alt=Jay DrewPROVO — Boise State and BYU have yet to come up with a name or a traveling trophy for their budding college football rivalry, an idea whose time has probably come since the schools recently agreed to extend their annual series through 2034.
However, Saturday’s game at LaVell Edwards Stadium (8:15 p.m., ESPN2) could well be called the backup bowl, because there is a strong possibility that the Broncos will use their second- and third-string quarterbacks — perhaps not even out of necessity — and the Cougars their third-stringer, redshirt freshman Baylor Romney.
The Cougars were already using a backup last Saturday against South Florida, Jaren Hall. He sustained a likely concussion in the fourth quarter, and Romney completed 6 of 10 passes for 73 yards in the 27-23 loss.
BYU coach Kalani Sitake said Monday that Hall, who had a passer rating of nearly 134 before leaving the contest, is “day to day right now” and trainers are “still hopeful” the redshirt freshman can pass concussion protocol and suit up Saturday as BYU looks to snap its three-game losing skid.
Earlier Monday, offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes said it is “too early to say at this point” and “we will have to see how the week progresses.”
Grimes said coaches would like to know by Wednesday who the starter will be in order to put a proper game plan in place.
“It is obviously a larger factor at quarterback than other positions,” he said.
Boise State true freshman starting quarterback Hank Bachmeier sustained what the Idaho Statesman reported to be a “hip injury” in the second quarter of the No. 14-ranked Broncos’ 59-37 win over Hawaii late Saturday night and did not return to the game. Redshirt sophomore Chase Cord and senior Jaylon Henderson filled in and didn’t skip a beat.
Bachmeier “got hurt when they were up 17-7 and they put 52 points on the board,” Sitake said. “They have plenty of quarterbacks that can play. They have a scheme that is dangerous and well-balanced. They can run the ball and throw it, but with a lot of different people. They are ranked for a reason.”
Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said in a teleconference Monday that he doesn’t talk about anything other than season-ending injuries, and Bachmeier’s injury that he referred to as a “hip-pointer, or whatever” after the game isn’t season-ending.
“So, our quarterback room is just fine,” Harsin said.
BYU’s isn’t, obviously, with season starter Zach Wilson out at least until November and Hall’s status in serious question, especially considering the Cougars have a bye next week and doctors could and probably should be hesitant to play him when more rest is right around the corner.
Sitake said he is “comfortable” that Romney can handle the job because of the coaching he is getting, and also due to his mentality. Romney played high school football in El Paso, Texas, before a church mission to Carlsbad, California, and originally signed with Nevada before deciding to walk on at BYU to join his younger brother, scholarship receiver Gunner Romney.
“I thought he came into the game with great poise,” Sitake said. “We can work with guys that have a lot of confidence and put him in the positions that are working for his strengths. So whether it is him or Joe (Critchlow) or Jaren on the field, we will work towards that this week.”
Grimes said Baylor Romney was put in a tough spot and handled it well. He did take a sack when BYU was out of timeouts and rushed his final throw that fell incomplete in the end zone a bit, but otherwise made some big plays.
“I like Baylor and I think he’s got a bright future,” Grimes said. “For most part he handled the situation well.”
Critchlow, who is married to the granddaughter of former presidential candidate Mitt Romney, a distant relative of the Romney brothers, has more game experience than Baylor Romney, but was bypassed last week for the backup QB spot because he doesn’t run as well, Sitake said.
“I think (Romney) is more suited for what we had established in the game plan against South Florida,” Sitake said.
Grimes concurred, saying the coaches decided Romney would be Hall’s backup a few days before the USF game after both got significant reps during the bye week and a few behind Hall last week.
“His skillset is probably more similar in nature to Jaren’s than Joe’s is,” Grimes said. “It allows us to maintain some continuity within the offense. Secondly, a little bit like Jaren, he’s got a little bit more poise than probably you would anticipate. A lot of maturity for a guy his age. And so if he is the guy this week, we will get him ready and expect to show up Saturday and beat Boise with him.”
Cougars on the air
Boise State (6-0) at BYU (2-4)
At LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo
Saturday, 8:15 p.m. MT
TV: ESPN2
Radio: KSL 1160 AM, 102.7 FM