Boise State vs. Fresno State: Who gets the edge, players to watch in MW championship

When the Broncos run the ball ...

Boise State rushed for 107 yards against Fresno State last Saturday, its longest gain a 21-yarder by quarterback Montell Cozart. The Broncos, who struggled to run early in the season, have put up two of their three lowest rushing performances the last two weeks (90 on Nov. 18).

“We’ve just got to execute. We gave up too many plays, we missed too many opportunities,” Boise State running back Alexander Mattison said. “Against any team, that’s going to eat you up and come back to bite you. We need to clean it up.”

[Fresno State at Boise State, 5:45 p.m. Saturday, ESPN]

The Bulldogs have allowed more than 173 rushing yards once this season, and it was to Alabama, which had 305. Fresno State is 15th in the Football Bowl Subdivision in rush defense (117.3 yards per game) and has yielded just four rushing touchdowns in conference play.

ADVANTAGE: Fresno State

When the Broncos pass the ball ...

The Broncos were 6 yards shy of a fifth straight 300-yard passing game last week, and junior quarterback Brett Rypien went another game without an interception. He’s thrown one in his last 206 attempts. Nine players caught passes against the Bulldogs.

Boise State’s 294 yards passing were the second-most allowed by the Bulldogs this season. They have just one interception in the last six games. The Bulldogs have 28 sacks, tied for No. 1 in the Mountain West, and they’re allowing a conference-low 6.2 yards per attempt.

“They were really physical. Their front seven played really well, I thought,” Rypien said. “Their DBs tackle very well. They did a really good job against us.”

ADVANTAGE: Boise State

When the Bulldogs run the ball ...

The attack has been methodical, with not many long plays, as the Bulldogs’ five runs of 20 yards or more are second-fewest in the FBS. The only team with fewer, Western Kentucky, is last in the nation in rushing. Fresno State is 76th (158.5 ypg), with three backs rushing for 456 yards or more.

Boise State held Fresno State to 99 yards in the regular-season finale, the sixth time in 2017 the Broncos have held a team to less than 100. Their 3.47 yards per carry allowed is tied for 19th-best in the FBS, a nice improvement over the 4.31 allowed last season.

“They’re explosive. They showed it when we played them last week. They’ve got a lot of good athletes, they can run the ball if you’re not focusing on that, and they can pass,” Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch said. “Defense has to be in full communication.”

ADVANTAGE: Boise State

When the Bulldogs pass the ball ...

Ex-Boise State wide receiver Kirby Moore’s group was impressive, led by the duo of KeeSean Johnson and Jamire Jordan, who combined for 210 yards receiving. The Bulldogs’ offensive line held the Broncos without a sack, something it has done three of the last four games.

The Broncos couldn’t find an answer for QB Marcus McMaryion, who hit on passes at each level, including four passes of 30 yards or more. Boise State allowed its second-highest passing total of the season, and its two-game streak without an interception is the longest of 2017.

“They really game-planned us, they had their stuff together, and their quarterback is very smart. ... I’d say they were the best group of receivers we’ve seen this year,” Boise State safety DeAndre Pierce said.

ADVANTAGE: Push

Special teams ...

Boise State has allowed minus-3 yards on punt returns the last six games. The Bulldogs have allowed just 1 punt return yard the last five games, but they’ve allowed 37- and 77-yard returns this season.

Fresno State kicker Jimmy Camacho has made 21-of-25 field goal attempts, including two 50-yarders, while Boise State’s Haden Hoggarth is 16-of-19, though he missed one against the Bulldogs. Boise State has two punt return TDs, and Fresno State has blocked two kicks.

“Their specialists did a great job last game, didn’t give us many opportunities, so we’re going to have to step up this game,” Boise State returner Avery Williams said.

ADVANTAGE: Push

FRESNO STATE

Marcus McMaryion, quarterback

Boise State knew the junior transfer from Oregon State could make plays, and he proved it with a season-high 332 yards passing, completing 63.9 percent without a turnover. He’s thrown interceptions in two of the Bulldogs’ 12 games this year, and has the team’s longest rush (57).

“He’s able to do it on the ground, and he’s definitely capable of doing it in the air. ... He made some plays on Saturday. We’ve got to do a better job in leverage,” Boise State defensive coordinator Andy Avalos said.

Aaron Mitchell, center

The 6-foot-2, 305-pound All-Mountain West second-team selection anchors a line that on 354 pass attempts has allowed just seven sacks, second-fewest in the nation. Only Army has allowed fewer, and the Black Knights have passed 60 times all season.

“He is the heart and soul of the offensive line, and you can extend that to the rest of the offense,” Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford said of the senior. “... The only way you can get better is with those types of leaders.”

Malik Forrester, defensive tackle

A 6-foot-1, 295-pound senior from Annapolis, Maryland, Forrester is a force on the inside. He has seven tackles for loss on the season, including four sacks. He has a sack in back-to-back games, including a safety with less than 2 minutes left against Boise State.

“He goes hard, he has a good motor, and he’s quick,” Boise State center Mason Hampton said.

BOISE STATE

Cedrick Wilson, wide receiver

A first-team All-Mountain West selection, the senior has more than settled into the No. 1 role, with 1,142 yards receiving. That’s good for No. 9 in the FBS and fifth-most in a single season in Boise State history. He’s 131 yards shy of becoming No. 2, 271 from being No. 1.

“He’s the perfect example of what you want from a (junior college) guy — came in, learned the offense really quick, was productive his first year and has just gotten better every single day, hasn’t looked back,” quarterback Brett Rypien said.

Alexander Mattison, running back

The sophomore crossed the 1,000-yard plateau last week and has 1,024 yards rushing on the season, 858 in the last eight games. He needs 250 yards to break into the top 10 in school history for a single season. His 15 carries last week were his second-fewest since Oct. 6.

“I don’t expect to not get the ball, I don’t expect to get the ball either,” Mattison said. “I just know whether I’m getting it, whether I’m not, I have to do my job.”

Leighton Vander Esch, linebacker

Boise State’s first conference defensive player of the year since 2006, the junior leads the team with 113 tackles and also has three sacks, two interceptions and three forced fumbles. He didn’t move into the starting lineup until this season after missing half of 2016 as a backup.

“I think he deserved it, he’s put in the work ever since he got here ... he’s wherever the ball is,” Wilson said. “He took the bull by the horns and took it down soon as he got his chance. He acted like it was his spot since Day 1.”

This story was originally published December 1, 2017 at 11:58 AM with the headline "Boise State vs. Fresno State: Who gets the edge, players to watch in MW championship."