Who has the edge and players to watch as Boise State travels to Colorado State
WHO HAS THE EDGE?
When the Broncos run the ball
Boise State is coming off its best rushing performance of the season last weekend in a hostile environment at Utah State. From the first snap of the game, the Broncos’ offensive line pushed the Aggies around to the tune of 297 rushing yards.
Colorado State is giving up an average of 205.4 yards per game on the ground, which ranks No. 11 in the Mountain West, and the Rams gave up 154 yards last week to Wyoming’s Xazavian Valladay. They’ll face a more explosive running back Friday in Boise State freshman George Holani, who averaged 11.1 yards per carry and posted a career-high 178 rushing yards at Utah State.
“At the end of the day, George is one of those guys who has that savvy, has that knack to find holes and be slippery and be strong and break tackles,” Boise State offensive coordinator Zak Hill told the media Tuesday. “He smells the end zone, and he’s just a natural football player.”
With a division title and home-field advantage in the Mountain West championship game already wrapped up, complacency may be an issue for some, but Holani and the offensive line have reason to be extra motivated. Holani is only 130 yards from giving the Broncos 11 straight years with a 1,000-yard rusher.
“Our guys, and it’s been building throughout the season, are playing with a chip on their shoulder,” Hill said.
Edge: Boise State
When the Broncos pass the ball
Between two quarterbacks, Wyoming managed just eight completions and 81 passing yards against Colorado State. Pedestrian passing numbers are nothing new for a team that relies so heavily on a physical run game, but the Cowboys aren’t the only team that has struggled to throw the ball against the Rams this season. Colorado State is giving up 175.1 passing yards a game, which leads the Mountain West.
The Rams don’t intercept a lot of passes (13 the past two seasons), but they have a star in the middle of the field in safety Jamal Hicks and the secondary is aided by a pass rush that has produced 27 sacks, the third-best total in the conference. Hicks plays downhill, and he’s a sure tackler. He finished last season with 93 stops and leads the Rams this fall with 102.
“I know record-wise it doesn’t show, but I know what kind of team we’re playing,” Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said during his weekly press conference Monday. “Their front seven on defense is very tough, they play a lot of guys on the back end and they’re all scrappy and they’re all tough.”
Boise State’s play callers have done a good job this season getting a lot of receivers involved and being creative with how they get them the ball. Whether the Broncos are running reverses, giving direct snaps or flicking it to receivers on a shovel pass, defenses have to account for John Hightower, Khalih Shakir, CT Thomas and Akilian Butler on every play.
The question remains who will start at quarterback for the Broncos. Senior Jaylon Henderson has started the past two games and led the team to 98 points. True freshman Hank Bachmeier and sophomore Chase Cord participated in pregame warmups last weekend in Logan, Utah, and both were on the sideline in uniform during the game, but neither played.
Cord started Boise State’s overtime win against Wyoming on Nov. 9. After taking a hit, he briefly went into the medical tent but returned to finish. Bachmeier started the first six games of the season before missing the Broncos’ loss at BYU thanks to a hit he took on a scramble the week before against Hawaii. He returned to start at San Jose State and briefly left the game with what appeared to be a shoulder injury before returning to finish the fourth-quarter comeback. He hasn’t played since.
Edge: Boise State
When the Rams run the ball
Colorado State is without leading rusher Marvin Kinsley, Jr., who was suspended indefinitely in October after posting 703 yards and six touchdowns through the first seven games of the season. Junior Marcus McElroy and freshmen Jaylen Thomas and Christian Hunter have carried the load since, but the backfield combined for just 48 yards against Wyoming.
During his weekly press conference Monday, Colorado State coach Mike Bobo was none too pleased with his running game. He said McElroy and Thomas would continue to share carries, but Hunter may see his workload increase.
“Wyoming whipped our butts up front, and we didn’t break any tackles as running backs, which you’ve got to do sometimes,” Bobo said. “We have to use smoke and mirrors sometimes to run the ball. We have a hard time running at people, and It’s on everybody involved to get the running game going.”
