BOISE, Idaho — After a one-year hiatus, the Boise State football team is back in the Mountain West Championship game, and they'll play Fresno State.
The Bulldogs are coming to Boise for the second time this season, after losing to the Broncos, 40-20, in early October.
Fresno State will look different from the last time they matched up against Boise State. Logan Fife picked up the start for Fresno State last time the two played, but after missing four games earlier this season, Jake Haener is back. Since coming back, he has thrown 13 touchdowns and only two interceptions. He's also averaging 315 yards per game.
“Regardless of who’s at quarterback they’re still going to be a great team," said Seyi Oladipo, a BSU safety. "But with Haener, they’re an even better team. And just again, it’s the championship they’ve worked for it just as hard. So, you have to really count them in that they’re going to bring their best because we all want a ring. It’s like at the end of the day only one person can win.”
For the season combined, Haener has 19 total touchdowns and three interceptions.
Fresno State has the longest win streak in the Mountain West Conference at seven games.
This game might end up being a showdown between quarterbacks.
Mountain West Conference awards were announced on Tuesday and both quarterbacks were represented. Haener was named the first-team All-Mountain West Quarterback and Taylen Green was an Honorable mention All-Mountain west, as well as Mountain West Freshman of the year.
As a redshirt freshman, Taylen Green has 20 total touchdowns and four interceptions. Green hasn't thrown a pick in the last five games and has a 7-1 record as the starting quarterback.
“It starts with Taylen too," said tight end Riley Smith about the growth of the offense over the last two months. "He’s grown as a QB, not just as a running QB but as a passing QB and he’s made strides every single week.”
The game will be at Albertsons Stadium on Saturday at 2 p.m. MT on FOX.
