UC Davis vs. Boise State Football 2009
No. 5 Broncos Face FCS Opponent in Homecoming Matchup
Sep 29, 2009
So if the football game between Boise State and UC Davis turns out to be a mismatch of monstrous proportions, there's good reason.
Boise State (4-0) will carry its highest regular season ranking ever into its Saturday, Oct. 3 homecoming game vs. UC Davis at Boise, Idaho. The Broncos moved up to No. 5 in the AP rankings this week, matching the spot they gained in the final 2006 AP poll after upsetting Oklahoma 43-42 in the Fiesta Bowl.
UC Davis, a school located in a Northern California town just west of Sacramento, is 1-2 after defeating Western Oregon 29-13 last week. Coach Bob Biggs' team is a member of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision – one step below Boise State, which is in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
The Aggies, who feature the FCS receptions leader in the Chris Carter, will be playing an FBS school for the second time this season. They lost 51-0 at Fresno State in their season opener Sept. 5.
Boise State also had a tough time at Fresno State, but not like that. The Broncos defeated the Bulldogs 51-34 in a Western Athletic Conference game on Sept. 18. Last week, Boise won at Bowling Green, 49-14.
The Broncos will be looking to tune up for their Oct .14 Western Athletic Conference matchup vs. Tulsa. For UC Davis, the key game is an Oct. 10 Great West Conference opener at South Dakota.
Saturday's matchup, scheduled for 5 p.m. PST, will be telecast by KTVB Channel 7 in the Boise area, and by Comcast SportsNet Plus in the Davis area.
Boise State in Strong Position for BCS Run
The objective is clear for coach Chris Petersen's Broncos. They're looking to run the table and break into a BCS bowl game like they did in 2006. Boise State's even better positioned to so this season, being in the top five before the midway point of the season.
The four teams ahead of the Broncos – Florida, Texas, Alabama and LSU – all have rugged conference matchups ahead. LSU, for instance, must play Florida and Alabama. Texas has remaining games vs. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
While the Broncos have the potentially tough WAC game with Tulsa on the horizon, they figure to be favored in all of their remaining contests. Boise State's future BCS standing will also be helped out if No. 16 Oregon can continue its winning ways.
The Ducks, who lost to Boise State 19-8 in the season opener, dominated then-No. 6 Cal 42-3 last week. And the better Oregon looks, the better Boise looks.
Boise QB Moore Continues to Excel
Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore, who surprised observers with a sterling freshman season, is continuing to sparkle as a sophomore. He's completed 70 of 101 passes for 932 yards with 10 TDs. Moore's thrown just one interception, and he's been sacked just twice.???? His passing efficiency rating of 177.51 ranks second in the FBS.
Titus Young (20 catches, 247 yards, 3 TDs) and Austin Pettis (18 catches, 249 yards, 4 TDs) have been a powerful one-two punch at receiver. Other pass-catching threats include tight end Kyle Efaw (9 catches, 96 yards) and Tyler Shoemaker (7 receptions, 160 yards, 1 TD).
The Broncos lost running back D.J. Harper to a season-ending knee injury vs. Fresno, but the ground game still looks to be in fine shape with Jeremy Avery (57 carries, 393 yards, 1 TD) and Doug Martin (22 carries, 151 yards, 3 TDs). Avery also has seven receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown.
Boise State is averaging 452.8 yards per game, rushing for 214.2 and passing for 238.5. The Broncos are outscoring their opposition by an average of 41.8 to 14.
Boise Has Forced 11 Turnovers
Although Boise State was bruised for more than 500 yards by Fresno State, it's still yielding only 283.8 yards per game. Just 120.5 have come via the run.
Boise's also forced 11 turnovers, including nine interceptions. Safety Jeron Johnson and linebacker Aaron Tevis have two picks apiece, and Johnson's also blocked a kick.
Sophomores Billy Winn and Chase Baker have been disruptive forces from their defensive tackle positions. Winn has a team highs 18 tackles and 5.5 tackles for losses, including one for a safety. Baker, frequently the object of double teams, has made 12 tackles, two for losses.
Johnson and freshman linebacker J.C. Percy have 16 tackles each, safety George Iloka and linebacker Hunter White have contributed 14 apiece, and defensive end Ryan Winterswyk has two sacks and four tackles for losses among his 12 stops.
Last week, Boise faced the FBS receptions leader Freddie Barnes of Bowling Green. Barnes, who had 42 catches in three games, was limited to four catches for 24 yards. On Saturday, the Broncos will take on Carter, who has 33 catches in three games to lead the FCS.
UC Davis Airs Things Out
UC Davis is a passing team – to the extreme. The Aggies are averaging just 48.7 yards per game, and leading rusher Joe Trombetta has just 106 yards in three contests.
QB Greg Denham is averaging more than 50 throws per game, going 90-for-158 for 775 yards, with three touchdowns and four interceptions. More than a third of the passes have gone to 6-0, 195-pound senior Carter, who's managed 308 yards but no TDs.
Carter's averaging less than 10 yards per receptions, but so are virtually all of the Davis receivers. Sean Credick is second on the team with 19 catches for 137 yards, and Bakari Grant and Trombetta have 11 catches apiece, for 137 and 81 yards, respectively.
The Aggies are averaging 307 yards per game, and giving up 356.7. Their defense is led by linebackers Dozie Amajoyi (18 tackles) and MIke Morales (15 tackles), defensive end Erick Sobtka (14 tackles) and defensive tackle Jacob Maxson (3 tackles for losses). Safety Danny Hart has three fumble recoveries.
Saturday's game will mark the first-ever between Boise State and UC Davis.
