SB Nation - Utah State Aggies

Game balls for Boise State versus Utah State

Kevan Lee — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:09:58 -0000

After putting the fear of God in fans with the game knotted at 14 midway through the second quarter, Boise State scored 28 unanswered and cruised to a 52-21 victory over Utah State on Friday.

What players, plays, and performances stood out? You mean, besides Doug Martin? Join me after the jump as I hand out some game balls, and feel free to add your own awards in the comments.

Reader's choice award for player of the game

Doug Martin

For Bronco fans, seeing Doug Martin rumble into the end zone four times on Friday night was like seeing your first-born son finally go on his first date at age 20. You always thought he was a good-looking kid and smooth with the ladies, but he hadn't really stepped up when it counted, except for school-sponsored banquets with the daughters of family friends. As parents, you were even starting to wonder, "Am I giving my kid too much credit?" But then, when his cooler friends decide to "focus on their careers" for a weekend, he finally comes through, and the whole family breathes a sigh of relief.

And yes, I just described my dating history.

All is well with Doug Martin. He is exactly the running back that everyone thought. That alone is probably the best news that could have come from Friday night's game.

Runner-up: Offensive line

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the offensive line, and there are 47 of you who agree with me. Though Martin captured 70 percent of the vote, I think that the awarding of player of the game was a little closer than the percentages say. The offensive line, for the second week in a row, looked strong in the run game, opening some big holes and keeping USU defenders out of the backfield for the most part.

A particularly telling stat (naturally, buried at the bottom of a Statesman article):

Boise State registered 13 tackles for loss. Utah State had one.

I think that, considering Utah State's go-for-broke anarchy defense on Friday night, the Aggies were never expecting to only get the one TFL.

Best fumbled snap

Thomas Byrd

Turns out, Thomas Byrd has been practicing his fumbled snaps all along. My apologies.

Byrd rolled a shotgun snap back to Kellen Moore's general vicinity, Doug Martin picked up the loose ball, and fate and anger carried him into the end zone for a 14-7 Boise State lead. That the play was going to be an inside handoff to Martin anyway certainly helped. But there's no mistaking the importance of Martin's heads-up play. It took place on a 2nd and 15, following a false start penalty, from inside the red zone, with the game knotted at 7 midway through the second quarter. Would you rather Martin fall on the ball in that situation? Convservative folks say yes, but I think that Martin has proven over the last couple weeks, with his goading of Titus Young to return a kickoff from eight yards deep in the end zone, that he is a risk-taker. And, fortunately for Bronco fans, he is also a playmaker.

Best third down conversion

Doug Martin

Again with the Doug Martin. Could I be doing a worse job hiding my enormous love and appreciation of this guy?

Let me paint you a picture: Boise State leads 28-14 with under two minutes left in the first half. The Broncos have the ball at their own 17 yard line with a 3rd and 10 following consecutive incompletions. What play would you call?

The Broncos chose a draw to Doug Martin, which seemed for all intents and purposes to be waving the white flag. Only Doug Martin does not wave white flags. He picks up first downs, and 17 yards later, he did just that. The Broncos kept the drive alive, Kellen Moore found Austin Pettis for 32 yards, and Martin capped off the drive with a one-yard TD run.

Most surprising leading tackler

Jeron Johnson

The BSU safety finished with 14 tackles on the night, most often cleaning up receivers in the secondary or getting USU running backs who had broken through the line. Was it just me, or was anyone else not all that impressed with Johnson on Friday night?

The play that stands out most to me was the Aggies' first touchdown run. After USU RB Michael Smith had busted past the first and second levels and into the secondary, Johnson had a chance to bring him down around the five-yard-line. Instead, he chose to give a half-hearted shoulder bump like you might see at a Macy's friends and family sale, Smith barely flinched, he bowled through Kyle Wilson, and the score was tied. The effort by Johnson was shocking considering how aggressive he is at all other times of the game. It really looked like he didn't want to make a tackle. Obviously, he wanted to make a tackle 14 other times, so I'm probably overreacting. Carry on. Never mind me.

Justin Wilcox's defense of the week

The 3-4

The Broncos came out in a fairly standard 3-4 look to start the game, and they continued with it in spurts throughout. Keeping seven men in the box is an increasing rarity for Boise State, and Friday night was the first use of the 3-4 that I can remember. Will the formation live to face another running QB? We'll find out on Friday.

Diondre Borel's happy place

Outside the tackles

The worst of times for the Bronco defense was when Borel broke contain and got outside. Big plays ensued. Tackles were missed. Thing in my household were broken, "by accident" I would later claim.

Does anyone remember Borel slipping upfield from inside the hashmarks? I sure don't. It seems like the only time he hurt Boise State was when he escaped outside. In that sense, Billy Winn, Chase Baker, and the rest of the DTs deserve a lot of praise for collapsing the pocket and stuffing up inside running lanes. The DEs got consistent pressure but were hit-and-miss on bringing Borel down. Sometimes with scrambling quarterbacks, defensive ends are coached to not rush higher than the QB sits in the pocket. It was hard to tell if the Broncos used that strategy or if Borel was just that elusive.

(Note: On Utah State's long TD runs, it appeared that the Broncos had the right defense on the field to get the stop but that an unblocked linebacker failed to recognize where the ball was going. It's encouraging to know that Boise State was capable of stopping those plays. It's disconcerting to know that Boise State's linebackers aren't perfect. Does Jesus have any eligibility left?)

Turnover of the game

Ryan Winterswyk's fumble recovery

After the Broncos scored to go ahead 21-14, Utah State took over from inside their own 20 ... and effectively fumbled the game away. Borel and Robert Turbin channeled the Brent Guy Utah State offense and dropped the QB-RB exchange on the read option, leading to the most one-sided fumble drill in the history of fumble drills between Borel and Ryan Winterswyk. It looked like Borel had an 80/20 chance at recovering, but those odds quickly disappeared as his licorice rope of an arm gave way to the overwhelming force of Winterswyk. The officials even reviewed the play (since when are fumble recoveries reviewable?), out of sympathy most likely, but the end result was a Boise State 1st and 10 from the Aggie nine-yard-line.

One play later, the score was 28-14. A 14-14 game went south for Utah State in a matter of 43 seconds, and the Broncos never looked back.

Play of the game

Doug Martin's fourth down TD run

Just kidding about not mentioning Martin anymore. His scoring plunge on fourth and one is simply too good not to mention again. So I will.

