Blue & Orange November 29, 2014

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KEY PLAYERS

PREDICTIONS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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HOW THE GAME WILL GO

Broncos should get narrow win Brandon Walton

Asst. Sports & Rec Editor

Utah State is third in the MW standings only behind Colorado State and Boise State and is very much in contention in going to their second straight MW Championship game.

The Aggies will be looking for another 10-win season.

Boise State’s defense will have to be on their game because even with the loss of three quarterbacks this season the Aggies offensively have done well this season.

True freshman Kent Myers is now the man under center and he has done a fine job leading the Aggies over their last three games.

The Broncos will have to make sure they stop the pass because the Aggies use a running back by committee. The three players have over 300 yards rushing.

The Aggie will be led by junior wide receiver Hunter Sharp who could give the secondary troubles.

The Bronco offensive will have to make sure they get off to a good start as the Aggie defense could give the Broncos troubles.

The combination of senior linebacker Zach Vigil and senior defensive end B.J. Larsen, who combined have 13 sacks on

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the seasons, could fluster senior quarterback Grant Hedrick and derail junior running back Jay Ajayi and the Broncos’ run game. Combine that with senior safety Frankie Sutera who leads the MW with seven interceptions, and it could be a long game offensively for the Broncos.

Boise State, though, sits at the top of the MW in the standings.

Hedrick is still the nation’s second most proficient passer with a 71.4 completion percentage and has proven that he can overcome adversity to win games for the Broncos.

Ajayi is undoubtedly one of the nation’s top running backs and has the ability to take a game over at a moment’s notice.

Sophomore wide receiver Thomas Sperbeck has become the go-to receiver in the Broncos’ offense and has run roughshod over secondaries the past month.

Finally, the defense even with its struggles over the past few weeks is still at the top of the conference. This team has found ways to win all season long and don’t expect that to change especially on The Blue.

Boise State 34 Utah State 28

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LAST HOME GAME against Utah State

NOVEMBER 29, 2014

5 things to know before the Utah State game Nate Lowery

Sports & Rec Editor

Trials and Trials

According to the NCAA rankings, Boise State’s strength of schedule is stronger than many would expect.

The Broncos’ schedule through Nov. 15 ranks 22nd in the country. Overall, Boise State’s schedule ranks as the 20th most difficult schedule nationally.

This improves the Broncos’ chances of being selected for a New Year’s Day Bowl. Marshall, the only undefeated non-Power 5 team left, sits down at No. 112 in strength of schedule.

If Boise State can win their final two regular season games and the MW Championship, the selection committee is more likely to select the Broncos over Marshall.

Return to Sender

Under former head coach Chris Petersen, Boise State was one of the nation’s top teams when it came to special teams.

That trend, however, is something of the past.

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The Broncos rank 101st nationally in kickoff returns. While the return game improved when Jeremy McNichols replaced Dallas Burroughs on the kickoff return team, Boise State only averages 19.3 yards a return.

Missing in Action

Redshirt freshman Mat Boesen, who ranks third on the team with three sacks, missed his second straight game.

Head coach Bryan Harsin gave no indication that Boesen was missing time due to injury following the game, and the issue appears to be discipline related.

“We’re all healthy ... Boesen was inactive. We (will) see where we are next week,” Harsin said.

Boesen was arrested on Jul. 10 for misdemeanor inattentive or careless driving and misdemeanor resisting or obstructing officers.

Climbing up the Mountain

Boise State is currently tied for first in the Mountain Division of the MW with Colorado State and Utah State, but they hold the tiebreaker over Colo-

rado State based on head-to-head wins.

Four teams in the Mountain Division have eight or more wins.

In order for the Broncos to win their division, they would have to defeat Wyoming and Utah State. By that virtue, Utah State would have two losses and Boise State would still have their tiebreaker over Colorado State.

Moving up in the Polls

Boise State has continued their climb up the national rankings, and now sit on the outskirts of the Top 25.

The Broncos rank as the No. 28 team in the nation according to the AP Top 25 poll, ahead of Louisville and LSU. If the Broncos win their final two games and the MW Championship, Boise State will likely be ranked for the first time since the 2013 preseason Top 25.

Boise State opened 2013 as the No. 19 team nationally but were easily defeated by Washington in the season opener.

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KEY PLAYERS AGAINST UTAH STATE Nate Lowery Sports & Rec Editor

With over 1,700 total yards and 20 total touchdowns, Ajayi is undoubtedly the most important player on the Broncos’ roster this season. It has been no secret to fans and opposing teams this season that the Bronco offense literally runs through the Jay Train. The Jay Train has steamrolled for 1,280 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground this season and also is the team’s second leading receiver in receptions and fourth in yards with 42 catches for 443 yards and three touchdowns. Ajayi will have to once again be on his game for the home finale as the Broncos will face their toughest opponent at home this season in Utah State.

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No. 27 Jay Ajayi—R-Jr. RB

No. 20 Tanner Vellejo—So. LB

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Vallejo has anchored a Boise State defense that has been one of the biggest highlights for the Broncos this season.

