx Field with their best preseason ranking ever and ran out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter, then had to rally themselves to extend their winning streak to 15 games.
Tyrod Taylor passed for 186 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 73 yards for the Hokies (0-1), who for the fourth straight season took a deflating early season loss.
As for the Broncos, even with 11 games left in the season, the debate will start about whether they should become the first team from a conference without an automatic BCS bid to play for a national championship if they go undefeated.
"Game 1, and that's what it is," said Chris Petersen, who improved to 50-4 as coach of Boise State. "We're just pleased to get out of here with a 'W.'"
Moore, the undersized Heisman Trophy contender, threw for 215 yards and three touchdowns. He led a five-play, 56-yard touchdown drive in the final two minutes — aided by a Virginia Tech personal foul penalty. After hitting Pettis on a quick slant for the winner, Moore sprinted to midfield with his hands raised high, waiting for a teammate to come and celebrate with him.
The winningest team of the past decade in major college football, Boise State yet again was forced to prove it was worthy of all the accolades — this time far from home on a field that was anything but neutral, packed with Hokies fans.
When it was over, they were taking a victory lap, exchanging high-fives with their fans who made the long trip.