Favorite new trend

Scoring TDs in the red zone

Here's a fun thought: If the Broncos had only scored field goals instead of touchdowns on red zone trips on Friday night, the final score would have been Boise State 28, Utah State 21. And they would currently be ranked No. 24.

Phenomenon most likely to send me scrambling for a radio/the mute button/anger management counseling

ESPN college football broadcasts

And by "college football broadcasts," I mean "Joe Tessitore and Rod Gilmore's two-person rendition of The View only with topics that no one cares about."

Good heavens that was an unbearable broadcast. From explaining their fantasy choices for the week, showing us the Pac-10 standings, and mugging for the camera during countless booth shots, Joe and Rod were as grating as ever. When did watching college football games turn into watching studio shows?

Bob Behler, take me away. It is muted TV and KIDO for me next week.

Technical awards

Good for you, Kyle Brotzman: Kyle Brotzman. The Boise State kicker deserves to be recognized when he doesn't screw up, and nailing a 52-yard field goal is most certainly not screwing up. For sure, Coach Pete should be happy with Brotzman because he saved what was looking to be a horrible job of clock management. The Broncos let the play clock expire as Brotzman lined up to attempt a 47-yarder. That's typically not how you want to do things.
Best impersonation of Richie Brockel: Dan Paul. Blocking and receiving, Paul looked like he'll fill in for Brockel very nicely.
Don't you ever scare me like that again award: George Iloka. Quick: Who is George Iloka's backup? Someone? Anyone? It's Cedric Febis, and he's actually pretty good ... but still.
Obligatory Kellen Moore mention: Kellen Moore. He didn't have his greatest game (possibly his worst? SI jinx, anyone?), but did you know he texts with Case Keenum?
Next year's LaTech: Utah State. No doubt all the preview magazines will be choosing the Aggies as the darkhorse contender in the conference. The media: so predictable. (Me? I'm going with Weber State, following a severe WAC shakeup this summer.)

Final pregame thoughts on Boise State vs. Utah State

Kevan Lee — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:04:35 -0000

Later tonight, Boise State embarks on its final road trip of the regular season with a visit to Utah State. Are the Broncos in for more trouble than it seems?

Many people are labeling this a "trap" game, but on paper, the Broncos should have no trouble. What are your thoughts? Join me after the jump for the airing of pregame jitters, and feel free to share any worries, predictions, or reactions in the comments.

Just when you thought you were safe from the 3-3-5 ...

Toward the start of the year, the Boise State defense unveiled one of the coolest defensive wrinkles since last year's Nevada game. The 3-3-5 was born, and it was a hot blitzing mess.

And as if preparing for mystery blitzes and defensive ends playing linebacker wasn't hard enough, Justin Wilcox went and upped the ante. Bam! There's this now.

My apologies for being a week or two late with this. The formation above is taken from the Louisiana Tech game, and the result of the play was Darren Koontz chasing Ross Jenkins into an incompletion. The set-up is simple: a DE and DT lined up in the tackle spots, the two LBs lined up as stand-up defensive ends, and the other DE and DT at linebacker. Against the Bulldogs, Boise State dropped Derrell Acrey and J.C. Percy into coverage, blitzing Koontz and Jarrell Root from the middle, along with the rush of Byron Hout and Greg Grimes.

Depending on the rush, that could put Hout against an offensive guard on the pass rush, and it has Koontz and Root getting a full-speed head start on the QB. The Broncos could also switch it up and bring a linebacker off the edge and drop pretty much anyone into coverage behind.

Yikes ... and yes!

Did somebody say "trap"?

Everybody did, actually.

From the message board stylings of Scout.com to the word jumble of Graham Watson, the experts are soothsaying like there's no tomorrow. Which there won't be. If the Broncos lose.

From Watson:

Both Boise State and Nevada have games against teams with losing records this weekend and it would be easy to look ahead to next week’s game between the two schools that will ultimately decide the conference title.

Her score prediction also hinted at the Broncos looking ahead but ultimately landed on the side of reason (score update: Reason 1, Graham Watson 134). The same could not be said of Scout.com.

This game doesn't have to be close. But it will be and the Aggies can win if Boise State's players aren't ready to a man. This is an up-and-coming team to be sure. Don't be surprised if they beat Idaho next week. If Boise State doesn't come out playing their best football of the season, it is the Bronco players who will be surprised by the final result.

All of which leads me to an interesting question: Are you worried?

No doubt the Nevada game is a huge one, but Boise State is rarely accused of looking ahead. Could the youth of this team change that perception? Is this a game where inexperience plays a factor?

It is times like these that I am thankful for the UC Davis game (it is only at times like these that I am thankful for the UC Davis game because that thing was ugly). The Broncos all but admitted to overlooking UCD, and I would like to think that they learned a valuable lesson from that game.

There is enough tape on USU for the Broncos to see that the Aggies have talent and can be dangerous. If you believe that Boise State is hitting its stride and rounding into championship form, then you should have no worries about the Broncos overlooking the Aggies. If you think BSU is still finding itself, then I imagine this game worries you more than most.

Utah State plays to its competition ... will that make them a Top 5 team tonight?

Throughout the season, Utah State has been able to remain close with just about every opponent it has faced. Its largest losses were 18-point defeats at the hands of BYU and Utah. Its biggest FBS win was by 15 against San Jose State. Does that mean tonight's game against the Broncos will be close?

It very well could be, considering the weather, the ESPN adrenaline, the way the ball bounces, and Boise State's previous Friday night history.

However, it could just as easily be a blowout, too. Utah State has played to its competition so far this year, but they have yet to face a team as talented, deep, disciplined, and athletic as Boise State. The Broncos will be the best team to ever enter Romney Stadium. It will take more than a football idiom to get Utah State to play to the Broncos' level.

The bigger worry would be if Boise State plays down to its competition. Judging by the way they came out in their last few games, I'm not sure we'll see that happen again this season.

Allow me to bogart some comments

StatueLeft foresees a low-scoring game thanks to Jack Frost, Esq. and openly wishes for more no-huddle offense.

only keeping it that low due to the impending weather…..would love to see Kellen run the no huddle all the way down the field

Let's talk about the no-huddle for a moment. Are the Broncos more dangerous when they go no-huddle? They use the style sparingly, yet they are coming off a game against Idaho where they used it perhaps more than any other game this season. It would work against the Aggies because USU is thin along the front four, can be physically dominated over the course of the game, and is still learning how to play Gary Andersen's defense.

