Boise State Throttles Ragin' Cajuns 45-10

LAFAYETTE, LA--Sophomore quarterback Brett Rypien threw for 304 yards and two touchdowns in the first half and Boise State went on to beat Louisiana-Lafayette 45-13 in the season opener for both teams this afternoon.

Rypien finished 22-33 for 347 yards as the Broncos prevailed for head coach Bryan Harsin after a shakeup in his coaching staff in the offseason. Harsin named Scott Huff and Zak Hill as co-offensive coordinators and promoted former Bronco player Andy Avalos to defensive coordinator for the 2016 season.

The Broncos' All-Mountain West Conference signal-caller tied Tony Hilde (1993-96) for sixth all-time at Boise State with his sixth career 300-yard passing game. Rypien registered his 11th career game of 200 or more passing yards and tied Joe Southwick (2010-13) and Mike Virden (1989-90) for eighth in the Bronco record book. He also passed Taylor Tharp (2004-07), Gerald DesPres (1981-84) and Joe Aliotti (1979-1980) and is 12th all-time in career passing yards with 3,700 and in career completions with 295 (See charts at end of this article.)

Rypien guided the Broncos on a six-play, 80-yard drive to open the game. A 43-yard strike from Rypien to senior Thomas Sperbeck set up a one-yard touchdown from junior Jeremy McNichols. McNichols has now rushed for a touchdown in a Mountain West record 13 games.

After the Bronco defense held the Rajin' Cajuns to a three-and-out, Rypien hit JC transfer Cedrick Wilson for a 42-yard touchdown to put the Broncos up 14-0. Three possessions later, the Broncos utilized the multiple talents of Sperbeck, as Rypien threw the ball back to Thomas, who then spotted McNichols behind the Lafayette secondary for a 48-yard touchdown and the quick-strike Broncos built themselves a 21-0 lead.

Rypien and McNichols teamed up on Boise State's next possession for 30 yards, setting up a McNichols seven-yard touchdown run on the next play.

Rypien tossed another touchdown of 35 yards to Sperbeck, shortly before a Rajin' Cajun field goal from Steve Artigue as time expired in the first half. The Broncos added a field goal from Tyler Rausa and freshman Alexander Mattison scored on a one-yard run in the fourth quarter.

McNichols accounted for 146 yards of all-purpose rushing and scored twice as Boise State built a 35-3 halftime advantage. McNichols hauled in three receptions for 98 yards and toted the ball nine times for another 48. He passed David Tingstad (1989-1992) for the fifth-most receiving yards by a Bronco running back, two yards behind Bronco great Doug Martin for fourth.

Wilson finished with seven catches for 113 yards while Sperbeck had six receptions for 130 yards. Sperbeck passed two '70s Bronco greats, Terry Hutt and Mike Holton and is now seventh all-time in career receiving yards with 2,459. Sperbeck is 604 yards shy of school record holder Titus Young. Sperbeck also passed four Bronco greats to move into the top 10 in career receptions with 144.

Mattison led the Broncos with 61 yards on 11 carries, crossing the goal line for his first collegiate touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Anthony Jennings, a fifth-year senior who was the starting quarterback last season on a 9-3 LSU team, completed 21-of-33 passes for 186 yards and the Ragin' Cajuns' only touchdown.

Boise State held Louisiana-Lafayette to 81 yards rushing with Eliajah McGuire getting 46 of that total and also grabbing six passes for 40 yards. The Broncos outgained the home team 584 to 267.

Boise State makes the nearly 1,700-mile flight back to Boise to prepare for a showdown with Washington State next Saturday. Kickoff in Bronco Stadium is set for 8:15 p.m. Mountain Time.

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Career Receiving Yards

1. 3,063 Titus Young 2007-10

2. 3,049 Matt Miller 2011-14

3. 2,838 Austin Pettis 2007-10

4. 2,751 Ryan Ikebe 1993-96

5. 2,728 Don Hutt 1970-73

6. 2,554 Lou Fanucchi 1999-2002

7. 2,469 Thomas Sperbeck 2013-Pr.

