Boise State dominates Virginia as Brett Rypien throws 3 TD passes

Virginia is a good team that loss to two ranked opponents, and will be ready to play under coach Mike London tonight. If Virginia was “looking ahead” after dropping a pair of games early in the season that would not be good for the program, but even after those defeats if they are able to pick up a win here over visiting Boise State it would make them 2-2 with a solid chance to have a decent season. Freshman quarterback Brett Rypien followed that rush with a 20-yard screen pass, which put the Broncos on Virginia’s four-yard line.

The stability appears to have helped the offense, which ranked 11th last season in the 14-team ACC in yards per game (374.2) and sixth in passing yards (236.4).

On the very first play of the game, Virginia quarterback Matt Johns threw an interception, and Boise State returned it for a touchdown.

The Virginia Cavaliers are an underdog at home in this game.

Mike London not coaching well in 2015? They have athletic director Craig Littlepage’s ear and you wonder what that conversation is. He instead came back in half the time, playing several series against William and Mary. Clemson faithful pleaded for Tommy Bowden’s turfing after a 28-point loss at Wake Forest left the Tigers at 5-4. We really didn’t have that the last game.

None of which excuses Friday. Johns hit junior running back Taquan Mizzell on a short slant route, and Mizzell broke away from the secondary for a 45-yard touchdown reception.

“I’ve never really sat in First Class until that, so it’s pretty nice”. McNichols scored three plays later from 2 yards out and added to its lead less than three minutes later with a 51-yard field goal from Tyler Rausa.

“We needed to have one of these games”, linebacker Ben Weaver said after the Broncos (3-1) limited Virginia (1-3) to 273 yards.

Thorpe went 75 on his first catch as a member of the Cavaliers, after missing the first couple games with a broken clavicle.

One of the benefits of Boise State’s switch from Frontier Airlines to Sun Country Airlines for their charter flights this season is the addition of 12 First Class seats. Boise State had four, one that forced Johns into an intentional-grounding penalty in his end zone, a safety. The sportsbook odds on the contest have Boise State laying two-points on the road with a total of 49.

The defense and its coaches fared as poorly. Rypien is likely to replace an injured Ryan Finley. Johns completed 12-of-25 passes for 199 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions – 120 of those yards came on the two long touchdown passes. A senior, Nicholson’s 33 career starts are the most on the team. The Broncos (2-1) are continuing to receive votes though, getting 17 in the latest poll. Moreover, incumbent quarterback Chad Voytik has been unseated by Nate Peterman. The job belongs to Johns this year after Lambert transferred to Georgia, presumably halting the Cavaliers’ quarterback carousel.

Virginia navigated a taxing schedule over the first month last season, too. Pleading for unity and warning of divisiveness, London had other concerns in the wake of Friday.

“Everybody that comes in will say something to you, but a lot of them aren’t nearly 300 pounds”.