On another note: What weather would make the biggest difference? I rate weather in this order:

Plague of locusts
Wind
Rain
Snow
Freezing temps

We could be in for No. 4 and No. 5 tonight, and depending on whether or not Mark May is the antichrist, maybe No. 1.

What's the pulse on the Bronco defense? Mikrino wants to know.

Boise State's blow out win last week covered up some porous defensive play.

I don’t think Utah State will be any better than Idaho was, but the Broncos did bleed yards that whole game. Fortunately it never translated to points, and as such, was largely ignored.

Nailed it.

The Broncos played some of their best defensive football in recent weeks against Louisiana Tech, San Jose State, and Tulsa (although the scoreboard didn't always show it). They did not play great against Idaho.

Diondre Borel and Robert Turbin can roll up the yards, so it will be important for the Bronco defense to get off the field on third down and prevent the Aggies from getting TDs in the red zone. Chances are good that the Boise State offense will be able to score at least 30. You'd hope that the Bronco defense can keep the Aggies from reaching the same.

I'm comforted by what the Broncos did to the Aggies last year, and according to Kyle Wilson (via the Scott Slant), it could be more of the same tonight.

Kyle Wilson knows BSU will have its hands full. Wilson said the Broncos will counter by "trying to get them out of their comfort zone. We’ll probably be disguising and showing different things."

2-4-5, anyone?

Talk amongst yourselves

What mood are you in as the USU game nears? Nervous? Apathetic? Excited? Do you think the Broncos could be guilty of looking ahead to Nevada? Share your thoughts in the comments. Gamethread will be up later tonight.

The Sad Truth: 2009 Will Go Down As the Year the Colorado Buffaloes Blew It

irish1611 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:02:02 -0000

As news came down today that Oklahoma State QB Zac Robinson potentially might not playing tonight, I got to thinking about how the Colorado Buffaloes blew a great chance to make a mark this season. It is truly amazing how the schedule and the weakness of the Big 12 North set the Buffs up perfectly to return to the spotlight in '09 but using part of a quote from head coach Dan Hawkins, the Buffs did not "sieze the day." Look at the schedule below. Doesn't that make you sick? Granted, we now know the Buffs are less than stellar themselves but think if the Buffs' offensive line performed up to expectations, WR Markques Simas was coached and prepared to play like he was now from game one (not suspended), if Tyler Hansen started the year at quarterback, if the Buffs weren't at the bottom of the nation in turnovers & penalties, and the defense started the season like they have been playing the past few weeks. Yes, I know the saying about using "ifs" and "buts". I know. But Colorado blew it this year, no "ifs" or "buts" about it:

Going into the preseason, there were four teams the Buffs could lose to and you wouldn't be totally surprised - at West Virginia, at Texas, Kansas and at Oklahoma State. West Virginia because it was a road game and we knew that would be a tough environment. We thought Kansas and Todd Reesing would be back to their normal abuse of the Buffs like the previous three years. Games at Texas and Oklahoma State were the hardest two on the schedule and were considered the two contests the Buffs would most likely lose preseason. But Kansas isn't who we thought they were as the Buffs' beat them sending the Jayhawks into a downfall. Tonight, Oklahoma State might be playing without two preseason All Big 12 players and their All American candidate runnining back Kendall Hunter has been hurt six games in 2009.

- Colorado St. Rams - no reason to lose to them considering the year they are having. AT FOLSOM FIELD! (L)
-@ Toledo Rockets - no reason to lose to them considering the year they are having. (L)
- Wyoming Cowboys - Buffs won (W)
-@ West Virginia Mountaineers- would accept a loss preseason and now. Tough place to play on the road (L)
-@ Texas Longhorns - would accept a loss preseason and now. Game on the road. (L)
- Kansas Jayhawks - Buffs won, was expected to be a preseason loss (W)
-@ Kansas St. Wildcats - very winnable game against a mediocre Big 12 North opponent (L)
- Missouri Tigers - very winnable game against a mediocre Big 12 North opponent at home. (L)
- Texas A&M Aggies - Buffs won (W)
-@ Iowa St. Cyclones - very winnable game against a mediocre Big 12 North opponent (L)
-@ Oklahoma St. Cowboys - Kendall Hunter returned two weeks ago and may not be 100% but think about this. Oklahoma State tonight will be playing without Zac Robinson and Dez Bryant and a less than 100% Kendall Hunter...unbelievable the luck if we had a mentally tough team.
- Nebraska Cornhuskers - very winnable game against a mediocre Big 12 North opponent at home.

A relatively easy out of conference schedule, a mediocre Big 12 North schedule with winnable road games against Kansas State and Iowa State, a down Kansas team, and an Oklahoma State squad that is missing a lot of offensive fire power with Robinson and Bryant out...

But once again, you have to look back at the slow start to begin the year and not getting these guys ready to play. Not having momentum and excitement on the road and "overlooking" Colorado State as Riar Geer said defines this team and the opportunity they left on the table.

If there is any reason for a change in Boulder, look at 2009, how the chips fell in place and the way the Buffs responded. "10 wins no excuses" was supposed to motivate the players, a change at offensive coordinator and a return to a pro-style offense was supposed to put players in a better position to be successful. A deep linebacker corp was supposed to bolster the defense with the emergence of CB Jimmy Smith. Of course, the defensive line was a preseason concern but they have certainly outperformed expectations.

Instead, the Buffs can't run the ball with any consistency and they can't keep a mobile quarterback from getting sacked eight times a game. A quarterback change was made too late, Colorado continues to suffer on the mental side of the game with turnovers and penalties, the defensive scheme was too complicated at the beginning of the year which cost the Buffs' games and Colorado continues to play unmovitated football especially on the road, something the players have admitted multiple times this year.

I think this is the only case you need to make. In a year that any improvement over the previous three years should have at least netted the Buffs a low level Bowl birth, Colorado has three wins.

Mountain West and their Road to the BCS: Week 12

Michael Rueckert — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:20:29 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

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It's time for our weekly segment where we feature games that will affect the Mountain West's BCS possibilities this season.

Despite crushing the Utes, TCU remained ranked 4th in the polls, behind Alabama, Florida and Texas. TCU only has Wyoming and New Mexico left on their schedule. If they are to get into the BCS National Championship Game, they will need some help.

Fortunately for TCU, Boise State is still ranked two spots behind them with a weak schedule remaining as well. If TCU wins out, they should be a lock to bust the BCS. TCU and Mountain West fans however, are eying the National Championship Game.