8. 2,354 Terry Hutt 1973-74, 76-77

    2,354 Mike Holton 1972, 74-76

10. 2,300 Mike Wilson 1990-93

Career Receptions:

1. Matt Miller (234) 2011-2014

2. Shane Williams-Rhodes (232) 2012-2015

3. Austin Pettis (228) 2007-2010

4. Titus Young (204) 2007-2010

5. Don Hutt (189) 1970-1973

6. Jeremy Childs (168) 2006-2008

7. Ryan Ikebe (162) 1993-1996

8. Mike Wilson (159) 1990-1993

9. Thomas Sperbeck (144) 2013-current

10.Jay Swillie (140) 1999-2002

10.Eric Andrade (140) 1983-1984/1986-1987

12. Mike Holton (139) 1972/1974-1976

13.  Terry Hutt (132) 1973-1974/1976-1977

14.  Lou Fanucchi (131) 1999-2002

15.  Jeb Putzier (128) 1998-2001

16.  Kim Metcalf (126) 1980-1984

17.  Kipp Bedard (122) 1979-1981

17.  Tyler Shoemaker (122) 2008-2011

19.  Rodney Smith (117) 1997-1998

19.  Sheldon Forehand (117) 1989-1992

21.  Winky White (116) 1987-1990

21.  Al Marshall (116) 1969-1972

23.  Kirby Moore (115) 2009/2011-2013

23.  Drisan James (115) 2003-2006

23.  Billy Wingfield (115) 1998-1999/2001-2002

Career Passing Yards:

1.  Kellen Moore (14,534) 2008-2011)
2.  Ryan Dinwiddie (9,819) 2000-2003
3.  Tony Hilde (9,107) 1993-1996
4.  Bart Hendricks (9,020) 1997-2000
5.  Jared Zabransky (8,256) 2003-2006
6.  Grant Hedrick (5,656) 2011-2014)
7.  Jim McMillan (5,508) 1971-1974
8.  Joe Southwick (4,784) 2010-2013
9.  Hazsen Choates (4,524) 1983-86
10.  Mike Virden (4,294) 1989-90
11.  Eric Guthrie (4,204) 1968-71
12.  Brett Rypien (3,700) 2015-current
13.  Taylor Tharp (3,699) 2004-2007
14.  Gerald DesPres (3,579) 1981-84
15.  Joe Aliotti (3,460) 1979-1980
16.  Travis Stuart (3,060) 1990-1992
17.  Vince Alcalde (2,930) 1986-1987 
18.  Greg Stern (2,865) 1973-1976
19.  Hoskin Hogan(2,814) 1975/1977-1978
20.  Ron Autele (2,794) 1970,1972-1973
21.  Duane Halliday (2,663 + 1990) 1987-1990
22.  Dee Pickett (2,034) 1976-1977
23.  Nate Sparks (2,023) 1997-1998
24.  Tim Klena (2,015) 1980-1982
25.  B.J. Rhode (1,859) 1999-2002
26.  Keith Jarrett (1,699) 1986

200+ Yards Passing Games, Career:

1.    Kellen Moore (46) 2008-2011

2.    Bart Hendricks (28) 1997-2000

3.    Tony Hilde (26) 1993-1996

4.    Ryan Dinwiddie (24) 2000-2003

5.    Jared Zabransky (21) 2003-2006

6.    Grant Hedrick (15) 2011-2014

7.    Jim McMillan (13) 1971-1974

8.    Joe Southwick (11) 2010-2013

8.    Mike Virden (11) 1989-1990

8.    Brett Rypien (11) 2015

11.  Taylor Tharp (10) 2004-2007

11.  Eric Guthrie (10) 1968-1971

13.  Vince Alcalde (9) 1986-1987

13.  Hazsen Choates (9) 1983-1986)

15.  Travis Stuart (7) 1990-1992

16.  Gerald DesPres (6) 1981-1984

16.  Joe Aliotti (6) 1979-1980

18.  Tim Klena (5)1981-1982

Career Completions
1.    Kellen Moore (1,157) 2008-2011

2.    Bart Hendricks (650) 1997-2000
3.   Tony Hilde (629) 1993-1996
4.    Ryan Dinwiddie (622) 2000-2003
5.    Jared Zabransky (610) 2003-2006

7.    Grant Hedrick (475) 2011-2014

6.    Joe Southwick (439) 2010-2013

8.    Jim McMillan (382) 1971-1974
9.    Mike Virden (324) 1989-1990
10.  Taylor Tharp (321) 2004-2007
11.  Hazsen Choates (316) 1983-1986

