Boise State opens with new faces, same focus

BOISE, Idaho -- Eight months later, the situation hasn't changed much for Boise State.

The Broncos were ranked 19th in the BCS Standings going into the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas, where they beat unranked but respected Washington 28-26.

Now they are ranked No. 19, headed to Seattle's Husky Stadium to face unranked but respected Washington again.

The difference, other than location, is that the Broncos have just 10 returning starters and the Huskies have 20. Their identity is a bit of a cliffhanger, but could be quickly defined with yet another Week 1 game in unfriendly environs. Last season, Boise State began play in August at Michigan State.

"I think it's tougher (this year)," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. "It starts with most of their guys being back, playing not in a neutral environment. Those two things right then and there make it tough. And the fact that whether we won or lost, most of our guys are gone. We'd be talking to air if we were trying to motivate one way or another. All their guys are back."

Washington coach Steve Sarkisian said the Huskies can take some information from last year's film of the Bowl game, such as formations and personnel groupings, into account but won't use much of their past game plans in this matchup. It helps the Huskies return eight defensive starters.

The Huskies expect subtle changes or new wrinkles from Boise State.

Boise State ran four of its famous trick plays during the Vegas Bowl and capitalized on two, one of which was a double-pass. Washington defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox said the team had an "eye violation" on that particular play, and went on to explain keeping eyes on keys is paramount for defenders when trying to sniff out the trick plays.

Petersen emphasized that he thinks Washington is very underrated.

The Broncos are in their usual situation, even with a young roster. They have a chance, on paper, to go undefeated -- and likely need to if they want to play in a third Bowl Championship Series game.

The schedule doesn't include any ranked teams but it does feature five stiff road tests -- at Washington, Fresno State, Utah State, BYU and San Diego State.

"When I saw that schedule come out, I really wanted to write (Mountain West Commissioner) Craig Thompson a very nasty letter, but I didn't think that would be the appropriate thing to do," Petersen said with a chuckle.

His offense is fairly loaded -- a senior returning starter at quarterback, three seniors on the offensive line, a senior tight end, a talented sophomore tailback and four upperclassman wide receivers. The defense is more of a question mark with new starters at both cornerback spots and all three linebacker spots.

"We feel comfortable with what we have," quarterback Joe Southwick said of the offense. "It's nice having a nice spring, a good summer and a good camp, but now it's kind of change-your-mentality mode. In a couple of days, we're doing this for real. I'm excited to see everyone go out there and cut it loose. We just have to focus and execute."

Notes: PK Dan Goodale and junior middle linebacker Travis Saxton, two local walk-ons, were placed on scholarship. ... RB Aaron Baltazar, "stud end" Gabe Perez, stud end Kamalei Correa, linebacker Darren Lee and cornerback Jonathan Moxey likely will play this year as true freshmen, Petersen said. Baltazar was the only true freshman to make the two-deep depth chart. He is listed as the co-No. 2 tailback with sophomore Jack Fields. Sophomore Jay Ajayi is the starter. ... DT Tutulupeatau Mataele, a junior college transfer who was projected to start going into fall camp, is not enrolled in school and won't be with the Broncos this season, Petersen said. He had an academic issue stemming from his time at a junior college. ... Junior defensive back Deon'tae Florence has left the team and will transfer to a Football Championship Subdivision school for playing time, Petersen said.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

--QB Joe Southwick finished last season on a hot streak with nine touchdown passes and no interceptions in the final four games. That included a 26-of-38, 264-yard, two-TD effort against the Huskies in the bowl game. He continued to impress through spring ball and fall camp and is expected to enjoy a breakout senior season.

--DE Demarcus Lawrence led the Mountain West with 9.5 sacks last season but didn't play against Washington because of his second one-game suspension for violating team rules. He was a dominant player in fall camp. "He practices with a purpose and practices to get better and that usually shows up on game day," Petersen said. "With him, it's all about the little things in his life, little things in his game, little things in the weight room."

--CB Bryan Douglas tore an anterior cruciate ligament in late October at Wyoming. He pushed hard to return to the field in time for fall camp and will start for the Broncos in the season opener. He'll need to be sharp to slow down Washington's passing attack. "The timeline was tight," Douglas said. "I hit it right on the head. ... Hopefully I can come back better than I was."

SERIES HISTORY: 1-1. Washington won in 2007 at Husky Stadium and Boise State won 28-26 in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas in December.