We played a college format of 12 games in the regular season with two divisions. The first consisted of the national champions from the last 10 years, while the last 10 Boise State teams were in the opposite division. Each team played the other nine in their division with three games chosen at random against teams from the other division.
At the end of 12 weeks, the 2001 Miami Hurricanes won the Championship Division with an 11-1 record, losing only to the 2009 Alabama team on the final weekend. The 2004 USC and 2005 Texas teams finished tied with 9-3 records, with the Trojans earning the playoff berth on the basis of a head-to-head victory over the Longhorns. In the Boise State Division, the 2009 Broncos reigned supreme with an 11-1 mark. The 2010 Boise State team finished second with a 9-3 record and will be the other representative in the four-team playoffs.
In one semifinal, it will be the 2009 Broncos going against USC. Jeremy Avery had a spectacular regular season, rushing for 1,573 yards and 20 touchdowns and finishing second to kicker Kyle Brotzman with 162 points. Kellen Moore was accurate on 293-of-454 throws for 3,998 yards and 31 touchdowns against the best teams of the last 10 years, with only three interceptions. Titus Young was the fifth-leading receiver in the league with 65 catches for 933 yards and seven scores while Austin Pettis had 57 catches for 847 yards and five TD's and tight end Kyle Efaw chipped in with 42 grabs for 487 yards and three scores. Brotzman led all SFL kickers with 39 field goals. Defensively, Jeron Johnson and Kyle Wilson each had three interceptions while end Ryan Winterswyck had five sacks to lead the Broncos.
USC quarterback Matt Leinart led the Trojans with 294-432 passing for 3,867 yards and 23 touchdowns against just four picks. LenDale White paced USC with 1,012 yards (15th in the SFL) and 16 TD's. Leinart was able to distribute the ball well over the course of the season, with Steve Smith (55-767 and five touchdowns) and Dwayne Jarrett (46-532 and 4 TD's) his top two targets. Ryan Killeen had 20 field goals for USC while Matt Grootegoed had three interceptions and Collin Ashton had three sacks to lead the Trojan defense.
In the other semifinal this Saturday, the 2010 Boise State will challenge the 2001 Hurricanes. Miami was one of the most exciting teams in the league with a balanced attack that kept defenses guessing all year long. Ken Dorsey hit 278-of-467 passes for 3,920 yards and 19 touchdowns but also suffered 15 interceptions. Clinton Portis was third in the league with 1,684 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns. Ethenic Sands was Dorsey's favorite receiver with 57 catches for 887 yards and five TD's.
But Miami's defense was superb all year long. Darrell McGlover (eight sacks) and Maurice Sikes (seven) were 1-2 in that department and the Boise State line will have to be aware of them at all times. Edward Reed and John Square had four sacks each in the aggressive Hurricane attack defense. Phillip Buchanon was second to the 2002 Gabe Franklin in interceptions with five. Todd Sievers was highly reliable, as the senior was fourth in the SFL with 31 field goals.
Boise State will feature a balanced attack of its own. Quarterback Kellen Moore completed 290-of-428 passes and tied for the league lead with 3,998 yards. Moore tossed 38 touchdowns with nine interceptions on the season. Tough back Doug Martin was nearly unstoppable with 1,690 yards and 14 touchdowns, though he could find the going tough against Miami this Saturday. Titus Young was sixth in the SFL with 62 catches for 911 yards and 12 touchdowns, while teammate Austin Pettis hauled in 57 Moore aerials for 712 yards and six scores.
Kyle Brotzman finished tied with USC's Ryan Killeen with 20 field goals. The Bronco defenders did not see enough action during the regular season to accumulate big statistics, but Tyrone Crawford managed three sacks.
View Final Statistics here.
2010 Boise State vs. 2004 USC and 2009 Boise State vs. 2001 Miami of Florida--two great games on tap this weekend. The first kicks off at 11 a.m. while the second semi gets underway at 2. Blue Through and Through will have results of the first game by 2 and the Miami-Boise State matchup by 5 Saturday afternoon.
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