12.  Brett Rypien (295) 2015-current  

13.  Gerald DesPres (281) 1981-1984

14.  Joe Aliotti (278) 1979-1980

15.  Eric Guthrie (275) 1968-1971

16.  Travis Stuart (248) 1991-1992

17.  Duane Halliday (225) 1987-1990

18.  Greg Stern (209) 1974-1976

19.  Hoskin Hogan (186) 1977-1978

20.  Jeff Mladenich (186) 1991-1992

Career 300-Yard Passing Games:

1. 16 Kellen Moore 2008-11

2. 14 Ryan Dinwiddie 2000-03

3. 10 Bart Hendricks 1997-2000

4. 7 Grant Hedrick 2011-14

    7 Jim McMillan 1971-74

6. 6 Tony Hilde 1993-96

    6 Brett Rypien 2015-Pr.

8. 4 Joe Southwick 2010-13

    4 Jared Zabransky 2003-06

10.3 Taylor Tharp 2004-07

     3 Vince Alcalde 1986-87

      3 Greg Stern 1973-76

Career Receiving Yards By a Running Back 

1.    Brock Forsey (1,050) 1999-2002

2.    Jeremy Avery (790) 2007-2010

3.    Jay Ajayi (771) 2012-2014

4.    Doug Martin (715) 2008-2010

5.    Jeremy McNichols (713) 2014-current

6.    David Tingstad (753) 1989-1992

7.    John Smith (673) 1972-1975

$$ Schools Knock Boise State's Football Schedule, Add Worse Teams To Their Conferences

In attempts to get their school's football teams playoff berths and bigger bowl games, coaches, fans and representatives of mega-money schools knock Boise State's schedule, but when it comes time to add schools to their conferences, those same schools let in worse teams and avoid Boise State (see Table of each major college team's record over the last 17 years at bottom of post.) For example, Boise State is #1 over the last 17 years, while Tulane (one of the 12 schools making the cut for Big 12 expansion, ranks #111 out of 119 schools on that list.

Before you say, "It's about academics (ignoring Boise State's huge uptick in quality and growth), TV markets (ignoring Boise State's huge national TV ratings) and market size (ignoring Boise's reputation as the #1 destination in the country), this has nothing to do with that. They can use whatever criteria they want and add who they choose. This argument is solely about football, because when it comes time to choose playoff teams, academics, TV markets and market size have nothing whatsoever to do with which football team is the best. 

No, when it comes time to choose the best football teams each year, one doesn't hear analysts say, "Well, Alabama only averaged 2.43 GPA, while Kent State averaged 3.15, so Kent State definitely deserves a spot", or "Philadelphia is a much bigger city than Columbus, so Temple definitely will get the playoff berth over Ohio State."

The nation's media and sports fans now have evidence that conference membership has nothing to do with quality of football. After all, the Big 12 will let in worse football teams than Boise State, and the strength of their conference, from a football perspective, will go down if they expand from the list of 12 schools that have been published. 

Thus, here is the argument the next time an undefeated Boise State threatens their mighty schools by being in the playoff conversation: "We don't want Boise State's football team to play in our conference, and we don't want to schedule non-conference games with Boise State. But our football team is better than Boise State and should be picked instead of them. Their football team plays in a weaker conference."



http://football.stassen.com/cgi-bin/records/calc-wp.pl?start=1999&end=2015&rpct=30&min=5&se=on&by=Win+Pct

Boise State Gets Commitment from Jermani Brown

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CHROLLO @jerm2_acee

Proud to announce my commitment to Boise State. Let's be legendary #GoBroncos #ATF17

5:10 PM - 21 Aug 2016

Jermani Brown, a 5-11, 195-pound four-star cornerback from Midlothian High School in Virginia, has committed to play football at Boise State, Blue Football Through and Through has learned.


Brown chose Boise State over offers from Wisconsin, Arizona State, Michigan State, Utah, Virginia, North Carolina, Syracuse and Idaho.  Two weeks ago, Brown narrowed his choices to Boise State, Utah and North Carolina, and today pulled the lever for the Broncos.

Brown originally committed to Arizona State last year, but changed his mind and opened up his recruiting again six months later.

Jermani originally played for Calabasas in California, recording 37 tackles with two for loss, eight passes defended and one interception as a junior.

When Brown played for Calabasas, the team was loaded with major college talent.  They won their first CIF Southern Section Western Division championship in 2015 by beating defending champion Palos Verdes 42-3.

Calabasas continued to advance until they were stopped by Citrus Hill in the California Regionals to end their season at 13-2.