Hold On Just A Minute, Ewu Eagles Want To Avoid Early Run By 24th-Ranked Boise State

Last year’s football game between Boise State and Eastern Washington was decided in the final minute.

The rematch could be decided in the first minute, if one believes the coaches.

“I think we need to jump ahead early,” third-year Boise State coach Pokey Allen said. “If we get into a slugfest with them, we might be in a little bit of trouble.”

Second-year EWU coach Mike Kramer, whose team snapped a five-game losing streak with a 28-10 win at Montana State last week, concurs.

“There’s no question we have to avoid the early turnover and the early avalanche,” Kramer said. “If we can do that, then our confidence will be bouyed and we’ll be in it.

“Every time we’ve played down there and it’s been ugly; it’s been ugly early. In the tight games, we played well early.”

In 1994, the Broncos survived a 16-13 scare at Woodward Stadium, blocking a 27-yard field-goal try on the final play. Conditions were so muddy that, even a year later, the congenial Allen tersely referred to the game as “a joke.”

Boise State went on to win the Big Sky Conference and reach the Division I-AA championship game.

Then came the off-season from hell. Shortly after losing to Youngstown State in the title game, Allen was diagnosed with cancer. The former Portland State coach nearly died during rigorous treatment sessions and has yet to regain full strength.

The football program has also been shaken by off-field troubles involving several key players, including starting quarterback Tony Hilde, who scuffled with Boise police when confronted in a park last summer.

The problems continued into the 1995 season as the powerful Broncos started 2-3. Since then, BSU has won three straight and surged to No. 24 in the Division I-AA rankings. Last week’s 49-14 over Portland State marked the Broncos’ highest-scoring game since Allen left the Vikings to coach BSU in 1993.

“We’re playing a lot better,” Allen said. “The players are starting to play better. We’re practicing harder. We’ve gotten a lot of turnovers. It been a total improvement.

“The thing you notice is getting turnovers - the interceptions, the fumble recoveries.”

The Broncos have made 12 interceptions in their five victories, and none in the three losses. Against Portland State, linebacker Jimmy Clark returned an interception 81 yards for a touchdown. In the previous week’s 27-17 win over Idaho State, cornerback Rashid Gayle scored on a 47-yard return.

The Eagles were doomed by turnovers during their five-game slide, but played like a reformed team in the win over Montana State. In what is becoming tradition, EWU solved its problems against the Bobcats, beating them for the fifth straight season.

Quarterback Harry Leons, erratic in his only previous start, was flawless.

“He threw a couple of post corners right where they had to be thrown,” Allen said.

Running back Joe Sewell, a fumbler in recent weeks, tore through the Bobcats for 133 yards and two touchdowns. “He’s a good, strong runner,” Allen observed, “but the key to their whole team is the offensive line.”

Against MSU, the key was the defense, which improved its image of generosity by holding the Bobcats to 94 total yards.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Eagles at Boise State