Pac-10 Preview: Oregon State (1-0) @ Boise State (1-0)

by user Deuelio

While certainly not on the level with some of the nation’s great rivalries, the Boise State and Oregon State rivalry has emerged as one of the most compelling series in the last few years. The two teams will lock horns again tonight on the Smurf turf at BSU in a nationally televised game on ESPN.

Series History – It’s a short history, and OSU leads it 4-1, but the games have been close recently with the Beavers winning in 2003 on a disputed non-call on a Derek Anderson fumble and in 2005 on a late Alexis Serna field goal. The Broncos thrashed Oregon State in 2004 after the Beavers had jumped to a 14-0 lead and were driving for another score before an Anderson interception. In short, it has been an eventful and memorable series.

Oregon State – Oregon State did what they were supposed to do and thrashed 1AA Eastern Washington at Reser last Thursday but now the real fun begins. Boise State is a whole other animal, one of the premier mid major programs in the nation. The Oregon State defense will be surely tested by an innovative and high scoring Boise State offense that can put points on the board in bunches.

Boise State – Make no mistake about it, this is a huge game for the Broncos. Besides the Beavers, Boise State hosts Fresno State and must travel to Nevada, but the season is set up for a 12-0 campaign, if they can get by the Beavers. Reports out of Boise is that the game is a sellout and a “Blue Out” to boot, with Boise fans encouraged to wear blue and wave blue towels. BSU officials turned the 2004 rout of the Beavers into a poster and online pollsters proclaimed it the greatest moment on the blue turf. So yes, this game means a ton.

Key Players

Oregon State

Matt Moore – Oregon State’s starting quarterback for his two years on campus, enjoyed an easy opener, tossing two TD’s in a half of work. Moore, like most OSU starters, didn’t play much but this week will be different. Moore will need to keep track of the football as interceptions were his bugaboo last season. In the 2004, OSU was cruising until an ill-timed interception by Anderson led to 34 straight points for BSU. Moore would be wise to look for Joe Newton for easy receptions and head coach Mike Riley would be wise to keep RB Yvenson Bernard fully involved in the proceedings to keep the pressure off Moore.

Yvenson Bernard – The Doak Walker Award candidate is one of the nation’s best backs. He rushed for 1321 yards last year as a sophomore and had 124 yards on 19 carries against Eastern Washington. With all five starting offensive linemen back and Bernard a proven workhorse, the Beavs may try to pound the ball to wear the defense down and to keep the BSU offense off the field. BSU will have to respect the play-action to Bernard which could free up Newton in the middle to punish an overly aggressive Bronco defense.

Alexis Serna – Serna, after enduring heartbreak as a redshirt freshman when he missed three PAT’s on the road at LSU, has rebounded to win the Lou Groza award and remains one of the nations top kickers. Many times, no matter what talent disparity there is between teams, rivalry games come down to a kicker. Last year Serna beat BSU with a 29 yard field goal with just over a minute to play. In the game he was a perfect 3-3 on field goals. Should the Beavers be in position to win the game on a field goal, Riley and the Beavers have one of the nations’ best at their disposal.

Boise State

Zabransky – One of Boise State’s all time greats, the senior out of Hermiston, OR will attempt to derail the Beavers for the second time in his career. Zabransky was not recruited by either of the Oregon schools and chose BSU instead and has made an incredible mark for himself. He’s in the top five in every statistical category for quarterbacks and is even fifth all time in rushing touchdowns. “Z” as he is known around Boise, has been a consistent force for the Broncos and will be a big reason why BSU won’t miss a beat with new coach Chris Peterson. He started his 26th consecutive game against Sacramento State last Saturday and is 21-5 in those games.

Ian Johnson – The sophomore rushed for 88 yards on 13 carries against an overwhelmed Sac. State defense. The Broncos rolled up 215 rushing and four scores but Johnson will be the key. If he can establish a rhythm and break off some chunks of yards, it will allow Zabransky to use the play action and get out and make plays on his own. If Johnson and the rest of the rushing attack can’t make plays, OSU defenders can key on Zabransky and the passing game. Bad note #1 for Johnson – OSU has allowed just 52.4 yards per game on the ground in their last five games.

Korey Hall – The senior linebacker is the anchor of the BSU defense and will be counted on heavily to stop Bernard and Newton from running wild. Hall is a two time first team All-WAC honoree and is a preseason Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Hall will have to be on his game to slow the bruising Bernard and physical tight end Newton. It’s an unenviable task, but there is nobody better on the BSU defense equipped to handle the job, physically or mentally.

Thoughts and Notes – Boise State has been an offensive juggernaut and is the nation’s highest scoring team since 2000…Former OSU WR Mike Hass set a Pac-10 record (that still stands) with 293 yards receiving in 2004 against BSU…he had 11 catches for 178 yards last year despite double and triple coverage…OSU LG Jeremy Perry was the Pac-10 Co-Freshman of the Year last year and started every game last year…BSU has won 96.9 percent of its conference games since 2002…Sacramento State had just 82 yards of total offense in the opener…BSU is 1-10 against the Pac-10 with the one win in 2004 against OSU…of the 10 losses, four have been by a touchdown or less…In the last three meetings between the two teams, OSU has averaged 464 yards of total offense and 30 points, and BSU has averaged 418 yards and 35 points

Date

Thu 09/07/06, 2:34 pm EST