Broncos fixin' to whip 'dem Aggies

By Tate Castleton The Arbiter

November 8, 2007

Boise, ID (CSTV U-WIRE) -- If there was ever a David versus Goliath match-up in the Western Athletic Conference, No. 19 Boise State versus Utah State is it.

Utah State (0-9 overall, 0-5 WAC) has lost 15 consecutive games dating back to 2006, including 11 consecutive home losses. BSU (8-1 overall, 5-0 WAC) has won 21 of its last 22 since last season.

"We're not going to overlook Utah State no matter what," BSU Head Coach Chris Petersen said. "You never know what will happen in games. Just look at how Nevada came out and played us. No one expected that. I don't even think Nevada knew they would come out and play that well, so you never know."

BSU has been red hot since its week-two loss at Washington. The Broncos have won seven straight games while averaging more than 42 points per game.

"We have to go there focused on winning and just get the job done," BSU quarterback Taylor Tharp said. "We can't take them lightly because we're going into their house in front of their fans and I think they'll be ready."

While BSU clings to hopes of another major bowl invitation should it runs the table the remainder of the season, the Aggies have hopes of a different kind.

"I'm sure this team is very hungry for a win," Petersen said. "It's not easy to lose that many games and not develop a real hunger to get that monkey off your back. For them it would probably be all the more worthwhile to get it against a top 25 opponent."

Meanwhile, BSU continues to pursue its sixth consecutive WAC championship. It appears now that the Broncos must win-out in conference play to claim the championship hardware. A date with the Aggies on Saturday is going to be another major bullet on the agenda.

"We look forward to going and playing Utah State," BSU running back Ian Johnson said. "We'll play hard and we'll stay focused because Utah State will play hard and I'm sure they'd love to knock us off."

Here is a little closer look at the Aggies:

Offense

Plain and simple - the Aggies are lacking in offensive firepower. Out of 119 Bowl Sub-Division opponents, Utah State ranks 93rd in rushing offense, 112th in passing offense, 116th in total offense and 100th in scoring offense.

Aggies quarterback Leon Jackson III gives Utah State little versatility on offense and is currently ranked the worst quarterback in the WAC. But Jackson has completed 65 percent of his passes this season and is the second leading rusher on the team with 297 yards.

One bright spot for Utah State this season is senior wide receiver Kevin Robinson, who leads the WAC and ranks second in the NCAA with 210.7 all-purpose yards per game. Robinson also leads the league and is third in the nation in punt returns (19.5 ypr) as well as third in the conference and 14th in the country in kick returns (29.4 ypr).

"We like how we match-up," Petersen said. "We're going to be competitive and play tough because that is Bronco football."

Defense

Unfortunately for Utah State a whole lot doesn't change on the defensive side of the ball. The Aggies rank 83rd in passing defense, 102nd in total defense and 103rd in scoring defense. BSU averages 42.4 points per game, 284 passing yards per game and more than 150 yards rushing in each contest, so USU will have to find a way to contain the Broncos' firepower if it hopes to win. In comparison, the Broncos' defense is re-energized of late and has been dominant over the past three weeks, holding teams to just 17.4 points per game.

"We feel really good about the way our defense is playing right now," Petersen said. "You give yourself a good chance to win when you're playing well defensively."