With Utah losing their second game, they no longer have an outside shot of making the BCS.

Here is a look at games this weekend that will affect the Mountain West in their BCS hunt.

All times are eastern

No. 4 TCU at Wyoming (The Mtn, 2:00 PM)

TCU is coming off a huge win over Utah, and is traveling to Laramie to take on the Cowboys, who are also coming off a big win over San Diego State.

MWC rooting interest: TCU without a doubt. TCU is almost a lock to bust the BCS, and will do so if they avoid a letdown. The Horned Frogs should roll but they must come prepared to play against a much improved Wyoming team.

Kansas at No. 3 Texas (ABC 8:00 PM)

Its the last home game of the season for the Longhorns who are looking to send their seniors off right.

MWC rooting interest: Kansas. TCU's best chance of getting into the championship game is if Texas loses. Can Kansas pull off the upset? Not likely, Kansas has dropped five games in a row and Texas is playing very well now.

No. 6 Boise State at Utah State (9:30, ESPN 2)

A Friday night appetizer for your Saturday of college football featuring the undefeated Boise State Broncos, going up against Utah State, who is coming off a rare win over San Jose State.

MWC rooting interest: Boise State. Why does this game matter? Having two BCS Busters is definitely a good thing, but I'm thinking more into the future than that. With the Mountain West looking to gain an AQ spot in the BCS, they may expand and add Boise State. The higher Boise State is ranked at the end of the season, the better off the Mountain West is in the evaluation if they decide to expand.

Florida International vs No. 1 Florida (12:30 PM, ESPN 360)

FIU is coming into this game against the top ranked Gators as 45 point underdogs.

MWC rooting interest: Florida International, but don't count on it happening. The Gators best chance to lose before the SEC championship game is against the Seminoles next week. With a loss and a victory over Alabama, Florida still may get a BCS nod over TCU, unless of course it was to an awful team like FIU.

Chattanooga at No. 2 Alabama (12.21 PM, ESPN 360)

Chatta-who? They are a FCS team with a (6-4) record.

MWC rooting interest: Chattanooga. They are just a chew toy for the Crimson Tide as they prepare to face Auburn and Florida. If Chattanooga can pull off the upset, it would be bigger than Appalachian State defeating Michigan but it's simply not going to happen. For the BCS situation see above. (Florida)

Virginia at No. 23 Clemson (3:30, ABC)

Two teams that TCU beat earlier in the season square off. A win for Clemson gives them a spot in the ACC title game.

MWC rooting interest: Clemson. TCU has beaten three teams that are currently ranked in the Top-25. If Clemson loses this game, TCU's case to be in the BCS Championship Game is reduced. TCU must also have BYU and Utah win their MWC games.

SMU at Marshall (4:30, KXXV-TV)

TCU beat SMU 39-14 earlier in the year. SMU just has to win their final two games to appear in the Conference USA Championship Game.

MWC rooting interest: SMU. If Southern Methodist wins the Conference USA it certainly helps TCU. The Frogs have the potential of claiming that they beat the ACC champion, Conference USA champion as well as going undefeated in a tough Mountain West. A SMU would help TCU in the computers as well.

Memphis at No. 24 Houston (1:00 PM, CSS)

If Houston loses one game, SMU will clinch a Conference USA Championship Game birth.

MWC rooting interest: Memphis. If SMU loses, they can still make the Conference USA Championship Game if Houston loses a game as well. Houston also shares common opponents with Texas. Texas' best win was over Oklahoma State, who was defeated by Houston. If Houston falls in the computers, so does Oklahoma State and ultimately Texas.

Revenge Is Sweet As Utes Win Thriller Over Aggies

BrysonCutla — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:27:39 -0000

Final - 11.18.2009	1	2	Total
Utah State Aggies	29	38	67
Utah Utes	26	42	68

Complete Coverage >

Revenge is sweet for the Utes as Carlon Brown scored 22 points to help Utah outlast Utah State 68-67. After Jared Quayle scored the final two of his game-high 27 points on a pair of free throws with 27.6 seconds remaining, Luka Drca made two foul shots for a 67-64 Utah lead.

Tyler Newbold and Quayle missed chances to tie the game and then Quayle had to use his fifth foul to stop the clock. Kim Tillie missed the first free throw but made the second to clinch the game. Jaxon Myaer made a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to provide the final score.

Drca had 11 points and six assists for the Utes (1-1), who were outrebounded 38-27 but forced 17 Aggie turnovers.

Tai Wesley had 14 points for the Aggies (1-1) but made only one basket in the second half.

Quayle picked up the slack with 20 points in the second half and made 5 of 7 3-pointers.

Nate Bendall made a jumper to give the Aggies their biggest lead of the night, 47-40.

Luka Drca answered with a 3-pointer that sparked a string of 11 straight points for Utah. Brown's twisting layup in the lane capped the run and made it 51-47 for the Utes with 8:15 to play.

Of the 222 meetings between the schools, this is the earliest date they have played. Utah leads the series, 130-92. Neither team has won two in a row in the matchup -- the home team has won eight in a row -- since the Aggies won three straight from 2000-02.

The Aggies' zone stifled the Utah offense and forced the Utes to miss 12 3-pointers on their way to a 29-26 halftime lead. Utah did not rebound as effectively as I thought they would but the hardnosed defense made up for it. Utah should continue to get better as they host Southern on Saturday. The Runnin' Utes then will head to Las Vegas for the Las Vegas Invitational.

Runnin' Utes Look For First Win against Utah State

BrysonCutla — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:28:53 -0000

Next Game

Utah State Aggies
@ Utah Utes

Wednesday, Nov 18, 2009, 5:00 PM PST
Jon M. Huntsman Center

TV: The Mtn

Complete Coverage >

Utah (0-1) tries to get its first win of the season tonight against in-state rival Utah State (1-0), which defeated the Runnin' Utes 66-64 on a controversial buzzer beater in Logan last season.

Utah fell to Idaho, picked to finish fourth in the WAC, 94-87, in its opener. The Aggies who were picked to win the WAC, won their opener against Weber State 66-60.

Players to watch for the Aggies will be senior guard Jared Quayle and junior forward Tai Wesley, both were preseason all-WAC picks.

If the Runnin' Utes plan to win this game they must improve three things from last week's loss to Idaho.

