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UC Davis-Boise St. Preview

Sep 29, 2009 - 6:13 PM By PAUL DIGIACOMO STATS Senior Editor

California-Davis (1-2) at No. 9 Boise State (4-0), 8:00 p.m. EDT

Boise State is in the top five of a regular-season AP poll for the first time, has thoroughly outplayed opponents during an undefeated start and has a fairly manageable schedule that could lead to an appearance in the national championship game.

Coach Chris Petersen, though, says it's too early to anoint the Broncos a BCS-caliber team.

Fifth-ranked Boise State looks to continue piling up the points Saturday when it hosts Football Championship Subdivision foe UC Davis, which had Petersen playing quarterback the last time these teams met in 1985.

The Broncos (4-0) won 49-14 at Bowling Green last Saturday, and after a weekend in which four top-10 teams lost, moved up three spots in the rankings.

Boise State has never been ranked higher during the regular season. The Broncos went undefeated in 2006 to finish as the No. 5 team in the nation, beating Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.

"Everybody is saying the same thing: 'I've got my first three figured out, and after that, I have no idea," said Petersen, who votes in the USA Today coaches' poll. "I just don't pay attention to it right now. If at the end of the year, we're right there with those guys, playing who we're going to play, and we can be ranked among those guys, that would be something."

His Broncos have won their four games by a 167-56 margin. None of their remaining nine opponents even received a vote in the latest AP poll and only three currently have a winning record.

Petersen's offense continued to roll last weekend, racking up 529 yards - 267 on the ground. The Broncos are seventh in the nation in scoring (41.8 points per game), 17th in total offense (452.8 yards per game) and 18th in rushing (214.3).

They needed four plays or less on their first six scoring drives against Bowling Green.

"On offense, that's always the name of the game," Petersen said. "It makes it a lot easier when you don't have those 15- and 17-play drives.

"Sometimes it just takes a minute for kids to get comfortable."

Petersen, however, was more pleased with the defensive effort. After allowing 507 yards in a 51-34 victory at Fresno State on Sept. 18, the Broncos held the Falcons to 282.

Boise State is having a solid year defensively, especially against the pass. It's fifth in pass efficiency, limiting opponents to two touchdown throws, and is tied for second with nine interceptions.

"Everybody's being aggressive. Everybody's breaking on the ball," cornerback Kyle Wilson said after the Broncos had two interceptions against Bowling Green. "We shook off last week and put that behind us."

UC Davis (1-2) didn't do nearly as well against Fresno State, losing 51-0 in its opener Sept. 5.

Still, Petersen doesn't think his team will be looking too far ahead.

"These guys are a fairly mature bunch and if not, we have a staff of mature coaches to keep them focused," he said.

The Aggies are coming off their first win of the season, 29-13 at home over Western Oregon last Saturday.

Greg Denham threw for 225 yards and one touchdown while running for another, and Sean Kelley kicked three field goals to help UC Davis end a five-game losing streak dating to last October.

"We're doing some good things," coach Bob Biggs said. "We've got to get better offensively. We're just not in sync right now."

Boise State is 3-0 against UC Davis, beating Petersen 13-9 in the last meeting Sept. 14, 1985.

Petersen had a record-setting career with the Aggies. As a senior, he was named the Northern California Athletic Conference Player of the Year and was the top-rated Division II quarterback in the nation. He still holds the Division II record for career completion percentage at 69.6.

Petersen started his coaching career at his alma mater, serving as the head freshman coach in 1987-88 and receivers coach from 1989-91. He was inducted into the UC Davis Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993.