Boise focused on WAC, not BCS
POSTED: Saturday, October 24, 2009
Boise State head coach Chris Petersen has grown quite adept at keeping blinders on the Broncos.
But with talk of the team's ranking and postseason prospects increasing in volume with each week, he might need to invest in earplugs as well.
“;I don't know if there's any easy way around it, because it's really not important to us right now,”; Petersen said of Boise State's aspirations of breaking into the Bowl Championship Series. “;We just have so much football left to play, yet there's a lot of chatter out there that I know the kids hear. After a while it can affect you and wear on you. But we're doing our best just to focus on not those type of things.
“;We just always try to focus on ourselves. Just figure out 'how do we play better,' and 'how do we play harder,' and then we just let the chips fall.”;
The Broncos (6-0, 1-0 Western Athletic Conference) arrive at Aloha Stadium today ranked sixth in the Associated Press poll and, more significantly, fourth in the BCS standings, putting them in position for a lucrative postseason bowl game if they can successfully navigate through seven straight Western Athletic Conference games.
That stretch begins with a matchup with Hawaii (2-4, 0-3), the only WAC team to beat Boise State since 2006.
BOISE STATE (6-0, 1-0 WAC) AT HAWAII (2-4, 0-3)
When: Today, 5:05 p.m. Where: Aloha Stadium
TV: PPV, Dig. 255
Radio: KKEA, 1420-AM
Line: Boise State by 25
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Where the WAC championship was at stake when the Broncos visited in 2007, the Warriors will have to settle for the role of potential spoiler in Boise State's BCS plans. Although a payoff in January can be tough to ignore, the Warriors don't expect the Broncos to break from their trademark on-field discipline.
“;That's how they always beat everybody, because they never beat themselves and they do their jobs every play,”; said Hawaii center John Estes, the lone Warriors starter remaining from UH's 2007 title-clinching win.
While Boise State is aiming for its seventh WAC championship in eight years as well as the BCS berth, the Warriors' motivation flows from the angst of a four-game losing streak, the program's longest since 2000.
“;We've still got a lot to play for too, just playing for the state,”; cornerback Jeramy Bryant said.
Although the Broncos have just one senior among their defensive starters—All-WAC cornerback Kyle Wilson—they remain the stingiest unit in the conference, leading the WAC in total and scoring defense.
Hawaii moved the ball effectively last week, though the Warriors again sputtered inside the 20 in a loss at Idaho. But just getting into the red zone represents something of an accomplishment against a Boise State defense that has allowed only eight such drives, giving up six scores.
“;By far one of the best defenses I've seen,”; UH offensive coordinator Ron Lee said. “;I haven't seen a Boise defense that's as sound as this one.”;
The Broncos' ability to create pressure with the front four powered them to a 27-7 win over the Warriors last year in Boise, Idaho. They recorded seven sacks and the line's effectiveness allowed the linebackers and secondary to tighten the passing windows and a harried Inoke Funaki threw five interceptions.
For the Warriors to keep pace with the Broncos, they'll have to first shield quarterback Bryant Moniz from a defensive front led by end Ryan Winterswyk, the WAC's co-leader in sacks with five.
“;They all have motors, they just don't stop,”; Estes said. “;That's how you should play football, but they do a really good job of not quitting on any plays.”;
Keeping Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore—the nation's most efficient passer—from getting comfortable in the pocket will be a priority for the Warriors defense as well, though solving their issues against the run may be the more pressing matter.
Hawaii ranks 109th in the country in rushing defense and has surrendered a league-high 17 touchdowns on the ground. Boise State running back Jeremy Avery averages nearly 6 yards per carry, and the Broncos, the WAC's highest-scoring offense at 38.2 points per game, can create breakdowns before the snap.
“;You have to really be disciplined when you play them, because they do so many things and give you so many looks,”; UH head coach Greg McMackin said. “;They're trying to mess with your force and your techniques and they do a good job of it. ... They're always on the move, shifts, motion, all that type of thing.”;
Few have matched the Broncos' precision and discipline in building that other “;D”; word. And while Boise State's WAC dynasty can be daunting to some, the mystique can also add to the game's allure.
