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BOISE, Idaho – In a critical Western Athletic Conference matchup, the University of Hawai`i Warrior football team gave No. 15 Boise State its best shot before falling, 27-7, in front of a sellout crowd of 32,342 Friday night at Bronco Stadium. The loss snapped UH's two-game win streak and put the Warriors at 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the WAC.

 

The Warriors remained winless in four all-time trips to Boise and also saw its eight-game WAC road win streak come to an end. UH's last road WAC loss came at Boise State in 2006.

 

For the fourth straight game, turnovers were the name of the game. The Warriors held Boise State to its lowest first-half point total of the season and trailed just 10-7 at the break. But UH turned the ball over four times in the second half, including its first two possessions after the break, to allow the Broncos to pull away.

 

Boise State converted three of those turnovers in to 17 points and a commanding 27-7 lead early in the fourth quarter. UH threw five interceptions in all with Boise State sophomore defensive back Brandyn Thompson recording three of the picks.

 

Meanwhile, freshman quarterback Kellen Moore completed 25-of-33 pass for 256 yards and three touchdowns to keep the Broncos (6-0, 2-0 WAC) undefeated on the season. The Broncos also remained undefeated in 36 all-time WAC home games.

 

UH quarterback Inoke Funaki completed 17-of-34 passes for 188 yards and tied a school-record with five interceptions. Greg Salas led UH with five receptions for 75 yards.

 

UH came out strong on both sides of the ball to begin the game. The Warrior defense forced Boise State to punt after four offensive plays. The UH offense took over on its own 14-yard line and proceeded on a 15-play drive that took nearly half the quarter. UH, however, saw the drive stall deep in Bronco territory when they were stuffed on a fourth-and-one.

 

Boise State got on the board first when they drove 68 yards to set up a 31-yard field goal by Kyle Brotzman with 1:45 left in the first quarter. The Broncos extended its lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter when Moore found Richie Brockel for 2-yard touchdown on fourth down.

 

The Warriors turned the tide midway through the second quarter when senior defensive back Jameel Dowling forced a Bronco fumble near midfield. Two plays later Funaki connected with Michael Washington on a 39-yard pass that put UH in scoring position. Senior running back Daniel Libre eventually scored from three yards out to cut the Bronco deficit to 10-7. It was the senior running back's first career touchdown.

 

Less than two weeks after upsetting nationally-ranked Fresno State on the road, the Warriors were poised to pull another stunner. However, the turnover bug hit UH in the second half. Thompson intercepted Funaki on UH's opening drive. The Broncos capitalized on the turnover, driving 46 yards, capped by a 12-yard pass from Moore to Julian Hawkins to put Boise State up, 17-7. Hawai`i turned the ball over again on its next possession and Boise State moved down on a short field, taking a 24-7 lead on a 16-yard pass from Moore to Austin Pettis.

 

The loss was just UH's third in its last 21 WAC games.

 

UH returns home to face Nevada on Saturday, Oct. 25. Kickoff is set for 6:05 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.