His play has resulted in the defense becoming one of — if not the best – defense in the MW this season. Vallejo is tied for the most solo tackles on the team with 37 and leads the team in total tackles at 62. The Broncos will need his big plays to continue as they face a team with a very good run offense. The Aggies have rushed for 1,820 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season so far.

While Boise State has a plethora of talent at the wide receiver position, perhaps none of them have more talent and speed then Anderson. While the former cornerback hasn’t had a big role for the Broncos this season with just 14 receptions for 296 yards and a touchdown, his athletic ability is without question after his acrobatic big time catch against San Diego State. If the Broncos are able to get the ball in his hands against Utah State expect Anderson to have a career game and tear the Utah State defense to shreds .

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devin ferrell/the arbiter

No. 6 Chaz Anderson—R-So. WR

NOVEMBER 29, 2014

WT CLASS 213 SR 193 SO 182 SO 189 FR 198 SR 185 FR 158 JR 195 FR 183 JR 190 FR 168 FR 190 FR 203 FR 178 SO 186 SO 174 JR 203 JR 181 FR 179 FR 174 SO 202 SR 199 FR 174 JR 185 FR 200 SO 194 FR

No. NAME 39 David Mckinzie 41 Dan Goodale 42 Matt Cota 46 Kevin Keane 49 Tyler Rausa 52 Andrew Tercek 56 Troy Bacon 57 Tennessee Su’esu’e 59 Mason Hampton 60 Kellen Buhr 63 Sitini Kauvaka 66 Mario Yakoo 68 Jake Templeton 70 Steven Baggett 71 Rees Odhiamo 72 Marcus Henry 73 Travis Averill 74 Archie Lewis 75 Eli McCullough 76 Jerhen Ertel 77 RJ Thorne 78 Andres Preciado 80 D.J. Dean 81 Dallas Burroughs 82 Thomas Sperbeck 84 Jake Hardee 85 Holden Huff

POS HT WR 6-0 K 5-10 LS 6-1 LS 6-0 K 5-9 OL 6-1 OL 6-3 OL 6-1 OL 6-3 OL 6-1 OL 6-2 OL 6-4 OL 6-2 OL 6-3 OL 6-4 OL 6-3 OL 6-3 OL 6-3 OL 6-5 OL 6-6 OL 6-2 OL 6-6 WR 6-1 WR 5-9 WR 6-0 TE 6-3 TE 6-6

WT CLASS 166 FR 185 SR 189 FR 207 JR 192 SO 280 FR 291 FR 289 FR 274 FR 290 SO 287 FR 339 SO 275 FR 289 SO 310 JR 286 JR 298 SO 283 FR 288 FR 271 JR 295 FR 258 FR 195 FR 169 SR 173 SO 238 JR 222 JR

OFFENSE ROSTER

No. NAME POS HT 2 Matt Miller WR 6-3 3 Thomas Stuart QB 5-11 6 Chaz Anderson WR 5-10 8 Sean Modster WR 5-11 9 Grant Hedrick QB 6-0 10 Cory Young RB 5-10 11 Shane Willliams Rhode WR 5-6 13 Jeremy McNichols RB 5-9 14 Troy Ware WR 6-2 15 Ryan Finley QB 6-4 16 Blake Gonzalez K 5-9 16 Anthony Upshaw QB 6-0 18 Alex Ogle QB 6-3 19 Taylor Pope WR 6-0 19 Sean Wale P 6-2 20 Terrell Johnson WR 5-9 21 Jack Fields RB 5-9 23 Tanner Shipley WR 6-1 24 Dusty Fisher WR 6-2 26 Devan Demas RB 5-8 27 Jay Ajayi RB 6-1 28 A.J. Richardson WR 6-0 29 Rick Smith WR 5-9 31 Skyler Seibold RB 6-1 35 Charles Bertoli RB 5-11 37 Ryan Wolphin RB 5-8

86 87 88 89 91 93

Chase Blakley Alec Dhaenens Jake Roh Connor Peters David Lucero Brennyn Dunn

TE TE TE TE TE TE

6-4 6-3 6-3 6-4 6-5 6-3

234 239 228 251 213 215

F FR FR SR FR SO

WELCOME TO

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NOVEMBER 29, 2014

What a win would mean for Boise State Brandon Walton

Asst. Sports & Rec Editor

A win by Boise State puts the Broncos in their first ever MW Championship game and brings them that much closer to fulfilling the goal of winning a conference championship the team sets at the beginning of each season.

Since joining the MW in 2011, the Broncos have yet to win an outright MW Championship. The Broncos have only gotten a share of the title in 2012 when they split it with both San Diego State and Fresno State.

This win also means the Broncos would have another home game as the MW Championship game would be hosted on The Blue, a place the Broncos haven’t lost in over two years, which will give the Broncos a real advantage.