1. Freshman Marshall Henderson must stay composed and have better shot selection.

2. Utah must play Utah basketball and control the tempo and rebound effectively.

3. Utah needs to use the crowd as a factor but stay focused and just play basketball.

If the Utes do those things expect for a great game. The home team has won the last seven meetings. Last year the Utes lost their opener then won five in a row.

Opponent preview: How will the Broncos handle Utah State's Diondre Borel and Robert Turbin?

Kevan Lee — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:28:28 -0000

More photos » by Steve C Wilson - AP

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Utah State QB Diondre Borel and RB Robert Turbin are the Aggie offense. And they could be in for a long night on Friday.

Join me after the jump for a closer look at Borel and Turbin, a comparison to a certain loathsome QB in Reno, and some options for the how the Bronco defense might defend. What do you think will be important for the outcome of Friday's game? Share your thoughts in the comments.

10-0, (5-0)

No. 6 Boise State at Utah State

Kickoff: Friday, 7:30pm MT, TV: ESPN2

Weather forecast: mostly cloudy, high of 49

Spread: Boise State by 23

3-7, (2-4)

What Utah State's been up to

Losing, mostly.

Under new head coach Gary Andersen, the Aggies are 3-7 with solid wins over Louisiana Tech and San Jose State and inexplicable losses to Hawaii and New Mexico State. Speaking of NMSU:

All of Utah State's wins this season have come at home, which is exactly where the Aggies get the Broncos on Friday night. What's so magical about Romney Stadium? Is it the apathetic home crowd? The student section with the BYU inferiority complex? The Deseret Industries in-stadium signage? Whatever voodoo the Aggies work in Romney, they will probably need something a little stronger on Friday.

Utah State on offense

OT Spencer Johnson
OG Robert Hill
C Brennan McFadden
OG Philip Gapelu
OT Tanner Richins
TE Jeremy Mitchell
TE Kellen Bartlett
WR Omar Sawyer
WR Xavier Bowman
RB Robert Turbin
QB Diondre Borel

The Aggies run the ubiquitous read option/spread option offense, and it fits perfectly with the skill set of Borel. Turbin and Borel combine to form a pretty decent running game. The receiving corps is a work in progress following the season-ending injury to starter Nnamdi Gwatcham and dings and bruises to leading receiver Stanley Morrison.

The Utah State offensive line has given up the most sacks in the WAC this season, partially because they're the Utah State offensive line and partially because Borel is a scrambler by nature. All of which is to say: WINTERSWYK HUNGRY.

Utah State on defense

DE Quinn Garner
DT Nathan Royster
DT Sean Enesi
DE Junior Keiaho
LB Bobby Wagner
LB Kyle Gallagher
DB Kejon Murphy
DB Quinton Byrd
DB Rajric Coleman
DB Chris Randle
DB Curtis Marsh

The Aggie defense has had its fair share of ups and downs this season. A down? Giving up 360 yards rushing to Hawaii in a loss. An up? Holding San Jose State to nine points. Another down? San Jose State is terrible.

Injuries have played a part. LB Paul Igboeli and S James Brindley have been dinged up. But Anderson thinks that the problems might run a little deeper:

The Aggies (2-6) aren't strong enough in the trenches to win the fourth quarter, Andersen said.

"It is frustrating, but it is where we are," said Andersen, who is in his first year. "It's not easy to fix that in the middle of the season."

In other words: Start Jarvis Hodge in your fantasy league, people.

A closer look at Diondre Borel

The junior QB reminds a lot of people of Nevada's Colin Kaepernick because he is fast, elusive, gangly, erratic, unpolished, dangerous, and comparisons are easy. Is Borel as good as Kaepernick? No. But that's not to say he won't be dangerous.

Borel has showed steady improvement from last season to now both in his decision-making and his passing. But one thing you can't practice? Escapability on bad snaps. Actually, Utah State might practice that.

In case you forgot, Borel didn't even last the first half last season against the Broncos. He was flustered and confused by the Boise State defense, he turned the ball over and made poor decisions, and he found his way to the bench pretty quickly.

I do not believe we will see the same Borel on Friday night. I give him at least a 75 percent chance to last into the third quarter.

Borel has saved his best games this season for the WAC's best teams. See the chart below. Against Nevada and Fresno he put on a show.

2009 Regular Season Game Log			Passing								Rushing
DATE	OPP	RESULT	CMP	ATT	YDS	CMP%	LNG	TD	INT	RAT	ATT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD
9/3	@Utah	L 35-17	10	26	121	38.5	48	0	1	69.86	14	48	3.4	32	1
9/19	@Texas A&M	L 38-30	24	47	334	51.1	49	1	0	117.78	22	34	1.5	18	2
9/26	Southern Utah	W 53-34	15	21	316	71.4	77	3	0	244.98	10	29	2.9	14	0
10/2	@Brigham Young	L 35-17	20	28	213	71.4	32	1	0	147.11	16	38	2.4	13	1
10/10	@New Mexico State	L 20-17	15	25	156	60.0	28	1	0	125.62	10	26	2.6	13	0
10/17	Nevada	L 35-32	25	42	353	59.5	77	3	0	153.70	21	48	2.3	31	0
10/24	Louisiana Tech	W 23-21	17	31	188	54.8	41	1	0	116.43	6	14	2.3	15	0
10/31	@Fresno State	L 31-27	20	31	240	64.5	54	1	0	140.19	22	105	4.8	18	1
11/7	@Hawaii	L 49-36	25	38	344	65.8	43	2	2	148.68	19	18	0.9	12	1
11/14	San Jose State	W 24-9	7	18	50	38.9	17	0	0	62.22	12	73	6.1	27	0

We'll see which Borel shows up on Friday.

A closer look at Robert Turbin

Turbin was sort of a nobody until this season. Last year, he made a brief cameo against the Broncos, scoring one of the Aggies' TDs on a TD reception. But overall, his 2008 was quiet: 485 yards rushing and 334 receiving.

One area where Turbin excelled was in getting to the end zone. He scored 11 times in 2008, and he has hit paydirt 15 times so far in 2009.

Turbin combines surprising speed with strength and toughness, allowing him to break free from tackles and head off to the races. He's not the battering ram of a DeMaundray Woolridge or the human pinball of a Daniel Porter. He's more Ryan Mathews-esque, but in a smaller package.

He and Borel have a nice chemistry, and it pays off on the read option attack and in the passing game. Boise State will definitely want to keep an eye on Turbin on Friday.

