Boise State vs. Fresno State: 5 Things Learned About the Broncos in Their Win

Friday night, under the lights in Fresno, the Boise State Broncos lined up against the Fresno State Bulldogs.  The stage was set for Pat Hill and his Bulldogs to avenge the painful loss of 10 years ago when the roles were reversed. 

In 2001, Fresno was ranked No. 8 in the country coming up against a scrappy 3-3 Broncos team that had shown some flashes of promise during that season, but no one gave them a chance to beat Fresno that night.  They upset the Bulldogs 35-30, ending the BCS dreams of Pat Hill and the Fresno State Bulldogs.  

Fast forward 10 years later, and the two teams are in almost exactly opposite positions.  The Broncos came into the game 4-0 and ranked No. 5 in the country.  Fresno State was just 2-3 on the season, but have played Ole Miss and Nebraska very close. 

No one was giving Fresno a chance in the contest.  The Broncos were favored by 22 points.  To add to the drama, the quarterback for Fresno State 10 years ago was David Carr.  Tonight, the quarterback for Fresno State was David Carr's little brother, Derek Carr. 

This week, the story came out that the elder Carr brother hung a Boise State flag on the wall of the younger Carr brother's apartment.  It will have to stay there until the Bulldogs and Derek Carr defeat the Broncos.

Well, it will have to stay up for at least one more year.  The Broncos absolutely handled the Bulldogs, 57-7. 

So what did we learn about the Broncos in this victory?  Let's take a look.

Boise State Is a Much Better Team Than Nebraska

How do we know the Broncos are much better than Nebraska? 

Well, Nebraska squared off with this same Fresno State team in Lincoln the second week of the season.  Nebraska was ranked No. 10 at the time, and came into the contest heavily favored. 

The game was extremely close, and Fresno actually led at the half, 17-14.  Then, in the second half, it became a back-and-forth battle. Fresno went up 20-14 in the third quarter, but Nebraska came back to score, to go ahead 21-20 heading into the fourth quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, Nebraska scored another touchdown making it 28-20.  Fresno State answered with their own score, but missed the two-point conversion try. 

With the score 28-26, it was a 100-yard kickoff return for Nebraska on the ensuing kickoff that set them on the course to victory. 

With the score now 35-26, the only score the Bulldogs could muster was a field goal to make it 35-29 in favor of Nebraska. 

Nebraska scored a late touchdown to make the final score 42-29, but the game was much closer.

In fact, Fresno State out-gained the Cornhuskers 444 yards to 438.  Fresno also had 24 first downs compared to Nebraska's 16. 

Compare that to what the Broncos did tonight.  Boise State defeated the Bulldogs of Fresno 57-7, in Fresno.  The game was never in doubt.  The Broncos led at halftime 37-0, and Boise held Fresno to just nine first downs and 270 total yards.

I would say tonight the Broncos left no doubt that they are a far better team than Fresno State, but I would also say they proved the same thing about Nebraska. 

Boise State's Defense Is Even Better Than We Thought

We saw glimpses of this stellar defense against Georgia.  We also saw a touch of how good this defense was against Toledo and Tulsa.  Then, last week we watched as the defense of Boise State absolutely took over the game against Nevada. 

However, tonight's contest against Fresno State proves this Broncos defense might be better than good.  This defense might be great. 

In the first half alone, the Broncos defense dominated the Bulldogs in a way that was unbelievable.  Fresno State didn't even cross their own 35-yard line until three minutes were left in the half.  The Broncos "D" also didn't allow the Bulldogs a first down until seven seconds left in the first quarter. 

Prior to tonight's game, Fresno State had scored in the first eight minutes of each of their first five games.  Tonight they did not score until the second string for Boise was in, and that came on a punt return in the fourth quarter. 

Boise State's defense also won the turnover battle.  They forced four turnovers tonight, two fumbles and two interceptions.

Fresno State's potent offense, that averaged 30 points per game, was shut completely down by the Broncos defense.  Robbie Rouse, the excellent running back for Fresno, was held to only 74 yards and no touchdowns.  Also, Derek Carr, the Bulldogs quarterback, finished with only 126 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions.

If you saw the game, you know that this Broncos defense was truly impressive.  It will be intriguing to see if they can maintain this level of play, or even improve, over the course of the season.

I am not sure how you improve on the performance the defense showed us tonight, but knowing Chris Petersen, he will try. 

Geraldo Boldewijn Changes the Boise State Offense

Geraldo Boldewijn, the young sophomore receiver for Boise State, showed us something tonight. 

Boldewijn is the wide receiver of Dutch decent who was suspended for the first four games of the season.  Many people had high hopes for this young man as the Boise State deep threat.

Well, tonight Boldewijn got his chance to show us what he could do. 

How did he do?  The first time he got the ball thrown to him in the end zone, he dropped it after it hit him in a bad spot.  I wondered how he would respond to this, and it wouldn't take long to find out.

With 9:52 left in the second quarter, Moore hit Boldewijn for an 18-yard touchdown pass.  Boldewijn made an excellent grab, and it more than made up for his drop a bit earlier in the game. 

Moore went on to hit him for one more touchdown in the second quarter.  This time it was a simple four-yard grab. 

Boldewijn ended the game with just 33 yards on three catches.  However, two of those were touchdowns.  I have a feeling we have just seen the beginning of Geraldo Boldewijn. 

This Game Really Isn't a Rivalry

For a game to be a rivalry, it has to have some give and take—there needs to be the chance that any team can win on any night. 

Well, if you look at the series between Fresno State and Boise State, that just hasn't been the case. 

Boise has won the last five meetings before tonight, by an average score of 48-17.  Tonight the game ended with the Broncos dominating 57-7. 

In fact, the only win Fresno State has had in the series since 2001, was a 27-7 victory in Fresno in 2005. 

To be called a rivalry, Fresno is going to have to start to win some of these games, because, right now, this series is nothing more than a foregone conclusion, and anything but a rivalry. 

No Matter What Boise State Does, They Don't Get the Credit They Deserve

If you saw the game tonight on ESPN, you know it was over by halftime. 

So, what does that mean for the guys broadcasting the game?  They talk, and talk and talk, about various things.  One of the subjects that came up was the BCS Championship.  What did the talking heads have to say about the Broncos' chances?  Basically, that it was impossible for them to make the BCS Championship game. 

The same old story of schedule, conference, etc., etc.  If you are a Broncos fan, you have to be a little tired of this.  Hopefully, you just tune it out. 

It is really too bad, in a year like this one, that college football does not have a playoff.  Then none of these arguments would be a problem.  It would all be settled on the field.  But, until then, it doesn't seem the Broncos will ever get the respect they deserve. 

Overall, it was a thoroughly impressive outing for Chris Petersen and his Boise State Broncos.  They take on Colorado State next week.  This will be the first Mountain West Conference game in the history of the Broncos.  It will be fun to watch.