Boise State opens with Weber State

Thursday, August 30, 2007 12:47 PM PDT

BOISE (AP) — Boise State likely won’t have to resort to any trick plays this time.

Still, Broncos coach Chris Petersen said he’s not taking Weber State lightly when the two teams open their season Thursday at Bronco Stadium.

‘‘These guys know what they’re doing,’’ said Petersen, the second-year coach trying to somehow follow up last season’s 13-0 record. ‘‘They play fundamental football. They have good schemes.’’

The Broncos used three trick plays down the stretch to beat powerhouse Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl in January, finishing the season ranked No. 5 in the country.

They enter Thursday’s game at No. 24, which in some ways puts them back to being just another mid-major looking for respect. Whether the Broncos, of the Western Athletic Conference, get it will depend a lot on senior quarterback Taylor Tharp.

ADVERTISEMENT

The longtime backup to Jared Zabransky, who is now competing for a job in the NFL with the Texans, was named the starter on Friday.

‘‘It’s pretty simple, make the right reads,’’ said the 6-foot-2, 203-pound Tharp. ‘‘You don’t have to make every play. You have to go out and direct the offense.’’

That multiple set offense with plenty of shifts often puts the ball in the hands of Ian Johnson. The 5-11, 195-pound running back ran for 1,713 yards last season and led Division 1-A with 25 rushing touchdowns.

‘‘We will need to find him each and every play,’’ said Weber State coach Ron McBride.

The Wildcats, out of the Football Championship Subdivision Big Sky Conference, are coming off a 4-7 season.

‘‘We want to start our season against a good football team,’’ McBride said. ‘‘Boise State fills the bill in all aspects. We see it as a chance to see where are we.’’

The Wildcats also have a top running back in Trevyn Smith, a 5-9, 210-pound sophomore who led the Big Sky in rushing last season with 1,129 yards. He often runs behind David Hale, a 6-6, 305-pound offensive tackle. Both players are first team all-Big Sky Conference picks.

The Wildcats return five starters on offense and five on defense, as well as the kicker and punter. At quarterback, 6-5, 235-pound sophomore Jimmy Barnes, a transfer from the University of Alabama, has won the starting job.

‘‘He understands football very well,’’ said McBride. ‘‘Good strong arm.’’

Last season the Wildcats averaged nearly 290 yards of offense, about 170 of that passing. Conversely, they gave up nearly 200 passing yards a game.

The Wildcats had a hard time scoring last year, averaging 18.3. It will likely take more than that to beat the high-octane Broncos, who averaged 39.7.

On their home blue turf, the Broncos have won 51 of their last 53 games, and will be playing in front of fans still rocking from the Fiesta Bowl.

‘‘I prefer to concentrate more on my own team than Boise State,’’ said McBride. ‘‘We’ll worry about the opponent when we play them.’’

The two teams met regularly when Boise State was also a member of the Big Sky Conference. The Broncos lead the series 22-7, including the last game in 1998 that Boise State won 24-13 at home.

Ever since the win over Oklahoma, Petersen has been trying to downplay whatever kind of arsenal of trick plays the Broncos have. McBride said he doesn’t see the point in even using them.

‘‘You’re not going to beat a team like Boise State with tricks,’’ said McBride. ‘‘You’re not going to win it with mirrors.’’