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Boise State DE Lawrence on a sack streak

The Sports Xchange

November 14, 2012 at 2:41 am.

Demarcus Lawrence has been a terror off the edge for the Broncos this season. (Brian Losness-US)

–DE Demarcus Lawrence leads the Mountain West with 8.5 sacks. He has a sack in four straight games.

–Boise State is tied for fourth in the nation in takeaways with 29. Three teams are tied for first with 30.

— Boise State leads the Mountain West in scoring defense, rush defense, pass defense, total defense, pass-efficiency defense, red-zone defense and turnover margin — and yet the Broncos have not had a Mountain West defensive player of the week honoree this season.

SERIES HISTORY: Boise State leads Colorado State 1-0 (last meeting, 2011, 63-13 Boise State)

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: The Broncos capitalized on five Hawaii turnovers last week to score 49 points, including a defensive touchdown, but the offense remains inconsistent. Junior wide receiver Aaron Burks became the first Bronco to accumulate 100 receiving yards in a game this season. Quarterback Joe Southwick tossed three touchdown passes, including two from within the red zone, which was a step in the right direction. But the up-and-down run game struggled against a porous Hawaii defense.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: The Broncos have quietly had a phenomenal defensive season. The defense hasn’t allowed a first-half point to the opposing offense in seven of the past eight games. The first-teamers haven’t allowed a touchdown play of longer than seven yards. And if you take out touchdowns in mop-up time, non-offensive touchdowns and an 8-yard drive (after a blocked punt) by San Diego State, the defense has surrendered just three touchdowns in the past six games. Last week, the group forced five turnovers and recorded six sacks. The Broncos rank eighth in scoring defense (14.4 points per game) and fifth in pass defense (168.6 yards per game).

QUOTE TO NOTE: “He’s done a good job at end and maturity wise he can handle learning two different positions. If something were to happen, he could go back to end but right now we’re going to keep him at tackle.” — Boise State defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski, on end Tyler Horn filling in at tackle

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