Box Score

HONOLULU - The 13th ranked University of Hawai'i football team claimed its first outright Western Athletic Conference championship after a 39-27 victory over No. 17 Boise State, Friday night, at a sold-out, raucous crowd at 50,000-seat Aloha Stadium. The win keeps the Warriors' (11-0, 8-0 WAC) hopes alive of a Bowl Championship Series game.

Hawai'i snapped Boise State's streak of 18 straight WAC wins and a six-game losing streak to the Broncos (10-2, 7-1). It also snapped BSU's stranglehold of the conference title, ending the Broncos five-year rein. The victory extended UH's win streak to a new school-record 12 straight.

UH also captured WAC championships in 1992 and 1999, however, those were shared with other teams.

Heisman Trophy candidate Colt Brennan led the Warrior aerial attack with 495 yards and five touchdowns, while also rushing for another score. Brennan broke three major college records following his first TD of the night to Ryan Grice-Mullen, breaking Ty Detmer's mark for most career touchdowns, most TDs responsible for and most points responsible for.

"I think we proved something tonight with all of the so-called experts who picked Boise to beat us," Brennan said. "It was a great win for us, the school and the state. The faith on this team is huge. We believe in ourselves."

Receiver Davone Bess set a new school record with 15 receptions for 181 yards and two touchdowns. With the two scores, he and Brennan tied the NCAA mark for passing combinations with 39 career TDs. Jason Rivers had 11 catches for 113 yards and one TD. C.J. Hawthorne had 111 yards and one score.

Friday's contest was a match-up between two of the nation's top offensive teams. Coming into the game, Hawai'i was No. 1 in the country averaging 48.0 points per game and third at 523.9 yards per contest. Boise State, meanwhile, was third with 44.2 points and 10th at 488.7 yards. The Warriors finished the game with 574 yards of total offense and held the Broncos to a season-low 101 yards rushing.

UH also limited BSU star running back Ian Johnson to 86 yards on the ground. Following a 50-yard dash which put the Broncos up 7-0, the Warrior defense allowed only 19 yards the rest of the game to the Heisman hopeful.

"I was a little concerned early when we had the special teams breakdowns," UH head coach June Jones said. "But I'm very proud of the kids. They battled through a lot of adversity and hung in there." I'm very happy for the state of Hawai'i."

After matching the Broncos score with Brennan's record-breaking TD to Grice-Mullen, Hawai'i responded with a 95-yard, seven-play drive, ending in a Brennan keeper from one-yard out. The PAT was blocked, one of two blocked extra points by the Broncos on the night.

BSU responded on its next drive, retaking the lead, 14-13. The Broncos traveled 69 yards on 11 plays with Johnson taking the pitch and going over the right side for a 1-yard score.

Hawai'i answered the score with Brennan orchestrating an eight-play drive encompassing 67 yards hitting Bess on a 23-yard scoring strike for a 19-14 lead. The Broncos pulled to within two at the half with a 39-yard field goal by Kyle Brotzman.

The Warriors took the opening drive of the second half as Brennan completed all six of his attempts for 70 yards with the last 22 going to Bess on a flair to the left flats for a 26-17 lead.

"I think by us putting it in the endzone on the first drive, it got everyone pumped up," Jones said.

The Broncos scored 10 straight on a six-yard pass from Tayor Tharp to Rickie Brockel and a Brotzman 36-yard field goal after Brennan was picked for the second time in the game. But that would be BSU's last lead as the Warriors scored on consecutive drives to end the third quarter.

Brennan led the Warriors downfield on 10 plays and 70 yards, culminating on a seven-yard stop route to Rivers for a 32-27 lead. After forcing the Broncos to punt, Brennan then completed consecutive passes of 19 and 28 yards to running back Kealoha Pilares and Bess, respectively, before finally hooking up with Hawthorne on a 38-yard toss.

Neither team scored in the final period. As UH ran out the clock, fans stormed the field in celebration while the team was awarded the WAC Championship trophy by commissioner Karl Benson.

"I told everyone that after eight games, the final four would be the determining factor," Jones said. "We got three, we need one more."

The Warriors will try to close out an undefeated regular season by hosting Washington, Saturday, Dec. 1. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.

-UH-