By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com

Four for Moore?

It looks that way — as Boise State coach Chris Petersen announced Wednesday that Moore will start at quarterback in the Broncos’ season opener Aug. 30 at Bronco Stadium against Idaho State.

Moore will be the first freshman quarterback ever to start the season opener for Boise State and the first freshman to start a game since Bart Hendricks in 1997.

Moore, a lefty, is a coach’s son who rewrote the Washington high school record book.

“Kellen has just got great football savvy,” Petersen said. “He understands our offense extremely, extremely well and he has performed very consistently throughout spring ball and fall camp.”

Moore edged senior Bush Hamdan in a tight race that had every-day observers unsure who would win the job. Hamdan also lost a tight battle last year with Taylor Tharp, who became the first senior first-year starting quarterback in school history.

Moore (6-foot, 187 pounds) came to Boise State with much hype because he was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Washington after setting career records for completions (787) and touchdown passes (173) and single-season records for touchdown passes (67 as a senior), passing yards (4,600 as a junior) and completions (317 as a junior).

“I'm just pretty fortunate to be in the situation I am in," Moore said in a statement released by the school. "Coach Petersen and (offensive coordinator Bryan) Harsin obviously think I am capable of doing it. I'm just excited at the opportunity."

Petersen and Moore will meet the media at 3 p.m. today.