Boise State shut down Utah State’s running game last weekend. The Aggies had just 5 rushing yards in the first quarter, and they finished with 121.
The Broncos are giving up 117.4 rushing yards a game, which ranks No. 4 in the conference. They’ve been aided by a veteran defensive line, anchored by seniors Sonatane Lui and Chase Hatada, and the emergence of active safety Jordan Happle, who has posted 18 tackles since returning from injury on Nov. 2 at San Jose State.
Edge: Boise State
When the Rams pass the ball
Harsin called cornerback Jalen Walker’s pick-six the play of the game in last weekend’s win at Utah State. Walker said he knew the pass was coming because in film study during the week, he picked up on Aggies quarterback Jordan Love’s tendency to go to that receiver on a three-step drop.
The Broncos’ defensive backs may need to spend a little extra time in the film room this week because they’re going to face a talented group of receivers at Colorado State, led by senior Warren Jackson, who leads the Mountain West with 1,035 receiving yards. His 69 receptions are third in the conference, and his seven touchdown catches are tied for third. At 6-foot-6, he’s the tallest receiver Boise State has faced this season.
“One thing with their offense, they have the ability to do both — run the ball and have an explosive passing game,” Boise State defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding said. “They have an elite receiver they can get the ball up to. … I understand about their record, but I don’t think too much about that when I see 30 points, 40 points. Those guys have put points on people, and they have the ability to balance you out.”
Colorado quarterback Patrick O’Brien has a couple more steady targets in Donte Wright (55 catches, 756 yards, four TDs) and tight end Trey McBride (36 catches, 459 yards, three TDs). But like the Rams’ secondary, the Broncos get a hand from a pass rush that has produced the most sacks in the Mountain West with 33.
Edge: Push
Special teams
For the second week in a row, the Broncos face one of the top kick returners in the conference. Last weekend, they held Utah State’s Savon Scarver in check. On Friday, they’ll kick to Colorado State’s Anthony Hawkins, whose 27.3 yards per return ranks No. 2 in the Mountain West, right behind Scarver and ahead of Boise State’s Hightower (25.3).
The Rams have had three kickers attempt a field goal this season. Freshman Cayden Camper has handled the largest workload, going 7-of-13 with a long of 50 yards. Punter Ryan Stonehouse is averaging 46.4 yards per punt, and he has sent 15 more than 50 yards.
Stonehouse may not be too keen on punting to Boise State’s Avery Williams, though. Williams’ 74-yard return for a touchdown at Utah State made him the only punt returner in the country with two this season. He also returned one 66 yards for a score at San Jose State and now has four career punt return touchdowns.
Edge: Push
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BOISE STATE
Jalen Walker, CB
Walker prepared during the week leading up to last week’s win at Utah State for a three-step drop. When he saw Utah State quarterback Jordan Love do exactly that, he broke on the ball and was at full speed by the time he stepped in front of the intended receiver.
“There was zero hesitation on that play,” Boise State defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding said. “He made a decision and went with it, and really it was a game-changer.”
Walker was already having a big game before that with three pass breakups in the first quarter, one of which was in the end zone. The pick-six was his first career interception, and the junior leads the team this season with eight pass breakups.
Jaylon Henderson, QB
Henderson made his second career start last weekend at Utah State in place of Hank Bachmeier and Chase Cord, both of whom were on the sideline in uniform. He guided the offense to another quick start and a second straight victory. In two games with Henderson taking the snaps, the Broncos have scored 98 points.
At Utah State, he used his legs to set up a pair of touchdowns, including a 23-yard scramble, which set up a 1-yard score by running back Robert Mahone.
Coach Bryan Harsin has not announced which quarterback will start Friday, but Colorado State coach Mike Bobo hasn’t seen any drop-off with Henderson at quarterback.
“They’ve been pretty explosive on offense with him,” Bobo said. “He gives them another dimension, running the ball.”
