by @jeffcaves

Boise State put on its best defensive effort ever against Air Force last Saturday night at Albertsons Stadium. The next best effort was in 2013. The Boise State defense featured plenty of NFL talent: Demarcus Lawrence, Tanner Vallejo, Donte Deayon, Darian Thompson and a young Kamalei Correa. That unit held Air Force to 188 yards rushing, 99 yards passing and 20 points. BUT, they allowed that in roughly 3 quarters of play. It was a much tighter game on the 3^rd week of the season in Boise. The score was 28-20 with about 11:00 to go in the game. Air Force would only gain 3 more yards the whole game from that point forward. Air Force had one turnover all night, an interception, but it came at 8:00 in the 4^{th quarter} with the score 35-20. Boise St went on to win the game 42-20.

They pulled it out late.

In 2017, Boise State’s defense dominated from the start. With 9:48 to go in last Saturday’s game, the score was 37-13. It was over. The Boise State defense could rest. They played Happle, Hartsfield, Hatada, and Provenzano on defense. At that point in the game, Boise State’s defense had done plenty. They had limited Air Force to 83 rushing, 115 passing and 13 points.

TOTAL DOMINATION. They also forced 3 fumbles and scored a touchdown.

Are there 5 NFL players on Boise State’s defense this season? Moa, Horton and Vander Esch all seem likely but who knows. No, the key to this year’s group is grit and determination. Avalos and his staff have instilled a killer instinct that is on command. After the Colorado State game, it seemed the entire defense was a mash unit. But, the challenge to crush the Air Force offense washed away the aches and pains of the 2017 season. Their biggest challenge now waits. 8 quarters of defense against Fresno State. 8 quarters of defense against Jeff Tedford, the man who has the most bowl and conference wins in Cal history.  A guy who Coach Pete hired at Washington last year to consult him on playing better offense.  Coach Pete said this season of Tedford “we believe in the same thing fundamentally and philosophically on offense.”

Bring on the Bulldogs.