Curiously, No. 17 Oregon (3-0, 1-0 Pacific-10 Conference) and Boise State (2-0, 0-0 Western Athletic Conference) have never played a football game together. Saturday’s matchup has acquired a feel of a heated Pac-10 game as the reigning Bowl Championship Series Cinderellas prepare to play out the first game in a home-and-home series.
Adding to the intrigue is the litany of Oregon connections dotting Boise State coaches’ resumes: head coach Chris Petersen was the Ducks’ receivers coach from 1995-2000, and defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox is a former Oregon defensive back.
The Broncos are more than just hooks, ladders and the occasional marriage proposal gone awry. No team in college football has a better winning percentage over the past 11 years, and the Broncos are 46-2 in conference play since 2002. One last obstacle remains in the eternal quest for mainstream recognition: a road victory over a BCS bowl team. With an offense that has scored the most points in the nation since 2000, Boise State has the potency to overwhelm or overcome any opponent in the nation.
The offensive similarities between the two programs are uncanny. Like Oregon, the Broncos run a spread offense featuring mostly three- and four-wide receiver sets, and the run establishes the pass. Senior running back Ian Johnson was introduced to the nation during the 2007 Fiesta Bowl (with his moment inexcusably ruined by Chris Myers) but was known to Pac-10 fans as early as 2006, when he ran over Oregon State to the tune of 240 yards and five touchdowns. Johnson has averaged 6.8 yards per carry in two games, and he will be relieved on occasion by sophomore Jeremy Avery, but his offensive line has four new starters from last season and Boise State’s first two opponents (Idaho State and Bowling Green) haven’t provided much of a test.
Nevertheless, redshirt freshman quarterback Kellen Moore has shined, posting the nation’s 10th-best passing efficiency mark. His top two targets will be sophomore wide receiver Titus Young and senior wide receiver Vinny Perretta, who lines up all over the field for the Broncos. Tight end Chris O’Neill and fullback Richie Brockel may factor into the passing game; Moore has connected with 12 receivers in the Broncos’ first two games.
The Broncos’ defense is rife with senior leadership (seven total) and is keyed on stopping the run, allowing an average of 109 yards per game on the ground thus far. Boise State’s leading tackler (linebacker Kyle Gingg) and sack master (defensive end Mike Williams) return from last season. Safeties Jeron Johnson and Ellis Powers have combined for 33 tackles (3.5 for loss) this year, but the secondary has yet to record an interception.
Sophomore kicker Kyle Brotzman has yet to kick a field goal this season, but he has successfully converted each of his point-after attempts, pushing his career conversion rate to 75 for 75. Brotzman also might be an accessory to a gadget play against the Ducks; he completed his only pass of last year for 30 yards against Idaho.
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