George Holani, RB
Holani needs 130 yards to extend Boise State’s streak of seasons with a 1,000-yard rusher to 11 straight. He carried the ball a season-high 28 times for a career-high 126 yards and four touchdowns Nov. 2 at San Jose State. Last week at Utah State, his first carry went for 35 yards and he set a new career mark with 178 yards.
Bobo ended his press conference Monday talking about how Holani and Mahone shared the load early in the season but Holani has become more of the featured back in recent weeks. As he pushed away from the microphone at the end, Bobo said, “And I think that’s what’s helped them in the run game here recently.”
“I think he has really good vision and balance, and he does a really good job of breaking tackles,” Bobo said. “He has a great skill set, and you can see a guy that’s become more comfortable in their offense.”
COLORADO STATE
Warren Jackson, WR
At 6-foot-6 and 218 pounds, Jackson presents a unique physical challenge. He has the size to box defenders out and win jump balls, and he has the athleticism to burn defensive backs deep.
“He’s a big, physical receiver, and he runs really good routes. His ball skills are good, too,” Boise State safety Evan Tyler told the media Tuesday. “I know they really target him, and he’s an all-around good receiver.”
Jackson leads the Mountain West with 1,035 receiving yards, and he leads Colorado State with 69 receptions and seven receiving touchdowns.
He had a stretch in the middle of the season where he was nearly unstoppable. It began with a career-high 12 catches for 132 yards and a touchdown against Toledo. He followed that with a career-high 214 receiving yards and a couple touchdowns against New Mexico, posted nine catches for 178 yards and another score the following week at Fresno State and completed the stretch with six grabs for 133 yards against UNLV.
Trey McBride, TE
McBride has played a larger role in the passing game in recent weeks. Two weeks ago against Air Force, he caught a season-high six passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. Last weekend against Wyoming, he matched his receptions mark and fell one shy of tying his season high in receiving yards with 78.
The 6-3, 245-pound sophomore from Fort Morgan, Colorado, started five games last season. This fall, he’s third on the team with 36 catches for 459 yards and three touchdowns.
“We’ve always got a plan to try to get Trey involved,” Bobo said Monday, adding that he thought McBride played his most complete game of the season against Wyoming. “He mighta had 20-plus knockdowns, he was really good in the passing game and he was aggressive the whole game.”
Patrick O’Brien, QB
Following a season-ending injury to starter Collin Hill in week three, O’Brien — a transfer from Nebraska — made his first career start Sept. 21 against Toledo and completed 32-of-52 passes for 405 yards and a touchdown in a 41-35 win. This season, O’Brien is completing 61.4 percent of his passes, and he’s thrown for 2,514 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.
O’Brien was an Elite 11 finalist in 2015 and a four-star recruit coming out of high school. He redshirted at Nebraska in 2016 and made four appearances as a backup in 2017 before transferring to Colorado State.
