The running back to watch in Saturday’s game between Boise
State and Southern
Mississippi is not former Heisman candidate Ian Johnson. Not even close. The real star in the backfield is Southern
Mississippi’s Damion Fletcher.
Fletcher has exceeded the 100-yard mark this season, something Boise State
backs can only look back and say “I couldn’t do it.”
Fletcher has 680 yards and four touchdowns this season and
sports 6.1 yards per carry average. He’s
also proven to be a force in the Eagle aerial plan with 18 receptions for 166
yards and another score.
Freshman Austin Davis leads the Southern
Mississippi attack and is gradually becoming more comfortable in
the position. He already has shown that
he has a connection with the athletic Golden Eagle receivers, hitting 60.1% of
his passes (113-188) for 965 yards and nine touchdowns. Davis
is a dual threat with 130 yards rushing as well this season.
Speaking of those receivers, Shawn Nelson (31 catches for
341 yards and three TD’s) is Davis’
favorite target but five-star recruit DeAndre Brown is the deep threat. Brown has already snagged 23 catches for 370
yards and three touchdowns as well.
Damion Fletcher (18-166) and Gerald Baptiste (16-145) must also be
covered tight as they are both possession receivers.
Gerald McRath is once again the defensive leader for Southern
Mississippi. McRath has
amassed 55 tackles in five games and now totals 304 for his fabulous
career. Chico Hunter has 40 stops to go
along with four pass breakups. Anthony Gray is the early sacks leader with four.
Southern Mississippi placekicker
Britt Barefoot is the second placekicker used this season and has booted 4-6
field goals. Barefoot (who does not
actually kick barefoot) is also a fine punter, averaging 41.6 yards per
kick.
The Golden Eagles blasted Louisiana-Lafayette 51-21 in the
season opener and played Auburn
close before losing 27-13. They then
tipped Arkansas State
27-24 before losing at home to Marshall
(34-27) and UTEP (40-37 in OT). For a
team that rarely loses at home, the two consecutive home losses make Southern
Mississippi a ticking time bomb ready to explode. That alone should give the Broncos plenty of
cause for concern. When you combine that
with a talented squad, you get the sense that this Golden Eagle team is on the
verge of greatness.
Boise State’s
hope is to get out of town with a win before that bomb goes off. This Southern Mississippi
team is too good to be down for long.
It should be quite a battle tomorrow night. If Boise State isn't ready for the Golden Eagles, it will be the Broncos who will be squawking on the flight home!