Vegas Bowl BIFFF on Boise State versus Utah
by Kevan Lee on Dec 27, 2010 1:00 PM PST
in Boise State football
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PrintWe all saw the Boise State defense cram it down Utah's cram hole in the Las Vegas Bowl. But how bad was it really? Austin Pettis had his way with the Utah secondary. But to what extent?
BIFFF has the answers as well as some advanced stats from Boise State's MAACO Bowl win over the Utes. Join me after the jump for a rundown of what went down and a look inside the numbers.
The Bronco Institute of Football Facts and Figures (BIFFF)seeks to add context and numbers to Boise State statistics. Some of it is math, much of it is game charting, and the rest is pie charts.
The BIFFF Box Score
| Statistics |  |  |
Explanations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 3 | 26 | |
| Swing Points | 3 | 0 | Points on defense, special teams or drives < 25 yds |
| Turnovers | 3 | 4 | |
| Total Yards | 200 | 543 | |
| Net Yards | 117 | 514 | Yards on offense minus penalties |
| Wasted Yards | 188 | 240 | Yards on non-scoring drives (including penalties) |
| Yds on Scoring Drives | 5 | 319 | Yards on scoring drives (including penalties) |
| Passing Yards | 93 | 341 | |
| Completions | 10 | 29 | |
| Attempts | 24 | 40 | |
| Yds per Attempt | 3.9 | 8.5 | |
| Rushing Yards | 107 | 202 | |
| Attempts | 29 | 37 | |
| Average | 3.7 | 5.5 | |
| Penalty Yards | 83 | 29 | |
| Penalties | 10 | 3 | |
| Average | 8.3 | 9.7 | |
| Plays | 53 | 77 | |
| Yds per Play | 3.8 | 7.1 | |
| Run:Pass Ratio | 29:24 | 37:40 | |
| Negative Plays | 10 | 4 | Plays that gained negative yardage |
| Third Down Conversion Pct | 15% | 44% | |
| Conversions | 2 | 8 | |
| Attempts | 13 | 18 | |
| Avg Yards to go | 13.5 | 6.5 | |
| Avg Field Position | Utah 38 | BSU 30 | Average starting field position |
Notable:
- That 3rd down average for Utah is just terrible. The Utes' two shortest 3rd downs were of 8 and 9 yards and didn't come until near the fourth quarter. Part of it was penalties, part of it was Boise State tackles-for-loss.
- In a game involving seven turnovers and some of college football's best return men, you would think that there would have been more than three swing points (points on defense, special teams, or drives of less than 25 yards).
- Fourth quarter time of possession: Utah 3:39, Boise State 11:21.
- The yards Utah lost on penalties was nearly half its total offensive yardage.
The five most interesting stats from Boise State versus Utah
Combined points off turnovers: 3
There were seven total turnovers in the Vegas Bowl, and only one of them turned into points - a first quarter field goal from Utah's Joe Phillips following a Kellen Moore interception. The other turnovers had their drives end in missed field goal, punt, punt, downs, fumble, and missed field goal. Football traditionalists mourn.
Austin Pettis finished the game with seven straight successful completions from Kellen Moore
Starting with his fourth-down snag, Pettis rolled off seven consecutive successful plays, including five first downs and a touchdown. His last reception - a pass to himself - ended the string.
Terrance Cain's negative yardage nearly led Utah in rushing
Between sacks and read option plays gone awry, Cain had a rough night in the boxscore, losing 33 yards on six attempts. Utah's Eddie Wide was the team's leading rusher with 34 yards on six carries.
Only five of Utah's 200 yards led to points
Give credit to the Bronco defense for doing the best it could after being dealt a pretty awful hand. With Utah enjoying stellar field position all game (an average Ute drive started at their own 38-yard-line), the Broncos only allowed three points on a drive that lasted a total of three plays and five yards. (HT to Joe Phillips missing two field goals and the Utes coming up empty on a late fourth quarter drive)
The Bronco offense put up 499 yards in the final three quarters
Take away their first quarter performance (44 yards, fumble, INT), and the Bronco offense was just as good as usual - piling up 499 yards on an overmatched Utah defense. Plus, if two TD reversals go their way and Tyler Shoemaker catches that fourth quarter TD pass, the offense could have scored 41 points.
