Friday, September 1, 2006.

If you had written a preview of the Boise State-Sacramento State game, it could have gone something like this: Jared Zabransky connects, Ian Johnson runs, Marty Tadman intercepts, and Colt Brooks tackles and picks. Those things went according to plan in BSU’s 45-0 win over Sacramento State last night. The WAC favorites showed perfect balance (212 yards through the air and 215 on the ground), while holding the Hornets to 82 yards total, the fewest allowed by the Broncos in 20 years. It was also only BSU’s fourth shutout of the past 20 years—third of the new century—and first since blanking Idaho State in the 2003 opener.

What Bronco fans saw last night was a lot more good than bad from Zabransky. The senior quarterback completed his first six passes, one of them a 56-yard strike to Drisan James. Zabransky was 5-for-13 thereafter, but was not intercepted, did not fumble, and snuck in another pretty bomb to James, this one a 52-yard touchdown. We don’t know yet if the once hernia-hampered Johnson can absorb those 20-25 carries a game, because he didn’t need to tote that much against the Hornets. When he did have the ball he was money, going for 89 yards on just 13 attempts with two touchdowns.

If you had high expectations for the Boise State defense, then there were no surprises last night. Holding the Hornets to 82 yards and three first downs, though? BSU’s secondary didn’t have a chance to unleash its full “physicality” against Sac State, but that’s because the Hornets rarely got the ball out that far. The front seven was delivering plenty of punishment. The big players came up big for the Broncos—Korey Hall had a very physical start to his senior year, Colt Brooks was stellar with his extendo-man interception, and Andrew Browning was stout up front. In the secondary, Marty Tadman’s nose for the ball sniffed another pick after he led the WAC in that department last year.

So, about the semi-new Bronco coaching staff working out the bugs. What bugs? The operation seemed to run very smoothly last night. One telling number that isn’t determined by the opponent is penalties, and BSU was flagged only four times for 24 yards—zero personal fouls, one hold and three false starts, only one from the starters. Ironically, that was from the Broncos’ most experienced offensive lineman, Jeff Cavender. Meanwhile, the crowd did its part. On a Thursday night going into Labor Day weekend, with their team facing a faceless Division I-AA opponent, 29,674 fans showed up. And an amazing number of them remained into the fourth quarter.

If you’re looking at Oregon State’s game last night against another Big Sky school as a barometer for next week’s BSU-OSU showdown in Bronco Stadium, good luck. The Beavers’ game against Eastern Washington was very similar to the Broncos’ opener, with OSU thrashing the Eagles by a 56-17 count. In fact, the Beavers may know less about themselves, as they were helped by a flurry of turnovers deep in Eastern territory. It is worth noting, however, that OSU held Eastern to minus-14 yards rushing. Oh, it’s going to be a fun week.

Michigan State may be favored by 29 points over Idaho tomorrow, but it’ll be interesting. Of his showdown with mentor Dennis Erickson and his first meeting against his old school since the Big West days at Utah State, Smith says, “We want to show ‘em we’ve got a good club.” That’s what Spartan fans expect to see, and nothing short of covering the spread will satisfy the restless natives. MSU has fallen on hard times, coming off back-to-back losing seasons for the first time in 13 years. Still, those are only John L.’s second and third losing seasons in 17 years as a head coach. He’s 14th among active Division I-A coaches in victories with 128.

Right out of the gate tonight: a game that will have an impact on the WAC race—and a negative impact on the team that loses it. By ESPN’s request, the Fresno State-Nevada game is move up to Opening Night, on a Friday on the Bulldogs’ home turf. Nevada needs something on the ground tonight. Its running back situation is similar to Boise State’s, in that the Wolf Pack’s feature back is coming off sports hernia surgery. Coach Chris Ault wants to see if Robert Hubbard can be an every-down back.

Hubbard ran for 272 yards and six touchdowns in the Pack’s final two games last season, and they were big ones—the upset of Fresno State and the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl win over Central Florida. Last season B.J. Mitchell’s distraction as a running threat played a big role in Jeff Rowe’s emergence as a premier WAC quarterback, and Hubbard will have to be on his game if Rowe is going to have a superstar senior year.

The most interesting non-conference game is Hawaii at Alabama, with Warrior quarterback Colt Brennan hoping June Jones’ run-and-shoot offense can make a dent in the Crimson Tide, which is favored by 16. You also have Louisiana Tech going in as a 22-point underdog to Nebraska and San Jose State a 19½-point ‘dog at Washington. Utah State and Wyoming resume their natural rivalry tomorrow, with the Cowboys picked by 12½. New Mexico State played last night, and the Aggies, as expected, ended the nation’s longest losing streak at 13 games. They beat coach Hal Mumme’s old school, Southeastern Louisiana, 30-15.

The magic number for the Boise Hawks has plummeted this week, and that’s a good thing for the Northwest League’s East Division leaders. With last night’s second consecutive 9-0 whuppin’ of Spokane, the Hawks’ magic number drops from three to one—there are six games left to play, and the Hawks have a six-game lead over Tri-City. Jake Renshaw, Jason Ruhlman and Alex Maestri spun Boise’s fifth combined shutout of the season last night. And Tyler Colvin, the Cubs’ first round draft pick this spring, is bent on ending his first professional season with a bang. The Clemson product hit a homer in his fourth straight game last night, giving him nine for the season.

When we go through the “called-up-to-Iowa-sent-back-to-Idaho” routine with the Steelheads this winter, Jared Nightingale’s name is sure to pop up. Nightingale is a 6-3, 200-pound defenseman who’s signed a two-way AHL/ECHL contract, so splitting time between Des Moines and Boise will be part of the plan. He finished his collegiate career at Michigan State last spring and then played for the Springfield Falcons of the AHL.

This Day In Sports…September 1, 1984:

Mississippi Valley State clobbers Kentucky State, 86-0, as senior wide receiver Jerry Rice catches 17 passes for 294 yards. The future NFL Hall Of Famer—still the Division I-AA leader in career receiving yards—was just one of Willie Totten’s many targets, as the Mississippi Valley quarterback completed 37 throws for 536 yards. The team ended up with 699 yards through the air.

(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 ESPN Radio 1350 KTIK.)

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