(Sports Network)
BOISE STATE: The Broncos kicked off their 2010 campaign on Monday night versus
ACC power Virginia Tech in the nation's capital. Ranked third in the AP poll,
Boise State made the most of the early make-or-break game by posting a hard-
fought 33-30 victory. The win was Boise's 15th straight, and improved coach
Chris Petersen's record at the school to an astounding 50-4. QB Kellen Moore
completed 23-of-38 passes for 215 yards and three TDs, two of which were
hauled in by Austin Pettis. Pettis combined with Titus Young to grab 12 balls
for 153 yards, while Doug Martin and D.J. Harper combined for 163 yards and a
TD to pace the ground assault. Jeron Johnson led the Bronco defense with 7.5
tackles, while Shea McClellin was credited with 2.5 sacks. Boise State is idle
this coming week, returning to the field on September 18th at Wyoming.
FRESNO STATE: The Bulldogs began the 2010 campaign on a high note on Saturday
as they exacted revenge against a Cincinnati team that defeated them last
season, coming up with a 28-14 victory at home. Ryan Colburn had one of his
finest days as a Bulldog, completing 18-of-24 passes for 247 yards and four
touchdowns. Granted, the signal-caller did toss an interception and was sacked
twice, but he controlled the offense for coach Pat Hill and guided the team to
victory even as they generated a mere 49 yards rushing on 30 attempts. Clearly
the Bulldogs are still trying to find a replacement for running back Ryan
Mathews who led the nation last season in rushing and is now in the NFL as a
result. Fresno State is now off for a week and will be back in action on
September 18th when it visits Utah State to kick off the Western Athletic
Conference slate.
HAWAII: The Warriors fought hard against the USC Trojans out on the island
last Thursday night, but lackluster defense left Hawaii with a 49-36 setback
at the hands of the 14th-ranked team in the nation. The defense allowed USC
quarterback Matt Barkley to tie a school record with five passing scores,
while Hawaii signal-caller Bryant Moniz converted 18-of-36 passes for 269
yards and a score before being sent to the sidelines with an injury in the
third quarter. Three receivers had at least 100 yards for the Warriors, led by
Kealoha Pilares who had 176 yards and three TDs, followed by Greg Salas with
eight grabs for 124 yards and Royce Pollard seven catches for 107 yards in
defeat. The team heads for the mainland this week, going all the way to the
East Coast to challenge Army in New York.
IDAHO: Notching their first shutout since 1997, the Idaho Vandals blitzed
North Dakota in the season opener last Thursday night with a 45-0 thumping.
Shiloh Keo played a key role for the Vandals on defense as he forced a fumble,
recovered another and picked off a pass that he then returned 44 yards to keep
the visitors off the scoreboard. Idaho quarterback Nathan Enderle hit on 23-
of-37 passes for 311 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The Vandals
have a tough test this coming week as they head to Lincoln to challenge
nationally-ranked Nebraska.
LOUISIANA TECH: The Bulldogs didn't exactly run away from Grambling State on
Saturday, but they still managed to come away with the 20-6 win on the road
nonetheless. Myke Compton had a pair of rushing touchdowns in the first half
and kicker Matt Nelson knocked through two field goals as the Bulldogs kept
the home team out of the end zone for all 60 minutes. Ross Jenkins threw for
just 101 yards on 15-of-19 passing, the team as a whole gaining 196 yards
through the air and just 140 yards on the ground. Defensively, LaTech limited
Grambling to only 102 yards rushing and 158 yards passing. Tech hits the road
again this coming weekend, the challenge a bit tougher as the team clashes
with Texas A&M on Saturday evening.
NEVADA: The Wolf Pack opened the 2010 campaign last Thursday night with a
convincing 49-24 victory over Eastern Washington, as Colin Kaepernick threw
for 306 yards and a pair of touchdowns and also logged a couple of rushing
scores in the easy win. Kaepernick finished with 60 yards on the ground for a
team that led the nation in rushing last year and for the first time in NCAA
history had three players with at least 1,000 yards on the ground in the same
campaign. The team as a whole gained 214 yards rushing and 553 yards overall.
The defense for the Pack was somewhat suspect, allowing 432 yards and an
average of close to six and a half yards per snap. Vai Taua carried the ball
12 times for 51 yards and two scores. Next up on the schedule for Nevada is
Colorado State at home on Saturday night, followed by a Friday night date with
California as the team kicks off 2010 with three straight home games.
NEW MEXICO STATE: The Aggies were sitting at home watching the rest of the
Western Athletic Conference kick off their respective seasons this past
weekend. Because of the early bye week, NMSU is now preparing itself for 12
straight weeks of action, beginning with a home date against Sand Diego State
this Saturday.
SAN JOSE STATE: The Spartans trailed top-ranked Alabama 7-3 in the first
quarter, but from there the Crimson Tide rolled to a 48-3 victory at home,
even without Heisman-winning running back Mark Ingram. SJSU finished with a
mere seven first downs and 175 yards of total offense, compared to the 591
yards the team allowed Alabama. Jordan La Secla was mostly ineffective at
quarterback for the Spartans as he converted 7-of-14 passes for 85 yards and
an interception. The team generated just 89 yards rushing, of which 32 came on
a single play by Brandon Rutley. It doesn't get any easier for the Spartans
this coming weekend as they head to Wisconsin to face off against the
nationally-ranked Badgers on Saturday afternoon.
UTAH STATE: The Aggies may have been the surprise team of the first weekend in
college football, taking seventh-ranked Oklahoma down to the wire in Norman
before bowing in a 31-24 decision. Utah State trailed by three touchdowns in
the second quarter, but the squad refused to pack it in and followed the lead
set by Diondre Borel who completed 17-of-36 passes for a whopping 341 yards
and two touchdowns, although he was also sacked three times and had three
passes picked off as he tried desperately to bring the Aggies their biggest
upset ever. The defense gave up 205 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the
ground, but take away a 63-yard TD run by DeMarco Murray and the numbers were
far more manageable. The Aggies go after a familiar foe this coming weekend
when they contend with the Idaho State Bengals at home in Logan.