What the Broncos do to spread teams like Utah State

Over the past couple seasons, the Broncos have expertly handled a variety of spread offenses, especially those with a read option/spread option specialty. Take a look at Oregon from this season or Southern Miss from last year or virtually any other Bronco opponent who thought that lining up in the shotgun was a good idea.

How do the Broncos do it? The nickelbacker position is a big part. So, too, is pressure from the defensive line and sound tackling from the secondary and linebackers. The scheme that the Broncos come up with rarely fails. It's guessing what that scheme might be that is the true challenge.

Who do you think will have the honors of defending against Borel? Will it be a one-man job or a team effort? The closest comparison I have to defending Utah State is how the Broncos defended Nevada. While the two teams run different offenses, there are enough similarities that we might see some common defensive approaches to each.

In fact, facing Utah State the week before a big showdown against Nevada seems like perfect timing. The Aggie game is almost a warm-up for what the Broncos will see against Nevada. Thank you, scheduling person. Ask Karl Benson for a raise.

The Broncos used George Iloka as a key player in stopping Colin Kaepernick last season. Iloka was always in position to bring Kaepernick down on running plays, and the linebackers and inside linemen were in place to stop RB Vai Taua. I wouldn't be surprised if we see something similar on Friday against Borel and Turbin.

At the same time, I wouldn't be surprised to see something different. Will Winston Venable - who has showed great hustle and tackling ability this season - be the one with QB responsibilities? Will Justin Wilcox put the onus on Kyle Wilson? Where does Jeron Johnson fit in?

I'd be curious to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Other factors

Stopping Borel and Turbin will be a big part to the Broncos' success on Friday. Here are some others:

Scoring in the red zone. I am not naive enough to think that one game fixed all the Broncos' red zone issues. But I am naive enough to think that two games will have fixed it. Here's hoping that Boise State picks up where it left off last week and scores TDs inside the 20. Anything less will only keep the Aggies in the game longer.
Friday night football. The last two games the Broncos have played on Friday night were Fresno and LaTech. Throw in a Wednesday game against Tulsa and primetime has not exactly been kind to the Broncos. I'd love to see them make a statement. This is the team to do it against.
Short yardage. Who will get the big carries in short yardage for the Broncos? Boise State has not been super in these situations yet this year.
Special teams. Titus Young's big return last week could force the Aggies to kick short or away from Young. If so, expect the Broncos to start with great field position.
Which offensive line will show up? Hopefully the one that opens holes. That one's my favorite.

Your turn

What is your take on the Boise State - Utah State game? How do you think the Broncos will defend against Borel and Turbin? What factors might come into play? Feel free to share your analysis in the comments.

Blogpoll Ballot: Week 10

Truzenzuzex — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:15:26 -0000

Well, here we are in week 10. Texas takes the #1 spot on my ballot, although to be honest, it is so close for the top spot that you could make them 1a, 1b, and 1c. The biggest reason for that is their margin of victory over BCS teams and ranked teams compared to Alabama and Florida.

The thing is, though, the three teams are barely a point apart. To quote Charlton Heston in The Ten Commandments, "Can a man choose from among the stars of the sky?" All three teams have a lot to recommend them, but Texas is just drilling everybody, having had only two games this year within ten or less points. So this week, they get my nod for #1. More after the jump.

Rank	Team

1	Texas
2	Florida
3	Alabama
4	Cincinnati
5	TCU
6	Boise State
7	Pittsburgh
8	Georgia Tech
9	Houston
10	Iowa
11	Oregon
12	Ohio State
13	Southern Cal
14	Miami (Florida)
15	LSU
16	Oklahoma State
17	Utah
18	Virginia Tech
19	Stanford
20	Penn State
21	Arizona
22	Clemson
23	North Carolina
24	Auburn
25	Wisconsin

With Iowa losing to Northwestern, the BCS championship game could go to Cincinnati, TCU or Boise State if the SEC powers suffer an upset between now and the SEC championship game, which will be between Florida and Alabama on Dec. 12th.
TCU gets a big test vs. Utah next week. Get past that one and they are BCS bound.
Cincinnati looked vulnerable against an average UConn team. They won, but just barely. With West Virginia, Illinois and Pittsburgh left, I smell an upset coming. I have been a Bearcat dobuter all year, but they have earned my respect.
Speaking of Pittsburgh, the Panthers' road just gets tougher vs. an angry Notre Dame team next week, then the 'Eers and the aforementioned Bearcats. If they win out, they have a case for a major bowl.
The Wramblin' Wreck are looking like the ACC champs to me, and they might just run all over Georgia in the regular season-ending rivalry game.
LSU's only losses this year have been to the SEC division champions.
Utah is poised for a big jump if they win out. Both TCU (away) and BYU (away) remain as opportunities for improvement.
Clemson is peaking too late, I fear.
I was sorely tempted to put Navy in the top 25, but a look at their schedule dissuaded me. Plus, they only beat Notre Dame, who is among the most schizophrenic teams in the country.
Speaking of the Irish, they could really impress some people if they win at Pittsburgh, vs. UConn and at Stanford. But I wouldn't bet on better than 1-3 in that strech.
Speaking of opportunities for improvement, West Virgina visits Cincinnati, gets Pittsburgh at home and then goes to Rutgers. 3-0 in that stretch would mightily improve their bowl picture.
UK's victory at Auburn just keeps getting better and better.

Your comments are welcome, and encouraged.

UK Football: Kentucky vs. Louisiana-Monroe Breakdown

Ken Howlett — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:41:30 -0000

Kentucky enters tonight's 7:00 EST home tilt with the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks looking to push their record over the .500 mark for the first time in a month. Coming off an inspiring 21-14 come-from-behind road victory at Auburn last weekend, UK (3-3, 1-3) figures to have confidence and momentum on their side. The Warhawks, though, aren't exactly Miami (OH). They enter tonight's Commonwealth Stadium contest at 4-2, and a league-leading 3-0 in the Sun Belt Conference.

With UK heading into a stretch of four straight games they should be favored (the 'Cats are favored tonight by 14 points), it's obviously important that the 'Cats continue to maintain focus, but for those battling the demons of complacency, a come-to-Jesus talk with a Wildcat possessing a long memory will result in a history lesson on UK's 42-40 near disastrous defeat to this same Warhawk team in 2006. Yeah, that team: Andre Woodson', Keenan Burton, Wesley Woodyard, Rafael Little, etc, etc. So, taking lightly this Sun Belt Conference member will very likely translate into a game similar to last season's nerve-rattling win over Middle Tennessee ... yet another Sun Belt Conference member.