Note: Yardage totals in chart reflect drive totals, which include Utah penalty yardage. Hence why the total might not be 499.
Your turn
What stats stood out to you in this game? Impressed with the Boise State defense? Surprised no one could capitalize on turnovers? Think Utah was overrated? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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Utah was overrated
if that was the 18th (or whatever) ranked team in the country. Score should have been much higher (for both teams, actually); a lot of dropped passes. But as the game wore on, the Utes had to resort to either holding our D-line as they blew past them or holding our receivers as they blew past them. BTW, I’m pretty sure Cain saw his life pass before his eyes as Venable closed in on him on that rollout.
Slightly OT: the missus and I went to the game on a Global Travel package. Put us up at the Venetian/Pallazo which is a very cool, very enormous hotel (and casino, of course, for those inclined).
Venable's throwdown of Cain overall gamechanger IMO. Pettis fumble, instead of another 7 on board Utes get ball at 20.
Classic momentum swing if it ever’s gonna’ happen. Winston just flat said “ain’t EVEN happenin’”
tvmunson
I am suprised that Utah only had 10 plays for loss.
I could have swore that we sacked Cain at least 11 times.
horrible
absolutely horrible….but something i would have pondered as to whether i would say it or not
Noel.Diggity.....NO DOUBT!
Bronco Nation...where the heavens and our hallowed ground are both BLUE!
by Noel.Diggity on Dec 27, 2010 6:42 PM PST up reply actions
It was hanging there
Thus I took a whack. I doubt many got it anyway. Biblical references regrettably don’t resound much these days. Even poor ones like mine.
Sad moment
With the BIFFF out I guess that means that football is really over for the year. Not sure what to do.
Great job as always. 499 yards in 3 Q’s. Crazy Good. This team can beat anyone when both sides of the ball is playing like they can.
"Every Damn Day."- Coach Pete
And so begins the off-season
BW
there is no 'Z' in 'Boise'
there is no 'O' in 'Petersen'
there is no edit button on SBNation
by Boise State of Mind on Dec 27, 2010 5:55 PM PST reply actions
Looking at these numbers,
This may not have been the most successful team in Boise State history, but it was the best.
/bittersweet’d
We want to build a university our football team can be proud of. -- Dr. George Lynn Cross
Not only Shoemaker
Plus, if two TD reversals go their way and Tyler Shoemaker catches that fourth quarter TD pass, the offense could have scored 41 points.
…but the open Dan Paul pass… I guess Pettis got that one for him the very next play. Oh, well.
~ :: ~
"Everyone counted us out. I don't know why they keep doing that." -- Kyle Wilson
"It takes no talent to give great effort."
"We’re not going to play to the outside noise." -- Chris Petersen
"[Kellen] Moore is a walking Staples® button." -- Ivan Maisel
"I’ve been around football a long time and I’ve never seen a better prepared team than the Boise State Broncos and it was a privilege to watch them play." -- Lou Holtz
The inevitability of Boise State
In the stadium that night, even in the first quarter, the inevitability of a Bronco victory was palpable. You could feel it as you watched the D-line and then the O-line take control. You have to admire (again) Kellen Moore’s composure has he calmly marched down the field, despite the fumbles and drops, to put the Utes away. In looking at his stats, I can remember only 4 of 38 passes that were off target (including the one intercepted). The other 6 incompletions were dropped/catchable. Toward the end of the game, the Utes were reduced to holding on both sides of the ball. Have not seen that many defensive holding penalties in a while. Finally, the game had an eerie similarity to the Fresno State game – mistakes early, then sheer domination. The Utes are a better team than the Bulldogs, but they had no answers.
the way I look at it....
