Senior guard leading young, talented offense

One of the biggest questions going into the start of the football season for Boise State was the offensive lines youth. Would they be able to protect the quarterback, would they be able to open up holes for the run game, could they withstand four quarters?

Those critical questions were put to the ultimate test this season and the Broncos O-Line responded in a big way. This season they protected a quarterback, freshman none the less, who was only sacked 11 times for 92 yards and had only six fumbles. They have also steadily been improving opening up holes for the Broncos tailbacks.

A big reason for their success this season has been because of senior offensive guard Andrew Woodruff. The veteran lineman from British Columbia, Canada has been a leader on and off the field and a shinning example of what it takes to play in a game like the Poinsettia Bowl for the younger players.

“I think they’re excited, I’m excited for them,” Woodruff said. “They’re prepared, I’m not going to let that take over their mindset.”

This season the O-Line has had to adapt to many changes. Throughout the entire season, they have had a different formation of players for almost each game and had to do this with about seven players who are either freshman or sophomores.

“I think these guys are unbelievable,” Woodruff said. “They’ve been able to buy into their roles of starting one week, not starting the next, playing different positions.we’ve become a tighter knit group because of that.”

“How close we are? I really like the unity we have,” Woodruff said. ” I don’t think there are many teams that have this sort of connection.”

That camaraderie that they’ve been able to establish will come in handy this Tuesday when they will be facing the No.1 rushing defense and No.2 defense in the country in Texas Christian University.

“We’re really we’re going to come out hard,” Woodruff said. “We have to do our job, we have to play fast, we have to buy into the schemes. That’s part of the game its going to be a fistfight.”

That fistfight BSU will have to play, is something that the Broncos are ready for; especially Woodruff. This game will be his last one as Boise State Bronco.

“I’m anxious. I really want to go out there and finish out this perfect season. A lot of people don’t get to have two perfect seasons in there career. I just want to go out with a bang.”

That bang that Woodruff and the rest of the Bronco O-Line hope to achieve Tuesday will come down to making sure they stay focused on the task at hand: No. 11 TCU.

“Its just buying into the game plan,” Woodruff said. “You can’t think about what has happened in the past. We’ll be fine, we’ve made it too complicated in the past."

Mary Albl

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