Over the last three season's, Charlie Weatherbie, the Warhawks veteran coach, has competed very nicely with ULM's SEC opponents -- In 2007 ULM beat Alabama 21-14 (temporarily causing the state to enter into a period of mourning). And to go along with the near win at UK in 2006, last year ULM lost only 28-27 at Arkansas.

In ULM's offense, Kentucky will encounter an attack based on the spread-option ... with a twist; ULM presents the offense with lots of misdirection and motion. Rich Brooks had this to say about the unusual Warhawk offense:

"Offensively they totally mess with your mind. They false key. The pull linemen and run the ball away from where they're pulling them to. All your principles that you teach on defense are out the window in a game like this."

Adding additional question marks to the UK's defensive decision-makers is the absence of ULM starting quarterback Trey Revell. Revell injured his thumb in ULM's 16-10 victory against Arkansas State 11 days ago. He'll be replaced by redshirt freshman Cody Wells.

So without further time-wasting, here is the Warhawk team that UK must put away early:

Warhawk Offensive Personnel

Cody Wells: 6'0", 190 lb redshirt freshman quarterback -- Wells has played in only two games this season, completing seven of 13 passes for 76 yards and one touchdown. After replacing Revell in the Warhawks' game versus Arkansas State, Wells was 5-9 for 67 yards.

In the first five-and-half games of 2009, Revell orchestrated the ULM offense by throwing for 1,124 and eight touchdowns on 81-140 passing (57.9%). He's also proved to be an exceptionally talented runner, rushing 50 times for 194 yards (3.9 yards per carry), and three touchdowns. Wells played well in his relief effort last week, so he comes into Commonwealth with some confidence. He's highly mobile, which fits nicely into the offensive schemes the Warhawks employ.

Frank Goodin: 5'9", 203 lb junior running back -- The Warhawks top ball-carrier, Goodin has rushed 110 times of 558 yards (5.1 ypc), and nine touchdowns. He's also caught six passes for 48 yards (8.0 yards per reception).

Versus Florida International earlier in the year, Goodin ran 19 times for 163 yards and three touchdowns. He's a dangerous runner, possessing both speed and power.

Rodney Lovett: 5'9", 200 lb junior running back -- Lovett has carried the ball 38 times for 147 yards (3.9 ypc), and one touchdown.

Last season against Arkansas Lovett rushed 17 times for 66 yards.

Darrell McNeal: 6'0", 220 lb senior wide receiver -- McNeal has made 24 catches for 360 yards (15.0 yards per reception) and four touchdowns. He also returns punts for the Warhawks; 14 returns for 52 yards (3.7 yards per return).

McNeal has accumulated over 1,600 receiving yards in his career, and he will at times be called upon to take the direct snap out of the "Wildcat" formation. He recorded four rushing touchdowns last season out of the "Wildcat," but has yet to score on the ground this season. Earlier in the year versus Florida International, McNeal made six catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns.

LaGregory Sapp: 6'3", 209 lb fifth-year senior wide receiver -- Sapp has 18 catches for 336 yards (18.7 ypr), and one touchdown.

The deep threat receiver made seven catches for 96 yards earlier this year in a game versus Florida Atlantic.

Luther Ambrose: 5'10", 175 lb sophomore wide receiver -- A triple-threat in every sense of the term, Ambrose has make 14 catches, good for 207 yards (14.8 ypr) and one touchdown, to go along with 13 carries for 121 yards (9.3 ypc) and another touchdown. Not satisfied with double-duty, Ambrose also returns kick-offs; 19 returns for 425 yards (22.4 yards per return).

In ULM's first game of the year versus then-No. 2 Texas, Ambrose recorded 207 all-purpose yards (receptions, rushes, returns). Ambrose is another weapon utilized in an unorthodox manner; UK must be ready for him to receive the ball both through the air and on the ground.

Alvin Jordan: 6'2", 253 lb junior tight end -- Jordan has made 13 catches for 100 yards (7.7 ypr), and one touchdown.

Warhawk Defensive Personnel

Cardia Jackson: 6'2", 230 lb senior linebacker -- The Warhawks leading tackler with 52 on the year (34 solo), the First Team All-Sun Belt Conference member is regarded as ULM's defensive stalwart. He's also recorded two tackles for loss, and two pass breakups.

In 2008, Jackson averaged 10.6 tackles per game, racking up 18 against Ole Miss. In 2006 versus UK, he made nine tackles.

Aaron Morgan: 6'4", 235 lb senior defensive end -- The Second Team All-Sun Belt performer has made 30 tackles (25 solo) with a team-leading 9.0 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He's also had six quarterback hurries.

This season, Morgan has two, two sack games, versus Arizona State and Texas Southern.

Darius Prelow: 6'1", 205 lb sophomore defensive back -- Prelow has made 38 tackles (31 solo), one tackle for loss, and seven pass breakups.

Josh Thomas: 6'2", 228 lb senior cornerback -- Thomas has 38 tackles (30 solo), two tackles for loss, two sacks and three pass breakups.

Thomas, who has started 30 straight games in his college career, recorded a season-high six tackles versus UK in 2006.

Troy Evans: 6'2", 252 lb sophomore defensive end -- Evans in 2009 has made 16 tackles (10 solo), four tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three pass breakups, and three quarterback hurries.

Evans is the reigning SBC Player of the Week after forcing two fumbles late in ULM's 16-10 victory over Arkansas State 11 days ago.

Grant Clayton: 5'7", 160 lb freshman kicker -- Clayton, who handles the kick-off duties, has kicked-off 32 times, recording only one touchback, but opponents are averaging only 20.5 yards per return.

Warhawk Vitals

Louisiana-Monroe boasts the 12th ranked rush defense in the nation, allowing only 93.3 yards rushing per game ... Last week versus Arkansas State, ULM held ASU to a .9 yards per carry average ... In a 38-14 loss to Arizona State, the Warhawks held the Sun Devils to only 3.1 yards per carry ... ULM is a plus 2 on the season in turnover margin, but were a minus 3 in their loss to Arizona State ... ULM beat Texas Southern 58-0 in the seasons second game ... The Warhawks average 30.7 points per game, but give up 27.8 points ... ULM has more than doubled their opponents rush yards; 1,167 (4.6 ypc) to 560 (2.8 ypc) ... ULM converts 42% of their third down opportunities, but their opponents convert 43% ... In red zone chances, ULM has scored 83% of the time (24-29), but their opponents have scored 91% of the time (20-22) ... The Warhawks have also given up a high number of touchdowns in the red zone, 17 of 22 (77%) ... ULM is off to their best start since 1993 ... ULM quarterbacks have been sacked only five times all year ... The Warhawks have recorded a healthy 34 pass breakups.