I think our Broncos went scoreless in the first quarter just so announcers can stop saying the last time we were held to 0 points in the first was against UC Davis… this way in 4 years when someone gets close to holding us scoreless in the 1st they can say the last time was against Utah… that sounds a little better…
You may have something there.
there is no 'Z' in 'Boise'
there is no 'O' in 'Petersen'
there is no edit button on SBNation
by Boise State of Mind on Dec 28, 2010 11:24 AM PST up reply actions
Overrated!
Say what you will about Utah being overrated, but dang that offensive line could tackle like nobody’s business!!
Historically, I’ve always felt like BSU has overachieved in big games against teams with more depth and talent.
This year was the deepest and most talented team we’ve ever fielded that underperformed in one half of football and lost their opportunity to prove themselves once again against a major opponent on the big stage.
Go Broncos 2011!!
RELOAD.
PAC Ten Ref's
There were allot more holding non-calls. You are correct Utah Offensive line can sure tackle.
Thought on the 2010 Season
I’ve been a lifelong Longhorn fan but have followed the Broncos since they’ve been in division 1 ball.I have nothing but pride an admiration for Boise State and will continue to do so.
Having said that, I humbly offer my views on this year’s team.
The Bronc’s defied the nay sayers at ESPN by beating VT in their own backyard.( Ponder that Mark May) Nuff said.
They faced every opponent on their schedule with pride, respect and dignity as a championship team should. However, being in the WAC as a non AQ doesn’t allow for any slip ups. Case in point-the Nevavda game.
Boise had one bad half of one gameand the BCS assessed the penalty we all expected. It wasn’t fair but a fact nonetheless.However, it should be noted that the courage and fortitude of your oppoenent when they play you is the true measure of how great your team really is? We all saw how Nevada threw everything they had into the mix to beat Boise by a mere field goal.
Yes it was unfortunate that Brotz missed a couple but it wasn’t all his fault. There was PLENTY of blame to go around. Poor tackling, poor play calling in the second half,( yes coach I’m calling you and the entire staff out on this. But I still love ya!) dropped balls and most importantly the lost edge of playing with that chip on your shoulder all contributed to the loss.
And I’ll comment on something I rarely comment on-ever. Officiating. It was very clear to me that Boise was not going to get the benefit of the doubt on any call. There were some missed calls in that game that quite frankly were inexusable and potentially game changing.
But like a true championship team the Broncos regrouped, and refocused and took care of buisiness against Utah.
Yes, there are the haters out there that revel in the fact that Boise didn’t get a BCS game. But ANYONE that knows anything about football knows that BSU is a National Title caliber team. They just don’t have the luxury of being in the Big 10 or SEC to have a bad game forgiven.
I have NO DOUBT that BSU will be back next year and in the National limelight again! I realize that the Broncos are losing alot to graduation but I also know that they have underclassmen that are ready and able to step up to the plate and carry on with the mission.
To the seniors that are leaving- especially Young and Pettis- I look forward to seeing you play on Sundays.
Go Broncos!! I love ya and I’m very proud of you!!
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2012 Boise State Football Schedule
@ Michigan State  |
Fri 08/31 | 6:00 p.m. MT |
| Miami (OH) | Sat 09/15 | 2:00 p.m. MT |
| BYU |
Thu 09/20 | TBA |
| @ New Mexico | Sat 09/29 | TBA |
| @ Southern Miss | Sat 10/06 | TBA |
| Fresno State | Sat 10/13 | 1:30 p.m. MT |
| UNLV | Sat 10/20 | 1:30 p.m. MT |
| @ Wyoming |
Sat 10/27 | 1:30 p.m. MT |
| San Diego State | Sat 11/03 | 8:30 p.m. MT |
| @ Hawaii | Sat 11/10 | 5:00 p.m. MT |
| Colorado St. | Sat 11/17 | 1:30 p.m. MT |
| @ Nevada | Sat 12/1 | TBA |