BOISE STATE DEPTH CHART
Quarterback
19 Hank Bachmeier, 6-1, 202 (Fr.)
10 Chase Cord, 6-2, 208 (RSo.)
9 Jaylon Henderson, 6-1, 210 (RSr.)
Running back
34 Robert Mahone, 5-10, 218 (RJr.)
21 Andrew Van Buren, 6-0, 223 (So.)
24 George Holani, 5-11, 192 (Fr.)
Wide receiver
16 John Hightower, 6-2, 172 (Sr.)
1 Octavius Evans, 6-1, 209 (Jr.)
Wide receiver
6 CT Thomas, 5-8, 182 (Jr.) OR
2 Khalil Shakir, 6-0, 186 (So.)
Wide receiver
7 Akilian Butler, 5-10, 182 (RSr.)
82 Stefan Cobbs, 6-0, 178 (RFr.)
18 Billy Bowens, 6-1, 187 (RFr.)
Tight end
85 John Bates, 6-6, 255 (RJr.)
5 Garrett Collingham, 6-4, 242 (RSr.)
47 Matt Pistone, 6-3, 246 (RSr.)
88 Tyneil Hopper, 6-2, 231 (RFr.)
Left tackle
76 Ezra Cleveland, 6-6, 310 (RJr.)
73 Nick Crabtree, 6-7, 295 (RJr.)
Left guard
77 John Molchon, 6-5, 318 (RSr.)
72 Dallas Holliday, 6-3, 306 (RFr.)
Center
67 Garrett Larson, 6-4, 303 (RSr.)
55 Kekaniokoa Holomalia-Gonzalez, 6-2, 293 (RFr.)
Right guard
79 Eric Quevedo, 6-4, 302 (RSr.)
68 Jake Stetz, 6-2, 294 (RSo.)
Right tackle
70 John Ojukwu, 6-6, 300 (RSo.)
69 Garrett Curran, 6-5, 292 (RFr.)
Defensive end
93 Chase Hatada, 6-3, 262 (Sr.)
54 Matt Locher, 6-2, 270 (RSr.) OR
40 Jabari Watson, 6-1, 269 (RJr.)
Nose tackle
98 Sonatane Lui, 6-1, 283 (Sr.)
57 Emmanuel Fesili, 6-2, 312 (Sr.) OR
90 Scale Igiehon, 6-2, 306 (So.)
Defensive tackle
55 David Moa, 6-3, 296 (6YSr.)
62 Scott Matlock, 6-4, 283 (RFr.)
STUD end
99 Curtis Weaver, 6-3, 265 (RJr.)
38 Demetri Washington, 6-3, 254 (RFr.)
Weak-side linebacker
44 Riley Whimpey, 6-1, 233 (Jr.)
3 Brandon Hawkins, 6-2, 217 (RFr.)
Middle linebacker
25 Benton Wickersham, 6-2, 230 (R.Jr.)
48 Bruno DeRose, 5-11, 223 (RJr.)
Nickel/strong-side LB
28 Kekaula Kaniho, 5-10, 182 (Jr.)
20 Roman Kafentzis, 6-1, 212 (RSo.)
Cornerback
26 Avery Williams, 5-9, 198 (RJr.)
8 Markel Reed, 6-0, 176 (Fr.)
Cornerback
15 Jalen Walker, 6-0, 179 (RJr.)
22 Tyric LeBeauf, 6-2, 180 (RFr.)
Boundary Safety
10 Kekoa Nawahine, 6-2, 207 (Sr.)
33 JL Skinner, 6-4, 213 (Fr.)
Field Safety
32 Jordan Happle, 5-11, 208 (RJr.)
21 Tyreque Jones, 6-2, 201 (RSo.)
Kicker
36 Eric Sachse, 5-10, 198 (RSr.)
46 Joel Velazquez, 6-0, 225 (RJr.)
Kick returner
16 John Hightower, 6-2, 172 (Sr.)
26 Avery Williams, 5-9, 198 (RJr.)
Punter
46 Joel Velazquez, 6-0, 225 (RJr.)
36 Eric Sachse, 5-10, 198 (RSr.)
Punt returner
26 Avery Williams, 5-9, 198 (RJr.)
2 Khalil Shakir, 6-0, 186 (So.)
COLORADO STATE DEPTH CHART
Quarterback
12 Patrick O’Brien, 6-4, 240 (R-Jr.)
2 Justice McCoy, 6-1, 207 (R-So.)
Running back
32 Marcus McElroy, 5-11, 228 (Jr.) OR
28 Christian Hunter, 5-10, 198 (Fr.) OR
