When the Boise State football team needed a voice, junior linebacker Leighton Vander Esch took command of the halftime meeting and delivered a message.
“We’re a second-half team. We’re about to go win this thing,” Vander Esch told his teammates.
When the Broncos needed an offensive spark, senior wide receiver Cedrick Wilson submitted a request to offensive coordinator Zak Hill. Two offensive plays later, Wilson made a 59-yard reception on that play to set up the game-winning touchdown.
And when they needed to close out their first Mountain West championship in three years, two former walk-ons stepped up: tailback Ryan Wolpin — forced into duty by injury — scored the go-ahead touchdown, and Vander Esch — who played eight-man football in Riggins — grabbed the clinching interception.