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Thursday NFL — Panthers at Steelers, 5 p.m., NFLN Poinsettia Bowl —Navy at San Diego St., 5 p.m., ESPN NBA— Spurs at Magic, 5:15 p.m. NBA — Bucks at Kings, 7 p.m., CSNC NBA— Heat at Suns, 7:30 p.m., TNT NCAAHoops — Georgetown at Memphis, 5 p.m., ESPN Sports 1B Thursday December 23, 2010 Boise State powers past Utah No. 20 Utah 3 No. 10 Boise State 26 LAS VEGAS (AP) — Doug Mar- tin shook Boise State out of its brief postseason funk with an 84-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and the 10th-ranked Broncos domi- nated the rest of the way Wednesday night to beat No. 20 Utah 26-3 in the MAACO Bowl. Boise State had turned the ball over three times and was trailing 3-0 when Martin went up the middle and outran Utah defenders down the left side to give the Broncos a much-needed spark. From there, Boise State’s defense shut the Utes out and Kellen Moore threw two touchdown passes as the Broncos cruised to an easy win. The victory was small consolation for Boise State, which missed out on a possible Rose Bowl appearance on two missed field goals last month against Nevada. But the dominating win against a team that was at one time ranked No. 6 in the country was a reminder why the Broncos rode high in the polls before suffering their only loss in two years. Martin’s run came after a mistake- prone first quarter in which Boise State kept giving the ball away and making costly mistakes. Utah wasn’t much better, and when the Broncos began finding their stride the game quickly turned one-sided. Moore, who fumbled on the third play of the game and threw an inter- ception later in the first quarter, rebounded with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Shoemaker in the clos- ing seconds of the first half to give Boise State a 16-3 lead. He added another 18-yard TD pass to Austin Pettis in the third quarter in a game that was more lopsided than the final score. Boise State (12-1), which had been ranked as high as No. 2 in The Asso- ciated Press Top 25 poll this year and once seemed headed for a New Year’s Day bowl, came into the game a 17- point favorite but early on looked little like the team that was everyone’s favorite BCS buster. That changed with Martin’s run, with the Broncos taking control on both sides of the ball against a team that was a BCS team itself two years ago and had won nine straight bowl games. Moore, who finished fourth in San Francisco 49ers SANTA CLARA (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers are an NFL enigma. So bad one week, so good the next — and it's hard to explain exactly why. Other than inconsistency, of course. They have no real identi- ty on offense in large part because of injuries, and the only reason they're alive in the playoff chase with a lowly 5-9 record: The Nin- ers play in the dreadful NFC West. "To still be in it, it's amazing," tight end Vernon Davis said. No team has made the playoffs with a losing record in a non-strike season — so, this could be a history-mak- ing first for the West cham- pion. Cleveland and Detroit advanced in the 1982 strike season with 4-5 records when the playoffs were expanded to include eight teams per conference. "It's unusual, but let's not get it twisted. We didn't make the rules," San Fran- cisco linebacker Takeo Spikes said defensively. "We live in a society where the rules are made and we're going to play in them. So we get the opportunity to do that, which we will with these next two games. Hopefully we'll take care of business and we'll set our- selves up with the playoffs. "I don't worry about what this person may say, what that person may say. If they had the opportunity to be in our shoes right now they would love to. But they can't. That's why they're sit- ting behind a desk, holding microphones and making opinions. One day I'll be that person but until that day I'm Rookie tackle has tough task Oakland Raiders ALAMEDA (AP) — Playing left tackle as a rookie in the NFL is a tough enough task under normal conditions. When Indianapolis pass-rushing specialist Dwight Freeney is lined up on the other side it becomes even more of a challenge. That’s the situation facing Oakland’s Jared Veldheer, who will be counted on to protect Jason Camp- bell’s blind side Sunday from one of the best speed rushers in the NFL in a game the Raiders (7-7) need to win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. ‘‘Normally what happens is when I go against a rookie, there’s two other guys with him,’’ Freeney said in a confer- ence call with Bay Area media. ‘‘I’m sure they’re going to scheme and not going to just leave him by himself. That wouldn’t be too smart.’’ Freeney estimates that he gets single coverage for drop- back passes only a handful of times a game even against vet- erans. Veldheer figures to get plenty of help, whether it comes from another offensive lineman, a tight end or a chip- ping running back. It will be needed against Freeney, who has eight sacks this season. He is also tied for the most sacks with 92 and has forced the most fumbles with 41 since enter- ing the NFL in 2002. That’s not exactly the kind of competition Veldheer faced while playing at Division II Hillsdale College in Michigan last year. ‘‘Most of it is just a mindset,’’ Veldheer said. ‘‘It’s you MCT photo Tyler Shoemaker pulls in a touchdown reception,Wednesday. Heisman voting earlier this month, finished with impressive numbers despite his rocky start. He completed 28 of 38 passes, including 12 to Pettis, who was playing the final game of a college career in which his team won 51 of 53 games. The game was the last for Utah (10-3) before going into the Pac-12 Conference, where the Utes can play for an automatic big bowl bid. Boise State is also switching conferences, heading to the Mountain West where the Broncos still will have to impress both voters and computers to get a Bowl Championship Series bid. Boise State was plenty impressive going to take advantage of my business here." Even coach Mike Single- tary has been perplexed by this season, by this team he truly thought would be so much better in his second full year in charge. He lists certain players who have had productive years, and points to a pair of rookie offensive linemen who have hung tough through their introduction to the rigors of the pro game. Yet many have greatly underachieved. There have been quarterback switches and the 49ers have made a lot of the same mistakes that hurt them a year ago in an 8- 8 season. That after Single- tary and his players thought things were fixed and they were destined to end a seven-year postseason drought. "It's never over 'til it's over," center David Baas said. "We've got a chance to do something awesome." But it could be over as soon as Sunday, when San Francisco plays at St. Louis. A loss and the 49ers are offi- cially done, leaving the Rams and Seahawks to fight for the top spot in the league's worst division. San Francisco would have been eliminated last weekend if either Seattle or St. Louis had won, yet neither did. Having won four of seven, San Francisco actual- ly has been the division's hottest team of late. "I never thought we were totally out of it," rookie run- ning back Anthony Dixon said. "Because until they told us we were out of it, we were in it." The hands-down favorite to win the West, San Fran- cisco went unbeaten in the preseason and then started 0-5. Team president Jed against Utah, shutting down quarter- back Terrance Cain and the Utes run- ning game. Utah didn’t help itself by losing three fumbles and being penal- ized 10 times for 83 yards in a sloppi- ly played game. Boise State kicker Kyle Brotzman, whose chip-shot misses cost his team a BCS bowl game and his school mil- lions of dollars, became the all-time NCAA leader in points kicking with a 29-yard field goal in the second quar- ter. Brotzman added another field goal in the fourth quarter but had a mixed night, getting one attempt blocked and dropping a pass while wide open on a fake punt. 49ers stay in playoff race despite inconsistencies York declared his club would still rebound to win the division and make the playoffs, even though no team in NFL history has bounced back from an 0-5 start to advance to the post- season. If the 49ers somehow do make the playoffs, they would host the No. 1 wild- card team for a game at Candlestick Park. If the standings play out the way they are now, that would be the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints. These 49ers have faced constant drama along the way, too. Practically every week, in fact. Three players departed along the way, including second-year running back Glen Coffee, who decided to retire to pursue the min- istry only to be arrested on a gun charge in October in Florida. During training camp, defensive lineman Kentwan Balmer became a no-show before the Niners traded him to Seattle. Soon after, former Pro Bowl safety Michael Lewis also left — and he wound up in St. Louis with another division rival. Earlier this month, sec- ondary coach and special assistant to Singletary, John- nie Lynn, resigned for per- sonal reasons. Singletary wouldn't elaborate other than to say he had lost a good friend. Back in September, Sin- gletary fired offensive coor- dinator Jimmy Raye after a Week 3 loss at Kansas City and amid problems for Alex Smith getting the play into his headset in time. "We had a lot of things we had to adjust to this year," said Davis, whose six touchdown catches are well off the pace of his Pro Bowl total of 13 last season that tied Antonio Gates' record for TDs by a tight end. "We changed offensive coordina- tors, we changed quarter- backs. Things like that take some adjustment." There have been key injuries, too. From losing veteran center Eric Heit- mann for the season to Smith separating his non- throwing left shoulder on Oct. 24 at Carolina, to star running back Frank Gore going down with a season- ending fractured hip in a Monday night game at Ari- zona on Nov. 29. Singletary has shown signs of both being combat- ive and emotional — at one point he claimed there could be a "rat" within the organi- zation giving inaccurate information to the media — and downright subdued. He is realistic about his future, too, knowing full well that York and his owner father, John York, might fire him after this disappointing season even with two years remaining on his contract. Singletary, a Hall of Fame linebacker for the Bears, is the guy who thanked first-year Seattle coach Pete Carroll after a shocking 31-6 whipping by the Seahawks in the season opener. Spikes shook his head when reminded recent- ly about the coach's gesture. He would rather look at the opportunity ahead. "It means everything. It means everything to everybody in this room. To me, this is when foot- ball is fun," Spikes said. "All the attention is right here. Everyone is watch- ing to see what you're going to do. And that's all you ever want." versus another person. No one is Superman with a cape out there. Everyone is wearing a helmet and shoulder pads and you just got to go out there and execute and do your job bet- ter than the guy across from you.’’ Making the task even tougher for the Raiders is the fact that starting right tackle Langston Walker’s status is in doubt after sustaining a concussion last week. That could force Mario Henderson into his first career start at that position against the Colts’ other star pass rusher, Robert Mathis. ‘‘That’s the real key to their defense — they’re both real- ly good players,’’ coach Tom Cable said. ‘‘They get after the ball so you have to have a plan for both of them and we’ll do that. But you can’t just put your attention to one side and not the other. You have to do it with both of them.’’ Veldheer, a third-round pick, was thrown right into the NFL mix this season when he started the season opener at center against Tennessee. That experiment didn’t go so well and he spent the next five weeks sharing time at left tackle with Henderson before earning the starting job at that critical spot on the offensive line. ‘‘It’s just kind of a gradual thing,’’ Veldheer said. ‘‘There was never a point where hey, I feel this is all of a sudden clicked and the light turned on and all that. It’s just over the course of everything happening, really, almost every day, every practice of the season.’’ The Raiders have won five of eight games with Veldheer starting at left tackle. They are fourth in the league in scor- ing since then at 29.1 points per game and second in total offense at 395.6 yards. According to STATS LLC, Veldheer has allowed six sacks this season, while committing six false starts and four holding penalties. ‘‘I always am trying to pick things out of my game and improve on them,’’ Veldheer said. ‘‘There’s always room for improvement. I don’t think you can ever be satisfied with any one performance because if you think it’s perfect you’re really lying to yourself because you can always improve.’’ Veldheer is earning the confidence of his teammates with his play, who know how tough a spot left tackle is in the NFL. ‘‘That means every week you’re going to face probably the best defensive player on that side of the ball, week in, week out,’’ Campbell said. ‘‘I think he’s come a long ways. I think he’s found himself in a position. ... I have a lot of trust in him.’’ Scoreboard NFL Today’s game Carolina at Pittsburgh, 5:20 p.m., NFLN BOWLS Wednesday’s result MAACO Bowl At Las Vegas Boise State 26, Utah 3 Today’s Bowl Poinsettia Bowl At San Diego San Diego State (8-4) vs. Navy (9-3), 5 p.m. (ESPN) Christmas Eve’s Bowl Hawaii Bowl At Honolulu Hawaii (10-3) vs. Tulsa (9-3), 5 p.m. (ESPN) NBA Wednesday’s results Atlanta 98, Cleveland 84 Boston 84, Philadelphia 80 Chicago 87, Washington 80 Detroit 115, Toronto 93 New Orleans 105, New Jersey 91 New York 112, Oklahoma City 98 San Antonio 109, Denver 103 Utah 112, Minnesota 107 Houston at L.A. Clippers, late Today’s games Milwaukee at Sacramento,7 p.m.,CSNC San Antonio at Orlando, 5 p.m., TNT Miami at Phoenix, 7:30 p.m., TNT Tuesday’s late results Golden State 117, Sacramento 109,OT Milwaukee 98, L.A. Lakers 79 NCAA BASKETBALL Wednesday’s Top 25 results No. 3 Kansas at California, late No. 4 Connecticut 81, Harvard 52 No. 5 Syracuse 93, Drexel 65 No. 6 Pittsburgh 61, American 46 No. 7 San Diego State vs. IUPUI, late No. 8 Villanova 76, Monmouth 36 No. 9 Missouri 75, No. 21 Illinois 64 No. 18 Texas 67, No. 12 Michigan State 55 No. 13 Kentucky 89, Wintrhop 52 No. 15 Baylor 83, San Diego 50 No. 20 Florida 66, Radford 55 No. 22 Notre Dame 93, Maryland 53 No. 24 UCF 64, Massachusetts 59 Today’s Top 25 games No.2 Ohio State vs. Oakland, Mich., 5 p.m. No.10 G’town vs.No.16 Memphis, 5 p.m., ESPN2 No. 11 Kansas State vs.UMKC, 5:05 p.m. No.15 Baylor vs.Washington State, 3:30 p.m. No.17 Minnesota vs.South Dakota St., 5 p.m. No. 19 Tennessee vs.Belmont, 4:30 p.m. No.23 BYU vs.UTEP, 6 p.m. NHL Wednesday’s results Chicago 4, Nashville 1 Detroit 5, Vancouver 4, OT N.Y. Islanders 2, Tampa Bay 1, OT Pittsburgh 5, Florida 2 Today’s games Phoenix at San Jose, 7:30 p.m. Atlanta at Boston, 4 p.m. Florida at Buffalo, 4 p.m. Montreal at Carolina, 4 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at New Jersey, 4 p.m. Pittsburgh at Washington, 4 p.m., NHLN Tampa Bay at N.Y. Rangers, 4 p.m. Vancouver at Columbus, 4 p.m. Detroit at St. Louis, 5 p.m. Ottawa at Nashville, 5 p.m. Calgary at Dallas, 5:30 p.m. Minnesota at Colorado, 6 p.m. Edmonton at Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday’s late results San Jose 2, Edmonton 1 Los Angeles 5, Colorado 0