Gear up for gameday: Boise State
LARAMIE -- Rocky Lombardi. Drew Plitt. Jake Haener.
Those three quarterbacks were considered some of the top signal callers in the nation heading into the 2021 season.
Lombardi, a Michigan State transfer, has thrown for more than 2,100 yards and has tossed 13 touchdowns for a resurgent Northern Illinois program. Ball State's gunslinger has 15 scoring strikes on his resume. Plitt has also accounted for nearly 2,000 yards through the air.
Haener, arguably the best of the trio, has led Fresno State with 3,167 passing yards and 25 touchdowns throws.
Wyoming has faced all three this season.
Here's what they've accomplished against a stingy Cowboys' pass defense:
* Lombardi: 19 of 36, 233 yards, TD, 3 INTs
* Plitt: 8 of 14, 60 yards, INT, fumble (benched in second half)
* Haener: 15 of 28, 96 yards, 2 TDs
Wyoming's secondary is ranked No. 4 in the nation, allowing just 157.9 yards through the air per outing. Opponents have completed 142-of-247 throws for only 1,421 yards through nine games.
Boise State's first-year head coach Andy Avalos is well aware of what CJ Coldon, Azizi Hearn and Co. have done to opposing offenses this season.
Craig Bohl is also no stranger to the Broncos' explosive offensive attack led by sophomore QB Hank Bachmeier.
"It seems like he's been there forever," Wyoming's eighth-year head coach said. "He's a guy that has great mobility. Their coordinators are doing an excellent job with him as far as the progressions."
Bachmeier completed 19 of 28 throws for 181 yards and a touchdown last December inside a snow-covered War Memorial Stadium. Boise State held on for the 17-9 victory in the regular season finale for both teams.
In nine games this fall, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound California product, has amassed 2,486 yards through the air and has connected on 16 touchdown passes compared to just five interceptions.
"He can make all the throws," Bohl continued. "He can throw deep and he's got a great touch on back-shoulder fades. He can hit the mini-field and he's just an excellent, excellent quarterback."
Bachmeier completed 15-of-27 passes for 283 yards and a touchdown in a 40-14 rout of Fresno State last Saturday night inside a sold out Bulldog Stadium.
Khalil Shakur is still Bachmeier's top target, hauling in a team-best 56 passes for 844 yards and five scores. Octavius Evans has snagged 32 balls for 397 yards and two touchdowns. Stefan Cobbs also has five touchdown receptions.
The last time these two teams met in Boise, Bachmeier was sidelined with an injury and was a last-second scratch by then head coach Bryan Harsin.
MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS:
* Overtime loss to Boise State in 2019 still fuels Garrett Crall
* Friday Night Lights: Pokes, Broncos face off on The Blue
* Cowboys in the NFL: Week 9
* Pokes news and notes
* Chad Muma named MW Defensive Player of the Week
* Quick takes: We stopped believing, Wyoming didn't
Here is all you need to know -- and the links -- for Friday's tilt on The Blue:
WHO: Wyoming (5-4, 1-4) at Boise State (5-4, 3-2)
WHEN: Friday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. MST
WEATHER: High of 59, low of 45, partly cloudy, winds at 4 mph
WHERE: Albertson's Stadium, Boise, Idaho
TRAVEL: 511.Idaho.com
TV: FS1
RADIO: Cowboy Sports Network
STREAMING: FS1
TICKETS: Ticketmaster
BOX SCORE: ESPN
ROSTERS: Wyoming / Boise State
BETMGM ODDS: Wyoming +14, O/U 48.5 (Could be subject to change)
HISTORY: Boise State leads the all-time series 14-1
HEAD COACHES: Craig Bohl / Andy Avalos
LOOK: Pokes' unis through the years
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