Burn improve to 7-2, defeat Amarillo 51-40

On a night in which the offense couldn?t find their groove the Boise Burn defense and special teams picked up the slack in the Burn?s 51-40 victory over the Amarillo Dusters in front of 3,781 fans at Qwest Arena. The Defense set the tone on the Dusters first drive of the night. With Amarillo deep in Boise territory, Terrance Sanders (Aaron?s Defensive Player of the Game and JLS Ironman of the game) picked off Matt Basseuner setting up Boise?s offensive score of the game. Taylor Tharp (Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game) found Jomo Wilson for a 3 yard score and the early 7-0 lead. The Dusters answered 3 minutes later. Basseuner hit Brent Craft in the back of the end zone for a 16 yard score tying the game up at 7. On the ensuing drive, Nichiren Flowers recorded his 19th receiving TD of the year, from 17 yards out giving Boise the 14-7 lead after one. Following an Xavier Hair 27 yard TD tying the game at 14, Terrance Sanders stole the show returning the ensuing kick off 54 yards for the score putting Boise back on top 21-14. Amarillo, who had 57 yards on the ground, cut the lead to 1 on Carlos Downey?s 5 yard TD run. Up 21-20, Jerard Rabb (Big Game catch of the Game) snared a Tharp pass off the wall, hauling it in for the score and the 28-20 lead. Up 28-26, Sanders got back in the scoring column returning the second half opening kick off 56 yards for the score and the 8 point lead 34-26. Amarillo would look to answer on their next possession, but Nygel Rogers picked off Basseuner and took it 53 yards the other way for the score and the 15 point lead 41-26. Matt Basseuner, kept the game close with his legs scoring from 3 yards out making it a one possession game at 41-33. The teams would then exchange 3 yard TD runs, Damian Walker for Boise and Bassuener for Amarillo. Ben Scott would tack on the games final points with a 24 yard field goal as the Burn improve to a franchise best 7-2 on the season. With the loss, Amarillo is now 1-8 on the year. Boise (7-2) returns home a week from tonight to host the Central Valley Coyotes at Qwest Arena. Kick off is at 7:00pm (MT) Game Notes: The Boise Burn defensive front recorded a season high 4 sacks in the win. David Stanton led the way with 2. Mark Weivoda and Alex Guerrero tallied the other sacks. Maurice Banks finished with a team high and career high 9 tackles. Terrance Sanders had a 3rd kickoff return for TD called back on and illegal block call. LEADERS: PASSING: THARP, Taylor (BOI) 16-26-1 181 yards 3 TD?s; BASSUENER, Matt (AMA) 20-33-2 209 yards 5 TD?s (2 Rushing) RECEIVING: RABB, Jerard (BOI) 5-58 1 TD ; Xavier Hair (AMA) 9-90 1 TD Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game: Taylor Tharp JLS Ironman of the Game: Terrance Sanders Aaron?s Defensive Player of the Game: Terrance Sanders Big Game Catch of the Game: Jerard Rabb (1st quarter TD) Nifty Big Hit of the Game: Ernie James on Brent Craft