Boise State QB Jaylon Henderson earned a starting role. ‘He hasn’t given it up.’
During a meeting with the media Wednesday, Boise State Athletic Director Curt Apsey asked and answered his own question.
“How many teams in the country are 11-1 and have started three quarterbacks over the season?” he asked. “I can tell you how many there are. None, except for us.”
Senior Jaylon Henderson is set to make his fourth consecutive start Saturday when Boise State hosts Hawaii in the Mountain West championship game (2 p.m., ESPN). He spent the majority of the season at No. 3 on the official depth chart and injuries initially thrust him into a starting role, but according to offensive coordinator Zak Hill, Henderson has played his way into keeping it.
“He hasn’t made any of the major mistakes. Not that the other guys have, but he’s kept himself in that spot. He hasn’t given it up,” Hill said Wednesday. “That’s kind of what it comes down to. The guys got that juice flowing and we’ve got a little mojo and so we’re just kind of riding that wave.”
Boise State (11-1, 8-0 MW) is 3-0 with Henderson taking the snaps, and he has improved with every start. After initially impressing with his arm strength and accuracy but struggling with turnovers against New Mexico, his decisiveness has equated to zero turnovers in the Broncos’ final two games of the regular season at Utah State and Colorado State.
In three starts, Henderson has completed 57-of-92 passes for 732 yards and totaled nine touchdowns (eight passing, one rushing), and the offense has produced 105 points.
“Jaylon is playing well right now and we’ve got a good vibe on offense,” Hill said. “This time of year, you’ve got that mojo and you got it going a little bit, and you’re making decisions to keep that mojo going.”
True freshman Hank Bachmeier started the first six games of the season, and the Broncos have won all seven games he has started. He exited Boise State’s win over Hawaii on Oct. 12 early with a hip injury and missed a road loss at BYU the following week. He returned to start at San Jose State and briefly left that game with what appeared to be a shoulder injury, but returned to finish the game, which the Broncos had to rally in the second half to win, 52-42. He hasn’t played since.
Sophomore Chase Cord started at BYU and against Wyoming. He briefly made a trip to the medical tent between drives but stayed in to lead the Broncos to a 20-17 win over the Cowboys in overtime. He also hasn’t played since, but both he and Bachmeier have been in uniform the past two weeks and Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said both have been available to play if needed. On Monday, he said he was impressed with how both quarterbacks have handled watching instead of playing.
“I would say those guys have handled it like they should,” Harsin said. “None of those guys have been issues. They haven’t been pouting. They know how to prepare themselves to perform, and right now that’s what their responsibility is. That’s what their role is on this team, and all of those guys have been in that role. So, you got to accept that role. You don’t always have to like it, but you need to accept it.”
Hill echoed those sentiments.
“I’m lucky as a coach because that room is not about me, me, me. It’s about winning championships and winning games in whatever role it is,” Hill said. “We feel good about all three of those guys. Hank has put us in the position where we’re at now and won a lot of games for us, and Hank’s ready to come in and play and Chase is ready to play.”
All three quarterbacks may need to be ready to play Saturday. Harsin said Monday that they were all in the game plan in the regular-season game against Hawaii (9-4, 5-3 MW), and that may be true again in the rematch.
“I think all those guys deserve to play, so get ready,” Harsin said. “Get ready to play and go out there and perform. If it’s all three playing, it’s all three playing.”
HAWAII AT NO. 19 BOISE STATE
What: Mountain West championship game
When: 2 p.m. Saturday
Where: Albertsons Stadium (36,387), Boise
TV: ESPN (Roy Philpott, Kelly Stouffer, Lauren Sisler)
Radio: KBOI 670 AM (Bob Behler, Pete Cavender)
Records: Boise State is 11-1 overall, 8-0 Mountain West; Hawaii is 9-4, 6-2
Series: Boise State leads 13-3 (last meeting: Boise State won 59-37 on Oct. 12 in Albertsons Stadium)
Vegas line: Boise State by 14
Weather: 47 degrees, 35 percent chance of rain, 12 mph wind at kickoff. The forecast calls for rain all day.
