Final
Boise St.-Bowling Green Preview
Sep 23, 2009 - 12:45 AM By CHRIS ALTRUDA STATS EditorNo. 9 Boise State (3-0) at Bowling Green (1-2), 7:00 p.m. EDT
Even in late September, every part of Boise State's schedule is important for its Bowl Championship Series chances.
The eighth-ranked Broncos continue perhaps the most difficult part of their slate Saturday at Bowling Green, where the Falcons will host a Top 10 opponent for the first time.
Boise State - enjoying its highest regular-season ranking in school history - has started a five-game stretch that includes four road games, and the Broncos (3-0) have already begun checking off the requirements to crash the BCS for the second time in three years - provided they keep winning.
They beat a then-ranked Oregon club to start the year and routed Miami of Ohio before beginning this pivotal stretch with a 51-34 victory Friday at Western Athletic Conference archrival Fresno State.
"It's pretty tough. Any time you go on the road, it's tougher than playing at home," said coach Chris Petersen, whose team also has a marquee non-conference game Oct. 14 at Tulsa and travels to face Hawaii 10 days after that. "It's a lot of travel, a lot of miles in the air, it's unfamiliar territory for our kids. We're home one time in 30 days."
Boise State made several big plays against Fresno State. James Avery had a 74-yard run and a 67-yard touchdown reception en route to 269 total yards, while D.J. Harper added a 60-yard rushing score among his 107 yards on the ground.
The Broncos also had two 77-yard kickoff returns - one by Titus Young, who also scored after recovering a fumble in the end zone following Avery's long dash - and rolled up 480 yards of total offense while averaging 8.7 yards per play.
"A lot of playmakers making plays out there," said Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore, who threw three touchdown passes. "Good running backs on both sides making plays out of nothing and breaking tackles here and there."
Boise State, however, will have to make some adjustments offensively since Harper is likely done for the season with a torn ACL suffered late Friday. Harper and Avery combined for 563 rushing yards in the three wins, and Petersen knows the junior tailback will be missed.
"It's hard on all of us, it's hard on the offense and it's hard on D.J.," he said Monday. "He's a heck of a back, and we were just starting to see the best of him."
Doug Martin will return to the offense to fill the void left by Harper. A special teams standout and slated to be a defensive back this year, Martin has nine carries for 35 yards after gaining 109 yards in limited action in 2008.
Bowling Green (1-2) has been tough on opponents, but also unable to close them out recently. The Falcons led then-No. 25 Missouri in the fourth quarter of a 27-20 road defeat Sept. 12, and lost 17-10 Saturday against Marshall despite 383 passing yards by Tyler Sheehan, who set school records with 43 completions and 62 attempts.
First-year coach Dave Clawson is hoping his team will apply the lessons learned in those losses as the Falcons try to beat a ranked opponent for just the fifth time.
"We put ourselves in a position to win every game," Clawson said. "We've been there, we have to do a better job executing late in the game. We have to get to the fourth quarter with an opportunity to win the game and when we get to that point, learn from Missouri and Marshall to make the plays to get us over the top."
Sheehan's favorite target has been senior wideout Freddie Barnes, who bettered his own single-game school record with 17 catches against Marshall. Barnes, whose previous career high was 15 in the season-opener versus Troy, leads FBS receivers with 42 receptions after having 40 in an injury-plagued 2008.
"He's got a unique skill set, a former quarterback who's 6-2, 6-3, 215 pounds that is a good route runner with ball skills," Clawson said of Barnes. "He's a big guy who would probably be one of our best tailbacks and is our best receiver."
Boise State has won both all-time games between the teams, and this contest is the back end of a home-and-home series. Last year, Ian Johnson rushed for two touchdowns, while the Broncos defense forced three turnovers in a 20-7 victory at Boise.
TD BOISE ST JARVIS HODGE 1 YD RUN (PAT FAILED)
Boise State(8) 49, Bowling Green 14 4th - 6:11Sep 26 9:56 PM
TD BOWLING GREEN TYLER SHEEHAN 6 YD RUN (JERRY PHILLIPS KICK)
Boise State(8) 43, Bowling Green 14 3rd - 1:01Sep 26 9:29 PM
TD BOWLING GREEN TYLER SHEEHAN 6 YD RUN (JERRY PHILLIPS KICK)
Boise State(8) 43, Bowling Green 14 3rd - 1:01Sep 26 9:29 PM
TD BOWLING GREEN ADRIAN HODGES 7 YD PASS FROM TYLER SHEEHAN (JERRY PHILLIPS KICK)
Boise State(8) 43, Bowling Green 7 3rd - 7:46Sep 26 9:15 PM
TD BOWLING GREEN ADRIAN HODGES 7 YD PASS FROM TYLER SHEEHAN (JERRY PHILLIPS KICK)
Boise State(8) 43, Bowling Green 7 3rd - 7:46Sep 26 9:15 PM
TD BOWLING GREEN ADRIAN HODGES 7 YD PASS FROM TYLER SHEEHAN (JERRY PHILLIPS KICK)
Boise State(8) 43, Bowling Green 7 3rd - 7:46Sep 26 9:15 PM- NCAAF FINAL
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
BOISEST 0 29 14 6 49
BOWLGREEN 0 0 14 0 14 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
2ND QUARTER: BOISE ST - TD, TITUS YOUNG 18 YD RUN (AUSTIN
PETTIS PASS TO RICHIE BROCKEL
FOR TWO-POINT CONVERSION),
0:07. BOISEST 8-0
BOISE ST - TD, DOUG MARTIN 34 YD RUN (KYLE
BROTZMAN KICK), 2:15.
