New Boise State era begins on a down note
HONOLULU — After all the historic highs, the Chris Petersen Era of Boise State football ended with a series of lows.
Oregon State stuffed Boise State into its worst firsthalf deficit in 16 years late Tuesday night at Aloha Stadium and won the Hawaii Bowl 38-23.
The Broncos, who were 92-12 under Petersen and 0-1 under interim coach Bob Gregory, finished this season with an 8-5 record.
It’s their first five-loss season since 1998 (6-5), fewest wins since 2001 (8-4) and first season without a bowl win or conference title since 2007 (10-3).
Their four-game bowlwinning streak and five-year draft stock during the next run of beating at least one downs. They trailed 31-6 at week. Many are predictPac-12 team ended, too. halftime — the program’s ing Bortles will be se“We went 8-5 this year, worst first half since a 38-0 lected among the first 15 and we’re not used to that,” debacle in 1997 at Washingto the sixth-ranked Bears picks of the NFL Draft, Boise State junior wide reton State. (11-1). With few people though the Oviedo native ceiver Matt Miller said. “You just can’t overcome counting on the Knights to said he will not make any “This program expects perthose [turnovers],” Gregory even keep the game comdecisions about declaring fection, and we’re striving said. “I don’t think our guys petitive, players said they until after the game. for that every day.” gave up. I think they played understand what i s at In addition, the Knights Oregon State snapped a their fannies off for four stake during t he next last week bid farewell to five-game losing streak to quarters. We did not make week and especially when defensive coordinator Jim finish 7- 6. The Beavers the plays that we should t hey t ake t he f i el d Fleming, who took a head scored touchdowns on three have made.” The game Wednesday. coaching job at the Uniof their four red-zone poscapped a wild month for the
“This is probably the versity of Rhode Island. sessions and their only turnBroncos, who lost their biggest stage UCF has ever UCF coach George over was on a pass in the coach to Washington on played on,” Knights senior O’Leary has extensive declosing seconds of the first Dec. 6 and senior quarteroffensive lineman Justin fensive experience, but it’s half. back Joe Southwick to a McCray said. “We all not yet clear who will call “It had been a while since team-rules violation on Friknow that, andday.we’re prethe defense against Baylor. we’d won, but this team nevparing like that. And we Players said it was already er quit,” Beavers coach Mike Still, players and coaches want to come out with a back to business-as-usual Riley said. “We went said the focus was there. victory in this game.” last week in practice, but a through quite a bit of adverThe execution was not.
UCF will depart for the coaching change adds ansity through the year, and “There were a lot of disairport from campus at other variable ahead of had some clunkers and tractions for us, but we have about 9 a.m. today and arthe Knights’ most difficult some good football … but we a resilient group of guys. I rive in Phoenix early in the test of the season. won it today and feel really felt we were focused coming afternoon. On its first trip UCF is preparing for good about it.” into the game,” said Miller, to such a substantial bowl Baylor and an offense that The Broncos outgained the team MVP with 206 res t age, UCF will have fell just shy of setting FBS the Beavers 538-454, topped ceiving yards. “Everybody plenty of new elements to records i n yards and them in first downs 28-22 was looking like wewere gocontend with in Arizona. points per game. Led by and entered the red zone on ing to come out and play That includes some potenquarterback Bryce Petty four of their five second-half really well, and it just didn’t tial off-field distractions. (3,844 yards passing, 30 drives. happen.”
Junior quarterback TD, 2 INT) and running But they fell into a 38-6 Oregon State, which was Blake Bortles will most back Lache Seastrunk hole thanks to a series of pass-happy all year until the certainly be inundated (1,060 rushing yards, 11 blunders, including two regular-season finale against with questions about his TD), and buoyed by the fumbles returned for touch- Oregon, used a balanced at- tack. Quarterback Sean Mannion was efficient (24-for-33, 259 yards, TD) and star wide receiver Brandin Cooks made some plays (eight catches, 60 yards, TD), but the 195 rushing yards from the Beavers kept the chains moving and milked enough second-half clock to keep the Broncos out of reach.
The Beavers also scored two touchdowns on the ground, including a 5-yard run by Storm Woods early in the third quarter that gave them that 32-point lead.
The Broncos never were closer than 14 points after the first quarter.
Now they head into the offseason with some uncertainty about the program’s future. New coach Bryan Harsin continues to build his staff and next month will need to rebuild the recruiting class.
His players get a few weeks off but say they’ll return eager to improve.
“A big chip on our shoulder,” Miller said. “Hopefully we have the best offseason we’ve ever had around here. Change is coming to our program.”