(Ian's game-winner. Photo by Max Simbron, US Presswire)

2007 got off to a bang as the Boise State Broncos upset the Oklahoma Sooners, 43-42, at the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. OU was favored by over a touchdown against the WAC champions, yet they struggled just to keep the game competitive. When they finally did take the lead, Boise State retaliated with several remarkable, unforgettable plays.

Even though they were undefeated, the Broncos' regular season success was downplayed because they played in the unheard-of Western Atlantic Conference, whereas the Sooners played in the highly-touted Big 12. Boise State made everyone believers quickly when they jumped out to 14-0 start, thanks in part to two big Oklahoma turnovers. By halftime, Boise State was up 21-10.

With eleven minutes left in the third, Oklahoma quarterback Paul Thompson was looking at third-and-10. He evaded Boise State defenders and launched the ball down the middle of the field, where it was easily picked off by Gerald Alexander. Boise State bailed out Oklahoma with a three-and-out, except Thompson was no better on his next possession. He had a first down pass deflected and was once again intercepted, this time for a touchdown. With 8:05 left in the quarter, Boise State led 28-10.

The Sooners punted on their next set too and were well on their way to losing in a blowout. They then got a huge break as Marty Tadman, who had intercepted Thompson just minutes before, failed to catch the punt and neglected to tell his teammates to back away. The ball hit the leg of a Boise State player and Oklahoma recovered it. Two plays later, Adrian Peterson ran eight yards to the end zone to cut the deficit to 11.

After producing a field goal, Oklahoma trailed 28-20 with 2:40 left in the fourth. Thompson was excellent on the drive and went 5-5 for 68 yards, capping it with a tipped completion to Quentin Cheney that went as a touchdown. It was now 28-26. The Sooners went for the two-point conversion and were initially held up, first by a pass interference call and then by an illegal shift of the offense. With the ball on the seven, Thompson found Juaqin Iglesias in the center of the end zone to knot it at 28.

The Broncos and quarterback Jared Zabransky took over. Zabransky had had a big first half but had thrown for just 22 yards in the second stanza. Unable to stop the momentum, his first pass of the drive drifted behind the intended receiver and was intercepted by Oklahoma's Marcus Walker, who tight-roped the sideline for 33 yards and the TD. The Sooners' 35-28 advantage was their first lead of the game and came with just 1:02 left in regulation.

"It would have been easy to give up on us with a minute left, but we had a lot of magic left," Zabransky told the Associated Press after the game. "A minute with two interceptions is a lot of time. ... After I threw that interception, I had probably 10 guys come up to me and say, 'There's a minute left, you can do it.' And you know, we did it."

Following Walker's touchdown, Zabransky regained the ball and drove into Sooner territory before a costly sack put the team in an impossible situation. With 18 seconds remaining, Boise State was looking at fourth-and-18 from the middle of the field. In an incredibly gutsy call, Zabransky threw it to receiver Drisan James, who caught it two yards short of the first. Still on his feet, James lateraled to teammate Jerard Rabb, who found the sideline and streaked 35 yards for the stunning game-tying touchdown.

The ensuing punt took up the remaining seven seconds and the game headed to overtime.

Adrian Peterson opened the extra session with a 25-yard touchdown run on the very first play from scrimmage. It was the final play in the collegiate career of Peterson, who would go on to have noted success in the NFL. Boise State took over, down seven, and once again held their life by a thread. Near the goal line on fourth-and-2, wide receiver Vinny Perretta took the snap in place of Zabransky, moved towards the right and found tight end Derek Schouman for the touchdown. The Broncos trailed, 42-41.

Rather than kick the extra point and send it to double overtime, Boise State coach Chris Petersen decided to go for the win. On a two-point conversion, Zabransky ran a Statue of Liberty play -- faking a pass to the outside while dishing it to running back Ian Johnson, who coasted in for the winning score. Boise State had won, 43-42, in one of the most thrilling editions of the Fiesta Bowl in history.

"It could be argued as the best game ever," Zabransky said.

After the game, Ian Johnson -- who led the nation with 24 touchdowns -- proposed to his cheerleader girlfriend, Chrissy Popadics, who promptly accepted. "I had the ring in my room," said Johnson, who would appear with Popadics on Good Morning America the next day. "I was just waiting for us to go back to California, but the moment just hit. There was no better time."

Afterward, players on both sidelines rallied to the defense of the 13-0 Broncos, who in spite of their perfect record became yet another team to finish undefeated and not get a shot at the national title. "They should be up for a national championship," said Oklahoma linebacker Zach Latimer. "At least a chance. That's all you can ask for is a chance. You never know what can happen."