By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com

Saturday’s scrimmage didn’t lead to a quarterback decision from the Boise State football coaches.

Senior Bush Hamdan and freshman Kellen Moore combined for four touchdown passes, two interceptions and five touchdown drives in the final public scrimmage of the season.

The team scrimmages privately Friday at Eagle High.

“We’re talking about it right now,” Petersen said of the quarterback decision, “but it’s still a close battle.”

Petersen still doesn’t have a timeline for naming a quarterback. Last year, he named Taylor Tharp the weekend before the season opener. In 2004, the Broncos didn’t name Jared Zabransky the starter until he trotted onto the field for the first play against Idaho.

“The tighter it is,” Petersen said, “maybe the longer it goes.”

The coaches will wait until at least the end of the week to decide which true freshmen will play, Petersen said. He may even get a freshman ready to play — at offensive tackle, perhaps — and wait a couple games into the season before making the final decision.

It’s already clear that defensive end Shea McClellin and defensive tackle Chase Baker will play. Other contenders include safety George Iloka, who had slipped to the third team before putting together an impressive scrimmage Saturday; cornerback Jamar Taylor; and offensive tackles Faraji Wright and Tom Swanson.

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Petersen gave the players a couple chances to end practice a half-hour early Sunday.

Hamdan and Moore each had a chance to throw a 40-yard pass into a net. Both missed.

A few minutes later, Petersen set up a 58-yard field-goal attempt by sophomore kicker Kyle Brotzman — and he nailed it.

Brotzman also hit a 52-yard field goal in the scrimmage Saturday. He was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist last year, but the hole in his resume was a lack of long field goals. His season long was 47 yards.