BOISE, Idaho — Mike Atkinson has often talked with his Boise State teammates about that rare moment of glory for a nose tackle: The elusive pick six.

That heroic moment finally came Thursday night when he dropped back into pass coverage, stepped in front of a throw by Brigham Young quarterback Riley Nelson and rumbled 36 yards for a touchdown.

His score turned out to be the difference as the No. 24 Broncos (2-1) held off a late rally to beat the Cougars 7-6 in a game dominated by defenses and marred by turnovers and penalties.

It’s also the second time this season the defense has supplied all of the Broncos’ touchdowns as the offense struggles to find a rhythm in the wake of quarterback Kellen Moore’s departure. In opener, safety Jeremy Ioane returned an interception for a score in a 17-13 loss at Michigan State

The Boise State defense also forced five turnovers and held BYU scoreless until the game’s final minutes.