BOISE, Idaho — THIS DAY IN SPORTS…December 1, 1973, 50 years ago today:
Boise State plays its first NCAA playoff game ever, beating South Dakota 53-10 in Bronco Stadium in Division II’s first round. Don Hutt had 13 receptions, two for touchdowns, and John Smith scored two more, one on an 86-yard kickoff return. Jim McMillan came off the bench to amass 353 yards in total offense to send the Broncos to the semi-finals the following week against Louisiana Tech at the Pioneer Bowl in Wichita Falls, Texas, where they fell to the Bulldogs in a 38-34 shootout.
Until the golden era of Boise State football arrived at the turn of the century, Hutt was the best wide receiver in Broncos history. You can start with the way he ended his career. The week before his 13 catches against South Dakota, he had 15 versus UC Davis for 227 yards, both school records. The yardage mark would stand for only a year, broken by fellow Borah High grad Mike Holton. The record for receptions would last 30 years, though. Here’s what’s amazing. The following week, Hutt would have 14 grabs against Louisiana Tech. That made it 42 catches in three weeks. I haven’t done painstaking research on this, but safe to say it’s the best three-game run ever by any Boise State receiver.
The semifinal playoff loss to La Tech marked the end of Hutt’s career. His school-record 189 receptions stood until 2010, when it was surpassed by both Austin Pettis and Titus Young. Hutt’s 2,728 receiving yards were the best at Boise State until Ryan Ikebe broke the record in 1996. And his record of 30 career touchdown catches also lasted 31 years until Pettis broke it. It remains the No. 2 mark in Broncos history.
Hutt’s brother, Terry, also played for Boise State from 1973-77 and is No. 15 in career receptions with 132. One of the most unique items in the Broncos record book involves Terry Hutt and Holton, who were running mates in legendary coach De Pankratz’s offense at Borah. Hutt and Holton ended up tied for career receiving yards—2,354 for each.
(Tom Scott hosts the Scott Slant segment during the football season on KTVB’s Sunday Sports Extra. He also anchors four sports segments each weekday on 95.3 FM KTIK and one on News/Talk KBOI. His Scott Slant column runs every Wednesday.)
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