Monday, Nov. 02, 2009

Boise State notebook: Burroughs has 'been ready for a while'

Louisiana Tech could be without three standouts.

By BY CHADD CRIPE

Boise State freshman wide receiver Mitch Burroughs' first college touchdown catch wasn't as easy as it looked.

He was wide open in the end zone after the San Jose State secondary botched the coverage in Saturday's game.

"Those are definitely the hardest ones to catch," Burroughs said. "If you catch it, it's going to be a touchdown. If you drop it, you're going to look pretty dumb. É It took like 20 seconds for it to get to me."

The 18-yard touchdown was the first big play of the Meridian High graduate's career.

In the first seven games, he had four catches for 13 yards and one carry for minus-3 yards.

He had two catches for 24 yards against the Spartans.

"It's surprising that it's been this long before we really got Mitch in the end zone," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said, "because we've known he's been ready for a while."

BEAT-UP BULLDOGS

Louisiana Tech might be well below full strength when No. 5 Boise State visits Ruston, La., on Friday night (6:01 p.m. MST, ESPN2).

The Bulldogs' two best offensive players and leading tackler are questionable with injuries. Running back Daniel Porter (concussion) and wide receiver Phillip Livas (ankle) were knocked out of the Idaho game last week and linebacker Adrien Cole (concussion) didn't play against the Vandals.

Several other players are banged up, as well.

Losing Porter and Livas - two All-WAC first-teamers - is particularly painful for a Bulldogs offense that doesn't have many other weapons.

Porter averages 80 rushing yards per game and 5.2 yards per carry. Livas averages 11.6 yards per carry and 10.8 yards per catch and has scored on a punt return and kickoff return this season.

Louisiana Tech led Idaho 28-14 at the half and lost 35-34.

"Saturday's a great example - between the two of them we had (172 yards of offense)," Louisiana Tech coach Derek Dooley said. "You lose that in the second half. But you can't sit there and mope and whine about what you don't have. You have to figure out a way to move the football without them and have some guys step up and pick up the slack."

Dooley didn't give any indication of how serious the injuries are other than to say he has many players who will be game-time decisions.

He did say that junior Ross Jenkins remains the starting quarterback. Jenkins has thrown 11 touchdown passes and four interceptions this season but was benched against Idaho. Freshman Colby Cameron was 14-of-24 for 142 yards, including 3-for-3 to set up a potential game-winning field goal that was missed.

"Colby has done a good job in practice and has earned some time," Dooley said. "Ross is still our quarterback, but we're not afraid to put in Colby if we feel we need to."

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

BSU cornerback Kyle Wilson was named the WAC defensive player of the week for his 27-yard interception return for a touchdown and five tackles against San Jose State.

Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews (185 rushing yards, two TDs) was the offensive player of the week and Idaho kickoff returner Justin Veltung (94-yard touchdown) was the special teams honoree.

Boise State has not had an offensive player of the week this year.

Boise State's internal honorees were quarterback Kellen Moore (offense), linebacker Aaron Tevis (defense), linebacker Hunter White (special teams), defensive end Shea McClellin (lineman), nickel Jason Robinson (Hammer), running back Drew Wright (scout offense), cornerback Josh Borgman (scout defense) and fullback Jake Hess (scout special teams).

QUICK HITS

Defensive tackle J.P. Nisby (knee) likely will miss two more games, Petersen said. É Defensive tackle Michael Atkinson's status with an ankle injury could change week to week, Petersen said.