Presented by ANGELL’S BAR & GRILL RENATO.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014.
Talk about a hard-earned certificate—that would Boise State quarterback Grant Hedrick’s Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week honor. Hedrick’s 367 yards passing and 131 yards rushing, accounting for six touchdowns in the Broncos’ 60-49 win at New Mexico, did the trick. It’s what Hedrick did when Boise State was seemingly on the ropes that was especially impressive. Midway through the second quarter in Albuquerque, when the Broncos trailed by 14 points, Hedrick was 7-of-15. He went 14-of-17 the rest of the way and finished with four touchdown passes and no interceptions.
Hedrick’s pass efficiency rating is 156.8, second in the Mountain West behind Colorado State’s Garrett Grayson. That’s a strong number considering the 11 picks Hedrick has thrown this season. But eight of them came in two games. Completion percentage and yards per attempt have offset the interceptions as the Boise State offense has stretched the field this year. Coach Bryan Harsin credits Hedrick. “Look across the country,” said Harsin. “If your quarterback’s playing well, you’re probably playing pretty good.”
Kicker Dan Goodale was tabbed the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week yesterday, representing a full-circle journey for the senior from Timberline High. It was three years ago today that Goodale’s 39-yard field goal attempt was wide right on the final play of the game against TCU, a 36-35 Boise State loss. At New Mexico Saturday, Goodale made both of his field goal tries and six extra points, and he had seven of his 11 kickoffs go for touchbacks, giving him 43 for the season. It’s another week of atonement for Goodale, who missed a field goal on the last play of regulation at San Diego State last year. A make could have sent the Broncos to the Mountain West championship game. Here’s hoping Goodale has a shot at a game-winner before this season is over.
Things have improved for Boise State on the injury front, but Dylan Sumner-Gardner was hurt during New Mexico’s 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown 10 minutes into the game Saturday. He didn’t put any pressure on his right leg when he was helped off the field, but Harsin says there’s a chance Sumner-Gardner could play against San Diego State this week. “Right now everything’s come back negative,” said Harsin. “Don’t know yet. If he can play, he’ll be in the game.”
The appearance of former Boise State coach Dan Hawkins on this Saturday’s ESPNU telecast doesn’t faze Harsin. “I think it’s great—he doesn’t have to travel,” said Harsin of his fellow Boisean and mentor. Hawkins hired Harsin as a graduate assistant in 2001, and that quickly morphed into a position as the Broncos’ tight ends coach. “He’s the guy that believed I could help on this staff and take over a position he coached,” Harsin said. “It’s good to get his take on what he sees around here. I mean, he’s a good coach.” Hawkins coached the Broncos from 2001-05 and went 53-11 with four WAC championships before going to Colorado.
The game is on ESPN2, which makes this easier to stomach. And the $500,000 bonus for both Boise State and Wyoming is nice. But an 8:15 p.m. kickoff in Laramie on November 22? This is what makes so many people bemoan what has become of college football. The high this Saturday in Laramie is forecast to be 27, with a low that night of 6. Which is better than tonight’s low of 11 below zero. Who knows what it’ll be like a week from Saturday? I feel badly for Wyoming, which could have expected a big gate for the Broncos with an afternoon kickoff. Boise State, of course, has its own 8:15 kickoff this week versus San Diego State. High 38, low 21.
Week 10 of the NFL is in the books. Highlights involving Boise State products: Jeron Johnson led the Seahawks with eight tackles and a pass deflection in his first NFL start Sunday in the 38-17 win over the New York Giants. Jamar Taylor logged four stops in Miami’s 20-16 loss to Detroit. Shea McClellin registered five tackles, two for loss, in Chicago’s 55-14 humbling at the hands of Green Bay. DeMarcus Lawrence made two tackles, including his first NFL tackle-for-loss, as Dallas downed Jacksonville 31-17. As good as anything during the weekend was Charles Leno Jr.’s photo being flashed on the screen by Jimmy Fallon during the Tonight Show Friday night as “Most Surprising Member at the Leno Family Reunion.” That was the show that featured Jay Leno as Fallon’s main guest.
It’s too bad the Idaho Steelheads don’t get the Alaska Aces in CenturyLink Arena on a weekend, when the atmosphere is more robust. The Steelheads have to settle for a Tuesday-Wednesday series against their rivals beginning tonight. The Aces were first in just about everything last season. They won the Kelly Cup title by defeating Cincinnati. They had the best record in the ECHL and led the league in fewest goals scored allowed and were second in goals scored. Alaska has struggled so far this season, though, with a stunning 2-8 record and its goals-against average zooming to 3.7 per game. Tonight the Steelies will be without three players who have been recalled by the AHL’s Texas Stars, defenseman Mike Dalhuisen and forwards Jesse Root and Branden Troock.
There was a Montigo Alford sighting in last Friday’s Boise State basketball exhibition against Montana Tech. The former College of Southern Idaho standout saw his first action five minutes into the 103-63 rout. You could immediately see the 5-9, 164-pound guard’s quicks as he dished out four assists in 10 minutes. But Alford also committed four turnovers and was 1-of-4 from the field. “We expected him to be a little bit rusty because he’s only practiced three or four days,” said coach Leon Rice. “That was really valuable to get him out here. He’s going to be a fan favorite; he’s fun to watch.” Alford can be Bronco hoops’ answer to Shane Williams-Rhodes. The regular season opens Friday night against San Diego at the LMU Classic in Los Angeles.
College of Idaho and Northwest Nazarene meet for the 195th time tonight in Game 1 of this year’s United Heritage Mayors’ Cup series. The oldest basketball rivalry in the state, dating back to 1933, will be renewed at the C of I’s J.A. Albertson Activities Center. The Canyon County showdown will consist of a home-and-home series for the sixth straight year, with the wrapup set for November 24 in Nampa. The Coyotes swept NNU last year to end a seven-game losing streak to the Crusaders.
Back to football—props to the College of Idaho for such a great showing during its inaugural home season at Simplot Stadium. Football games on Saturday afternoons when the sun is shining are a treat. The C of I created a great small-college atmosphere. During the home finale Saturday, there was even a freight train that went by in the first quarter and another about 15 minutes later (hey, it's like watching a Mariners game at Safeco Field). A testament to the sense of community at Yotes games: they passed the hat Saturday for Esther Suelzle, a volleyball player for Cascade Conference rival Corban who has been diagnosed with cancer. The buckets were soon full of cash, and more than $4,100 was raised.
This Day In Sports…brought to you by GROUND FX…the Treasure Valley mulch experts!
November 11, 1967: With former Borah Lion Steve Preece at quarterback, the Oregon State Beavers continue their dizzying ride through the upper echelon of college football, upsetting top-ranked USC, 3-0, on a second quarter field goal. The OSU defense scrambled to keep O.J. Simpson out of the endzone despite a 188-yard day from the Trojans’ Heisman Trophy tailback. Earlier in the season the Beavers had beaten Purdue and UCLA, each ranked No. 2 at the time. This would be USC’s only loss on the way to a Rose Bowl crown and a national championship.
(Tom Scott hosts the Scott Slant segment Sunday nights at 10:30PM on KTVB’s Sunday Sports Extra and anchors five sports segments each weekday on 93.1 The Ticket. He also served as color commentator on KTVB’s telecasts of Boise State football for 14 seasons.)
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