Depending on how the final standings shake out, the Broncos would either get Nevada, San Diego State or Fresno State. Which are all teams that the Broncos have beaten this season. A win here not only puts them in the MW championship but very well could signify a possible BCS Bowl game in their future.

devin ferrell/the arbiter

Boise State returns to glory?

Where a loss would leave the Broncos The Broncos endure another mediocre season

A loss would cap another disappointing season for the Broncos. While 9-3 is not a bad record by any means and is a good season, it would still be considered a disappointment and a letdown.

For a program with two Fiesta Bowl

wins, several top 25 finishes and many conference championships, it’s championship or bust.

While the Broncos are in no way national championship contenders anymore it’s still expected that the Broncos

DATE

OPPONENT

win their conference. The last couple seasons have all ultimately ended in disappointment and have left Bronco fans wondering if indeed the magic is gone.

Boise State is the standard in which every mid-major team attains to be and

finishing without a conference championship and winding up in the Idaho Potato Bowl or the Las Vegas Bowl is just not acceptable.

A loss not only puts Boise State in another meaningless bowl game for the third year in a row but perhaps signifies that Boise State is nothing more than a regular mid-major program with its glory days long behind them.

Ole Miss

LOCATION

Atlanta, Georgia

TIME

RESULT

Sept. 6

Colorado State

ALBERTSONs stadium

8:15 p.m.

W, 37-24

Sept. 13

Connecticut

East Hartford, Conn.

10 a.m.

W, 38-21

Sept. 20

Lousiana-Lafayette

ALBERTSONs stadium

8:30 p.m.

W, 34-9

Sept. 27

Air Force

Colorado Springs, Colo.

6 p.m.

L, 28-14

Oct. 4

Nevada

Reno, Nev.

8:30 p.m.

W, 51-46

Oct. 17

Fresno State

ALBERTSONs stadium

6 p.m.

W, 37-27

Oct. 24

BYU

ALBERTSONs stadium

7 p.m.

W, 55-30

Nov. 8

New Mexico

Albuquerque, New Mexico

5 p.m.

W, 60-49

Nov. 15

San Diego State

ALBERTSONs stadium

8:15 p.m.

W, 38-29

Nov. 22

Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming

8:15 p.m.

TBD

Nov. 29

Utah State

ALBERTSONs stadium

TBA

TBD

Aug. 28

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6 p.m.

L, 35-13

NOVEMBER 29, 2014

DEFENSE

No. NAME 1 Douglas Bryan 3 Cleshawn Page 4 Darian Thompson 5 Donte Deayon 7 Joe Martarano 8 Kamalei Correa 9 Mercy Maston 10 Jeremy Ioane 13 Blake Renaud 14 Kaleb Hill 17 Brandon Beau 20 Tanner Vallejo 22 Chanceller James 24 Taylor Loffler 25 Chris Santini 28 Dillon Lukehart 29 Dylan Summer-Gardner 30 Jonathan Moxey 31 Zavior Hoxie 32 Rondell McNair 33 Gabe Perez 34 Jaxon Pryor 36 Tyler Gray 37 Cameron Hartsfield 38 Corey Bell 40 Armand Nance

POS HT WT CLASS CB 5-9 175 SR CB 5-9 178 SR S 6-2 208 JR CB 5-9 152 JR LB 6-3 234 FR DL 6-3 247 SO CB 5-11 197 SR S 5-10 192 SR LB 6-2 255 SR DE 6-1 229 FR S 5-11 194 FR LB 6-1 228 SO LB 6-1 216 SR S 6-3 219 JR LB 6-1 221 SO S 6-1 208 JR S 6-1 196 FR CB 5-10 187 SO CB 5-11 184 FR DE 6-2 242 JR STUD 6-4 231 SO DB 5-9 205 FR LB 6-4 229 JR CB 5-10 186 FR N 5-11 203 SR DT 6-0 301 JR

No. NAME POS HT WT CLASS 43 Joe Provenzano LB 5-11 205 FR 44 Darren Lee LB 6-1 224 SO 45 Travis Saxton LB 6-1 228 SR 47 Eric Yates CB 5-9 161 FR 48 David Moa DL 6-3 249 FR 50 Nick Terry DT 6-3 282 FR 51 Ben Weaver LB 6-0 235 SO 53 Beau Martin DE 6-2 258 SR 54 Mat Boesen STUD 6-4 219 FR 55 Tutulupeatau Mataele DT 6-3 294 JR 58 Robert Ash DT 6-3 286 JR 69 Tyler Horn DT 6-5 273 SR 90 Justin Taimatuia DT 6-0 287 SR 88 Jake Roh TE 6-2 210 FR 89 Connor Peters TE 6-4 250 JR 90 Justin Taimatuia DT 6-0 281 JR 92 Paul Semons DT 6-3 249 FR 94 Sam McCaskill DE 6-3 250 SO 95 Leighton Esch Vander LB 6-4 215 FR 96 Elliot Hoyte DL 6-4 271 SO 97 Austin Silsby DE 6-3 221 FR 98 Antoine Turner DT 6-1 290 FR 99 Dereck Boles DT 6-2 294 FR

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