Boise State senior defensive tackle Chase Baker strained a calf muscle in practice last week and missed Saturday’s game. Coach Chris Petersen said he’s hopeful Baker will play Saturday against Air Force.
Baker also missed the Tulsa game.
Junior Mike Atkinson has started in his place both times.
Junior left guard Joe Kellogg made the trip but didn’t play. His knee injury from the season opener against Georgia remains a problem. He could have played if necessary, Petersen said. Sophomore Spencer Gerke made his second start.
Senior Cory Yriarte started at center as Thomas Byrd missed his fourth straight start. Byrd, who missed all of the past three games, played sparingly.
Petersen reiterated his comments from earlier in the season that Byrd is “old.”
“He’s got a lot of mileage on those knees,” he said. “We’ll keep working him back in.”
TJONG-A-TJOE STILL OUT
Boise State sophomore defensive tackle Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe still has not been reinstated by the NCAA. President Bob Kustra said he hopes that decision will be made soon.
“We absolutely do not know when, but I can tell you that the NCAA has all of the material,” he said. “There is nothing more Boise State has to provide them. They have everything they need now to make the decision. And I would hope they can make that in a reasonable period of time. Based on the way they handled the first two (cases, involving Cedric Febis and Geraldo Boldewijn), I would hope that they could handle this in a week or so.”
INJURIES HURT RAMS
Colorado State’s best offensive lineman, tackle Paul Madsen (knee), and leading tackler, linebacker Mike Orakpo (head), were injured in the first half and didn’t return.
Orakpo lost his helmet and was involved in a tackle 7 yards away.
OH, THOSE TRICKY … RAMS?
Colorado State scored two first-half touchdowns on trick-play passes — giving the Rams three trick-play touchdown passes on the season.
The first play was a double pass. Quarterback Pete Thomas lateraled to tight end Crockett Gillmore, who threw a 27-yard scoring strike to fullback Joe Brown.
On the second play, wide receiver Charles Lovett took a handoff to the right and threw an easy 20-yard pass to wide receiver Matt Yemm.
The Broncos were completely fooled on both plays.
“We knew they were coming and no, we don’t tip our cap, because it makes you mad,” said Petersen, who knows a thing or two about trick plays. “I wish we were at least closer in terms of defending them, but that’s why you run them.”
DEFENSIVE ENDS DELIVER
Boise State seniors Tyrone Crawford and Shea McClellin made significant impacts. Crawford recorded five tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery. McClellin grabbed his third career interception and blocked a PAT.
“On defense for us it starts with the D-line and those guys are going to be at the forefront,” Petersen said. “Shea, he never surprises me whatever happens out there. You almost just expect something is going to happen good when he’s out there.”
ANOTHER MISSED KICK
Boise State redshirt freshman kicker Dan Goodale made all nine PATs on Saturday but pushed a 27-yard field-goal attempt wide right on the final play of the first half. Goodale is 2-for-3 on field goals this season but one of his makes banked off the left upright. He has missed four PATs.
“Our protection needs to be better,” Petersen said. “When the protection was good, the ball was jumping up there pretty good.”
QUICK HITS
Boise State’s captains were tailback D.J. Harper, Yriarte, wide receiver Mitch Burroughs and safety Travis Stanaway. … Boise State won the coin toss and deferred. … Nickel Hunter White deflected a punt in the first half, the Broncos’ third blocked punt this season. White has two of them. … Wide receiver Tyler Jackson of Castle Rock, Colo., gained 10 yards on a lateral late in the fourth quarter.
