Box Score

BOISE, Idaho - Warrior quarterback Colt Brennan passed for 388 (25-of-36) yards and five touchdowns but it wasn't enough as Boise State held-off Hawai'i, 41-34, in a Western Athletic Conference game Saturday night at Bronco Stadium.

A sold-out crowd of 30,642 saw Boise State running back Ian Johnson rush for 178 yards and two touchdowns and the Broncos take advantage of three Hawai'i turnovers to win their 26th straight WAC home game.

Boise State (4-0, 1-0 WAC) took two Warrior turnovers in the first half and converted them into 10 points, jumping out to a 15-0 lead. The Warriors had an opportunity to kick a field goal late in the first quarter, but a bad snap prevented the points.

Hawai'i (1-2, 0-1 WAC) got on the board when Brennan hit Jason Rivers on an inside screen for a 26-yard score, but a muffed snap on the PAT attempt allowed Boise State's Orlando Scandrick to return it for a defensive 2-point conversion. Rivers finished the game with six receptions for 81-yards and three touchdowns.

The Broncos took a 24-6 lead when quarterback Jared Zabransky hit Derek Schouman for a 23-yard touchdown. Hawai'i answered when Brennan found Rivers on an inside screen for a 26-yard score. A two-point conversion from Brennan to Davone Bess made it 24-14.

The Warrior offense had another opportunity to score with the ball at the Boise State 41-yard line with 3:30 left on the first half clock. But Brennan's pass was tipped and intercepted, allowing the Broncos to drive and kick a 32-yard field goal, and take 27-14 lead at the break.

Boise State took a 34-14 lead right out of the locker room when Johnson ran it in from eight yards out. Four plays later, Brennan hit Bess for a 15-yard touchdown to make it 34-21.

Boise State threatened again late in the third quarter but Warrior cornerback Kenny Patton intercepted Zabransky in the end zone to halt the drive. The turnover sparked the Warrior offense. Brennan orchestrated an 11-play, 81-yard drive, capped by a 14-yard touchdown pass to Davone Bess on fourth down. The score cut the Bronco lead to seven, at 34-27. Bess led the Warriors with six catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns.

Hawai'i committed its third turnover of the game when Brennan fumbled while trying to scramble, giving Boise State the ball at its own 45-yard line. The Broncos consumed 4:22 off the fourth quarter clock with an 8-play, 55-yard drive, capped by an 18-yard touchdown pass from Zabransky to Shouman, giving the Broncos a 41-27 lead with 5:55 left to play.

Brennan rallied the Warriors, completing five of his next seven passes, including an 8-yard touchdown strike to Rivers, his third on the night. But the ensuing on-side kick was recovered by the Broncos.

Warrior running back Nate Ilaoa finished the game with 164 yards (68 rushing, 96 receiving), while safety Leonard Peters led all tacklers with 13 (6 solo).

Hawaii returns home for a non-conference bout against Eastern Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 30. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.

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