27 Jaylen Thomas, 5-10, 214 (Fr.)
Fullback
46 Adam Prentice, 6-0, 243 (R-Jr.)
82 Isiah Pannunzio, 6-1, 236 (R-Jr.)
Tight end
85 Trey McBride, 6-4, 258 (So.)
84 Gary Williams, 6-1, 235 (R-Fr.)
Wide receiver
9 Warren Jackson, 6-6, 218 (Jr.)
4 Nate Craig-Myers, 6-2, 202 (Jr.)
Wide receiver
22 Dante Wright, 5-8, 168 (Fr.)
23 Brenden Fulton 5-9 190 (R-Sr.)
Wide receiver
3 E.J. Scott, 6-1, 194 (R-So.)
81 Ty McCullouch, 5-11, 173 (Fr.)
Left tackle
72 T.J. Storment, 6-7, 325 (RJr.)
76 John Blasco Jr., 6-6, 324 (R-So.)
Left guard
73 Nouredin Nouili, 6-3, 295 (Fr.)
70 Joctavis Phillips, 6-4, 329 (R-So.)
Center
64 Scott Brooks, 6-2, 303 (Jr.)
60 Florian McCann, 6-3, 303 (R-Fr.)
Right guard
71 Jeff Taylor, 6-0 307 (Jr.)
56 Ches Jackson, 6-4, 294 (R-Fr.)
Right tackle
69 Barry Wesley, 6-66, 305 (R-So.)
77 Keith Williams, 6-7, 310 (R-Jr.)
Defensive end
33 Manny Jones, 6-3, 269 (Jr.)
99 Damion Dickens, 6-1, 264 (Sr.)
Defensive tackle
98 Ellison Hubbard, 6-0, 286 (Jr.)
92 Livingston Paogofie, 6-1, 269 (Jr.)
Defensive tackle
94 Devin Phillips, 6-1, 311 (So.)
97 Toby McBride, 6-2, 277 (R-Jr.)
Defensive end
1 Jalen Bates, 6-4, 254 (R-Sr.)
91 Jan-Phillip Bombek, 6-2, 253 (Sr.)
Linebacker
24 Tron Folsom, 6-1, 211 (Sr.)
42 Mohamed Kamara, 6-2, 236 (Fr.)
Linebacker
12 Cam’Ron Carter, 6-0, 221 (So.)
43 Troy Golden, 6-1, 214 (R-Fr.)
Linebacker
5 Dequan Jackson, 6-1, 228 (So.)
44 Max McDonald, 6-0, 239 (R-Jr.)
Cornerback
4 Rashad Ajayi, 5-11, 183 (So.)
26 Marshaun Cameron, 5-8, 181 (Jr.)
Safety
7 Jamal Hicks, 6-0, 203 (Sr.)
8 Quinn Brinnon, 5-11, 205 (So.)
Safety
37 Logan Stewart, 6-0, 214 (R-Jr.)
10 Tywan Francis, 5-10, 194 (So.)
Cornerback
11 Andre Neal, 6-0, 196 (Sr.)
14 Anthony Hawkins, 5-10, 201 (Sr.)
Kicker
83 Braxton Davis, 5-11, 180 (R-Sr.) OR
95 Cayden Camper, 6-5, 205 (Fr.)
Kick returner
14 Anthony Hawkins, 5-10, 201 (Sr.)
23 Brenden Fulton, 5-9, 190 (R-Sr.)
Punter
41 Ryan Stonehouse, 5-9, 171 (Jr.)
67 Joe DeLine, 5-11, 202 (R-Jr.)
Punt returner
22 Dante Wright, 5-8, 168 (Fr.)
23 Brenden Fulton, 5-9, 190 (R-Sr.)
NO. 20 BOISE STATE AT COLORADO STATE
When: 1:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Canvas Stadium (36,500), Fort Collins, Colorado
TV: CBS Sports Network (Rich Waltz, Aaron Murray, AJ Ross)
Radio: KBOI 670 AM (Bob Behler, Pete Cavender)
Records: Boise State is 10-1 overall, 7-0 Mountain West; Colorado State is 4-7, 3-4
Series: Boise State leads 8-0 (last meeting: Boise State won 56-28 in 2018 in Albertsons Stadium)
Vegas line: Boise State by 14
Weather: 32 degrees, cloudy, 10 percent chance of snow, 5 mph wind at kickoff