Sep 26 9:10 PM - NCAAF
BOISEST 49
BOWLGREEN 14 0:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Sep 26 9:10 PM
TD BOISE ST RICHIE BROCKEL 2 YD PASS FROM KELLEN MOORE (KYLE BROTZMAN KICK)
Boise State(8) 43, Bowling Green 0 3rd - 13:41Sep 26 9:02 PM
TD BOISE ST RICHIE BROCKEL 2 YD PASS FROM KELLEN MOORE (KYLE BROTZMAN KICK)
Boise State(8) 43, Bowling Green 0 3rd - 13:41Sep 26 9:02 PM
TD BOISE ST RICHIE BROCKEL 2 YD PASS FROM KELLEN MOORE (KYLE BROTZMAN KICK)
Boise State(8) 43, Bowling Green 0 3rd - 13:41Sep 26 9:02 PM- NCAAF
BOISEST 49
BOWLGREEN 14 6:11 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Boise State(8) 49, Bowling Green 14 4th - 6:11Sep 26 8:56 PM
TD BOISE ST JEREMY AVERY 71 YD RUN (KYLE BROTZMAN KICK)
Boise State(8) 36, Bowling Green 0 3rd - 14:27Sep 26 8:54 PM
TD BOISE ST JEREMY AVERY 71 YD RUN (KYLE BROTZMAN KICK)
Boise State(8) 36, Bowling Green 0 3rd - 14:27Sep 26 8:54 PM- NCAAF
BOISEST 43
BOWLGREEN 14 0:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Sep 26 8:32 PM - NCAAF
BOISEST 43
BOWLGREEN 14 1:01 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Boise State(8) 43, Bowling Green 14 3rd - 1:01Sep 26 8:29 PM
TD BOISE ST AUSTIN PETTIS 16 YD PASS FROM KELLEN MOORE (KYLE BROTZMAN KICK)
Boise State(8) 29, Bowling Green 0 2nd - 2:15Sep 26 8:18 PM
TD BOISE ST AUSTIN PETTIS 16 YD PASS FROM KELLEN MOORE (KYLE BROTZMAN KICK)
Boise State(8) 29, Bowling Green 0 2nd - 2:15Sep 26 8:18 PM
TD BOISE ST AUSTIN PETTIS 16 YD PASS FROM KELLEN MOORE (KYLE BROTZMAN KICK)
Boise State(8) 29, Bowling Green 0 2nd - 2:15Sep 26 8:18 PM- NCAAF
BOISEST 43
BOWLGREEN 7 7:46 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Boise State(8) 43, Bowling Green 7 3rd - 7:46Sep 26 8:15 PM - NCAAF
BOISEST 43
BOWLGREEN 0 13:41 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Boise State(8) 43, Bowling Green 0 3rd - 13:41Sep 26 8:02 PM
TD BOISE ST TITUS YOUNG 25 YD RUN (KYLE BROTZMAN KICK)
Boise State(8) 22, Bowling Green 0 2nd - 12:27Sep 26 7:58 PM
TD BOISE ST TITUS YOUNG 25 YD RUN (KYLE BROTZMAN KICK)
Boise State(8) 22, Bowling Green 0 2nd - 12:27Sep 26 7:58 PM
TD BOISE ST DOUG MARTIN 34 YD RUN (KYLE BROTZMAN KICK)
Boise State(8) 15, Bowling Green 0 2nd - 12:45Sep 26 7:55 PM
TD BOISE ST DOUG MARTIN 34 YD RUN (KYLE BROTZMAN KICK)
Boise State(8) 15, Bowling Green 0 2nd - 12:45Sep 26 7:55 PM- NCAAF
BOISEST 36
BOWLGREEN 0 14:27 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Boise State(8) 36, Bowling Green 0 3rd - 14:27Sep 26 7:54 PM
TD BOISE ST TITUS YOUNG 18 YD RUN (AUSTIN PETTIS PASS TO RICHIE BROCKEL FOR TWO-POINT CONVERSION)
Boise State(8) 8, Bowling Green 0 2nd - 14:53Sep 26 7:44 PM
TD BOISE ST TITUS YOUNG 18 YD RUN (AUSTIN PETTIS PASS TO RICHIE BROCKEL FOR TWO-POINT CONVERSION)
Boise State(8) 8, Bowling Green 0 2nd - 14:53Sep 26 7:44 PM
TD BOISE ST TITUS YOUNG 18 YD RUN (AUSTIN PETTIS PASS TO RICHIE BROCKEL FOR TWO-POINT CONVERSION)
Boise State(8) 8, Bowling Green 0 2nd - 14:53Sep 26 7:44 PM- NCAAF
BOISEST 29
BOWLGREEN 0 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 26 7:29 PM - NCAAF
BOISEST 29
BOWLGREEN 0 2:15 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Boise State(8) 29, Bowling Green 0 2nd - 2:15Sep 26 7:18 PM - NCAAF
BOISEST 22
BOWLGREEN 0 12:27 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Boise State(8) 22, Bowling Green 0 2nd - 12:27Sep 26 6:58 PM - NCAAF
BOISEST 15
BOWLGREEN 0 12:45 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Boise State(8) 15, Bowling Green 0 2nd - 12:45Sep 26 6:55 PM - NCAAF
BOISEST 8
BOWLGREEN 0 14:53 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Boise State(8) 8, Bowling Green 0 2nd - 14:53Sep 26 6:44 PM - NCAAF
BOISEST 0
BOWLGREEN 0 0:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Sep 26 6:38 PM
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