Live updates: Lewis on the call; Boise State pulls away from New Mexico for 31-14 win
Growing up in southern New Jersey, Chris Lewis dreamed of making it in the NBA and playing just like former Philadelphia 76ers star Allen Iverson.
Lewis did his best Iverson impression every summer at basketball camp. He wore his hair in cornrows and had a shooting sleeve on his right arm, just like the one Iverson made famous.
Unable to find a basketball camp one summer, though, Lewis ended up at a sports broadcasting camp, and it wasn’t long before he was hooked.
“It’s a tale as old as time,” Lewis told the Idaho Statesman this week. “Growing up, you want to be in the NBA or NFL, but you realize you’re not good enough and you’re probably better off talking about it.”
Lewis is the play-by-play guy on the broadcast team for Boise State’s Mountain West opener at New Mexico (7 p.m., CBS Sports Network). He has covered football games for CBS Sports Network in the past, and he filled in on a radio call with Bronco Network’s Bob Behler a couple of years ago, but this is his first time calling a Boise State football game for CBSSN.
Lewis will be joined in the booth by former Florida State quarterback Danny Kannel, with Amanda Guerra the sideline reporter. Lewis said story lines abound for the Broncos’ conference opener.
“Boise State’s performance at Oregon State and the quarterback dynamic that emerged from that, and the Broncos’ need to rebound,” said Lewis, listing talking points. “New Mexico is in the opposite position. They were dominant in week one, and they need to keep the momentum going.”
After graduating from Syracuse, Lewis’ broadcasting career began with the Idaho Falls Chukars baseball team. He went on to do play-by-play for the Boise State women’s basketball, soccer, volleyball and gymnastics teams.
He also covered Olympic table tennis in 2021.
No matter what he’s covering, Lewis said he considers himself a storyteller.
“The game is the game,” he said. “You can rely on your analyst to get into the strategy, and you learn the art of setting up your analyst and getting the best out of them.”
There will be plenty to talk about after the Broncos’ performance at Oregon State.
Boise State’s offense struggled in a 34-17 loss to the Beavers last weekend. Quarterback Hank Bachmeier was benched after three turnovers in the first quarter. Redshirt freshman Taylen Green took over and scored on touchdown runs of 74 and 4 yards, but he couldn’t pilot the Broncos to a comeback.
Boise State coach Andy Avalos has not said which quarterback will start tonight.
The Broncos have won 22 straight conference openers, spanning the Big West, Western Athletic and Mountain West conferences.
Stay on top of the action right here as we give you live updates, analysis and reactions, starting an hour before the 7 p.m. kickoff.
Also follow Boise State beat writers Ron Counts (@Ron_BroncoBeat) and Rachel Roberts (@ByRachelRoberts).
The live blog has ended. Keep scrolling to read a play-by-play of the game action.
This story was originally published September 9, 2022 at 6:00 PM.
