A look at the schools that are overlooked by the ESPNs of the world.


Monday, August 17, 2015

What if the G5 had a 16-team playoff? Part Six: Championship Game: Boise State versus Cincinnati

In a playoff that started with 16 teams from all G5 conferences as well as one independent, the second annual G5 playoff heads to New Orleans for the title game between Boise State and Cincinnati.

Boise State 26, Cincinnati 14:


In the second annual fictional G5 playoff, MWC and defending G5 champion Boise State faces AAC champion Cincinniti in the title game in New Orleans.

Cincinnati opens the game receiving the kickoff and returning it to their own 17-yard line to start the game. The Bearcats try to get their running game going early but face a quick 3rd-and-8 at the 19. A pass falls incomplete and Cincinnati punts to the Broncos with the ball returned to the Cincinnati 46-yard line. After a run up the middle is stuffed, the Broncos go for a pass on the left sideline that is picked off by the Cincinnati defense and returned to the Bearcats 39-yard line. Cincinnati is again unsuccessful on offense versus an energized Boise State defense but filp the field with a long punt. Boise State starts again with the ball on their own 15-yard line. The Broncos move the ball downfield on the back of their excellent offensive line but stall and face a 4th-and-8 on the Bearcats 30-yard line. A 47-yard field goal is good and Boise State opens the scoring at 3-0 with 7:35 left in the opening period of action. The Bearcats immediately give the ball up on a fumble by Kiel as he scrambles for a first down with Boise State recovering at the Cincinnati 39-yard line. The Broncos again move the ball but fizzle out at the 11-yard line and drill a 28-yard field goal to extend the lead to 6-0 with 4:39 left in the quarter. Following a stalled drive by Cincinnati, the Bearcats defense comes up big with an interception and possession on the Boise State 22-yard line. One play later, the Bearcats find the end zone on a 22-yard strike from quarterback Gunner Kiel to give Cincinnati a 7-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Broncos start the second quarter with a drive that stalls in Cincinnati territory and allows them to pin the Bearcats back at their own 11-yard line. Cincinnati moves the ball nearly to midfield before Donte Deayon steps in front of a Kiel pass to give the Broncos the ball back on their own 46-yard line. Boise State then moves the ball on a 5-play, 36-yard drive that results in a 35-yard field goal to give the Broncos the lead once again at 9-7 with 9:03 left in the half. After multiple failed drives, both teams blow a chance to score in the final minutes as Boise State fumbles inside the Cincinnati 10-yard line and Cincinnati just misses a 44-yard field goal attempt. The score at halftime is Boise State 9, Cincinnati 7.

Receiving the kickoff to start the second half, Boise State goes on a 9-play , 57-yard drive that again comes up short of a touchdown with the Broncos hitting a 37-yard field goal to extend their lead to 12-7. The Bearcats offense finally wakes up again with the running game finding holes versus a steadily tiring Bronco defense. The Bearcats hit a screen pass that finds a crease and goes 50 yards into the end zone with Cincinnati retaking the lead at 14-12 with 8:55 left in the third quarter. In a game of matching play, the Broncos again respond with a drive, this time 13 plays and 79 yards in 5:16 capped by a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jake Roh that puts Boise State back in the lead at 19-14 with 3:31 left in the quarter. Cincinnati, looking to respond yet again, moves downfield and face a 3rd-and-8 at the Boise State 47 as the third quarter comes to an end with Boise State leading 19-14.

The Bearcats convert the third down but are stalled at the Boise State 26-yard line, facing a 43-yard field goal attempt. The kick is wide left and Cincinnati leaves points on the board for the second time and continue to trail 19-14 with 13:22 left in the game. The Bronco rushing attack finds room two plays later versus a dejected Cincinnati defense with a 38-yard run followed by a 15-yard penalty to move the ball to the Bearcats 9-yard line. Boise State again catches Cincinnati off guard with a quarterback draw into the endzone to give Boise State a 26-14 lead with 12:04 left in the game. Cincinnati cannot respond this time and give the ball back to the Broncos on the Boise State 27-yard line with 9:36 left in the game. Boise State methodically moves downfield on a 13-play drive, facing a 4th-and-goal at the Cincinnati 1-yard line. The Bearcats stay alive with a goal line stop but get no closer than the 50 as Kiel's pass is intercepted with 1:37 left in the game. A few kneel downs and the Boise State Broncos defeat the Cincinnati Bearcats 26-14 in the second annual G5 playoff title game.

Scoring Summary

                         1Q          2Q          3Q          4Q
Boise State     6            3             10            7
Cincinnati        7             0             7             0

1st Quarter
Boise: 7:31: FG (Dan Goodale 47 yds) 3-0
Boise: 4:35: FG (Dan Goodale 28 yds) 6-0
Cincinnati: 1:34: TD (Max Morrison 22 yd. pass from Kiel (Gantz kick)) 6-7
2nd Quarter
Boise: 8:59: FG (Dan Goodale 35 yds) 9-7
3rd Quarter
Boise: 10:44: FG (Dan Goodale 37 yds) 12-7
Cincinnati: 8:55 TD (Johnny Holton 50 yd. pass from Kiel (Gantz kick)) 12-14
Boise: 3:31: TD (Jake Roh 7 yd. pass from Hedrick (Goodale kick)) 19-14
4th Quarter
Boise: 12:04: TD (Grant Hedrick 9 yd. run (Goodale kick)) 26-14

No comments:

Post a Comment