“;We're always up for a challenge—that's what we like,”; Moniz said. “;I think challenges bring the best out of us. They're going to come in here and try to smack us in the mouth and we have to return the bite.”;
PROBABLE STARTERS
| BOISE STATE | |||||
| Offense | |||||
| Z | 2 | Austin Pettis | 6-3 | 201 | |
| X | 4 | Titus Young | 5-11 | 170 | |
| H | 89 | Tyler Shoemaker | 6-1 | 207 | |
| LT | 73 | Nate Potter | 6-6 | 293 | |
| LG | 59 | Will Lawrence | 6-2 | 293 | |
| C | 66 | Thomas Byrd | 5-11 | 284 | |
| RG | 62 | Kevin Sapien | 6-4 | 286 | |
| RT | 57 | Garrett Pendergast | 6-4 | 271 | |
| TE | 85 | Tommy Gallarda | 6-5 | 249 | |
| QB | 11 | Kellen Moore | 6-0 | 187 | |
| RB | 27 | Jeremy Avery | 5-9 | 173 | |
| FB | 40 | Richie Brockel | 6-2 | 240 | |
| Defense | |||||
| E | 98 | Ryan Winterswyk | 6-4 | 263 | |
| T | 90 | Billy Winn | 6-4 | 288 | |
| N | 97 | Chase Baker | 6-1 | 296 | |
| SE | 92 | Shea McClellin | 6-3 | 262 | |
| MIKE | 45 | Daron Mackey | 5-11 | 233 | |
| WILL | 36 | Aaron Tevis | 6-3 | 228 | |
| or | 48 | J.C. Percy | 6-0 | 214 | |
| S | 23 | Jeron Johnson | 5-11 | 194 | |
| S | 8 | George Iloka | 6-3 | 207 | |
| N | 17 | Winston Venable | 5-11 | 223 | |
| CB | 1 | Kyle Wilson | 5-10 | 186 | |
| CB | 13 | Brandyn Thompson | 5-10 | 180 | |
| Specialists | |||||
| PK | 35 | Kyle Brotzman | 5-10 | 201 | |
| Punt | 35 | Kyle Brotzman | 5-10 | 201 | |
| LS | 44 | Chris Roberson | 6-0 | 222 | |
| Hold | 2 | Austin Pettis | 6-3 | 201 | |
| PR | 1 | Kyle Wilson | 5-10 | 186 | |
| KR | 4 | Titus Young | 5-11 | 170 | |
| 22 | Doug Martin | 5-9 | 201 | ||
| HAWAII | |||||
| Offense | |||||
| Z | 7 | Jovonte Taylor | 5-9 | 170 | |
| Y | 2 | Jon Medeiros | 5-9 | 185 | |
| LT | 77 | Aaron Kia | 6-5 | 290 | |
| LG | 64 | Ray Hisatake | 6-3 | 315 | |
| C | 55 | John Estes | 6-3 | 300 | |
| RG | 74 | Raphael Ieru | 6-2 | 315 | |
| RT | 66 | Adrian Thomas | 6-6 | 310 | |
| or | 51 | Austin Hansen | 6-4 | 285 | |
| H | 1 | Greg Salas | 6-2 | 200 | |
| X | 21 | Kealoha Pilares | 5-11 | 200 | |
| QB | 17 | Bryant Moniz | 6-0 | 190 | |
| RB | 23 | Leon Wright-Jackson | 6-1 | 215 | |
| Defense | |||||
| DE | 98 | Liko Satele | 6-2 | 260 | |
| DT | 92 | Rocky Savaiigaea | 6-2 | 305 | |
| DT | 49 | Tuika Tufaga | 6-2 | 285 | |
| DE | 58 | Fetaiagogo Fonoti | 6-2 | 255 | |
| SLB | 59 | R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane | 5-11 | 225 | |
| MLB | 5 | Jake Heun | 6-0 | 240 | |
| BLB | 53 | Blaze Soares | 6-1 | 245 | |
| CB | 2 | Lametrius Davis | 6-0 | 190 | |
| or | 4 | Tank Hopkins | 5-9 | 165 | |
| SAM | 9 | Spencer Smith | 5-11 | 205 | |
| FS | 19 | Richard Torres | 5-8 | 175 | |
| CB | 18 | Jeramy Bryant | 5-10 | 180 | |
| Specialists | |||||
| PK | 20 | Scott Enos | 5-9 | 180 | |
| P | 31 | Alex Dunnachie | 6-3 | 235 | |
| Snap | 45 | Luke Ingram | 6-5 | 210 | |
| Hold | 11 | Inoke Funaki | 5-11 | 205 | |
| KR | 7 | Jovonte Taylor | 5-9 | 170 | |
| PR | 1 | Greg Salas | 6-2 | 200 |