Charlie Weatherbie

In his seventh year at Louisiana-Monroe, Weatherbie (29-44) has done what he's done twice before: Turn around a moribund football program -- As coach at Utah State, he took the Aggies to their first bowl game in 15 years. In his first season as head coach at Navy, Weatherbie went 9-3 with an Aloha Bowl win. This, coming on the heels of 15 straight losing season for the Midshipmen. He's also the first coach in Navy history to record back-to-back winning seasons --Weatherbie took over a ULM program in 1993 coming off a one win season, and in 2005 won the Sun Belt Conference championship, the Warhawks' first conference title since 1992.

Weatherby will be a formidable adversary for Rich Brooks tonight, and with the uncertainty surrounding the ULM quarterback situation, look for some out-of-the-box strategy from the cagey veteran coach.

Derrick Locke

Kentucky's top running threat is expected to play tonight. Locke, coming off an MCL strain suffered last week at Auburn, practiced lightly this week. Alfonso Smith, coming off a thumb, injury appears to be near 100%. UK will need both backs healthy in their effort to quash any confidence surges from the visiting Warhawks.

Ideally, Locke will rest in the second half of tonight's game, with Smith and Moncell Allen taking over the ball-carrying duties.

CliffsNotes Analysis

Defensively, UK must "stay home," and stay true to their assignments. ULM will use a variety of offensive sets, mixing in the spread-option with the "Wildcat." But, UK has the better athletes, and if the 'Cats attack and wrap-up the way they did last week, holding the Warhawks well below their season scoring average should be an attainable goal.

Offensively, it's the immovable object (ULM rush D) against a surging 'Cat ground attack. After posting the highest team rush total (282 yards) since Bill Curry was calling the plays, UK looks to continue its ground dominance, utilizing Randall Cobb out of the "Wildcat." But, with freshman quarterback Morgan Newton once again earning the start, look for UK to open up the passing game against a Warhawk team that allows 262.5 yards passing per game.

Fearless Prediction

Kentucky 34 ULM 17

Thanks for reading, and Go 'Cats!

Game Day Buff Bites - Colorado Buffaloes vs. Kansas State Wildcats

irish1611 — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:42:16 -0000

Buffs aim for road reversal - The Denver Post

CU is 2-16 on the road under coach Dan Hawkins, including last year's game against Florida State at Jacksonville, a contest that was technically a "neutral site" game although it was played in Florida and more than 1,700 miles from Boulder. The Buffs have lost their past nine road games — including Florida State — and have not won a Big 12 road contest since Oct. 27, 2007, when they beat Texas Tech 31-26. That year, CU also beat Baylor in Waco. Those are the two road wins in the Hawkins era.

KSU ready for Hansen this year - Boulder Daily Camera

It makes sense for CU to do all it can to force that passing game to produce today. If the Buffs allow running back Daniel Thomas, the Big 12's third leading rusher, to have his way, it might be a long day for the defense.

CU wants to stuff the run and make the Wildcats pass. It has been a winning formula for CU twice this season and led to some near-misses as well. Defensive coordinator Ron Collins has the Buffs playing well after a slow start this season. The most dramatic improvement has come in stopping the run. CU has held Kansas and Texas -- both nationally ranked programs -- to a combined total of 38 rushing yards the past two weeks once sack yardage is deducted.

Buffs seek way to win when they leave the state - The Longmont Times-Call

Colorado-Kansas State matchups - Boulder Daily Camera

Ringo picks the Buffs 24 - 21, even suggesting that Colorado matches up even or better against Kansas State in every phase of the game except special teams. Yes, coaching was included in the head to head matchups where the Buffs were considered even with Kansas State.

Big 12 midseason awards, from the haves to the have-nots

Here is a stat I didn't know about Jimmy Smith...who knows if its accurate, I am almost positive it isn't because I know both Shipely and Briscoe caught a ball against him in man coverage but still like the recognition for Smith:

Biggest surprises: In order, the candidates are Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith, who has allowed one completion in man coverage; Texas Tech running back Harrison Jeffers; Texas defensive tackles Kheeston Randall and Ben Alexander; and OSU receiver Hubert Anyiam.

Uncoach of the Year: Colorado's Dan Hawkins wins top — rather, bottom — honors in falling way short of his bid for 10 wins and waiting too long to switch to quarterback Tyler Hansen. However, Sherman could edge out Hawkins if the Aggies win fewer than six games, which is likely.

Big 12 commissioner Beebe preaches patience over realignment - Kansas City Star

"I don’t think it’s healthy to have one division that’s just clearly dominant," he said. Beebe preaches a mixture of creativity and patience. "At the beginning of the conference (1996), you had Kansas State, Nebraska and Colorado were the dominant teams," he said. "Texas and Oklahoma weren’t as good. I think it could be cyclical and that we could be in the situation where that might turn around someday."

Buffs out to earn respect this year - Boulder Daily Camera

"I feel a little bit of anger," Cory Higgins said as he looked around the room at his more popular and appreciated peers. "I just want to earn respect I guess. It`s about that time. I`ll use this as motivation." Higgins, selected All-Big 12 third team as a sophomore, has earned individual accolades. The 6-foot-5 junior guard led the conference in steals (59), was fifth in the conference in scoring (17.5 ppg) and also led CU in rebounding (5.4 rpg) last season.

Friday football roundup | After School
Colorado Buffaloes commit Nick Hirschman is piling up the stats right now. Last night, he completed 12 passes for 413 yards and five scores. His Los Gatos team won 47 - 0.

Seniors Nick Hirschman and Andrew Berg put on a show, hooking up for four touchdowns, including back-to-back strikes of 70 and 69 yards. Hirschman finished 12-of-17 for 413 yards and five touchdowns; Berg had 247 yards receiving and four touchdowns. Jake Hackman-Salazar added 166 receiving yards and a TD. Joey Visuzzi had 19 tackles, Alec Gletzer added 14 tackles and Charlie Zweng had two fumble recoveries for Los Gatos.