Harris had 'fabulous' game in loss
By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer
His nickname may be Fabulous, but Channon Harris didn't feel he lived up to that name.
Despite posting a season-high 112 yards receiving against Boise State last night — his first 100-yard game this season — Harris would trade the numbers in for a win.
"If I didn't get a hundred yards and we won, then I'd be happy," said the Hawai'i senior wideout, after a disappointing loss to the Broncos, 28-21. "Man, I'd give that up."
Harris led the Warriors in receiving for the first time this year, due, in part, to Boise State's aggressive coverage on Hawai'i's leading receiver Ashley Lelie, who was held to 77 yards on four catches.
"We did a good job mixing the coverage (on Lelie), and our defensive backs did a great job," said Broncos coach Dan Hawkins. "Those other guys move the sticks, make plays and get the job done. But when all's said and done, Lelie is the premiere player."
The Hawai'i receivers know that. But they also know Lelie can't carry the entire offense. In order for Hawai'i to execute a successful passing offense, they'll need more than just one big-time receiver.
"Lelie is a great player, you can't deny that," Harris said. "But we play as a team . . . And today I was fortunate to get the ball thrown my way."
Failing to get the offense going early hurt Hawai'i in the end.
Hawai'i quarterback Nick Rolovich completed 5-of-12 pass attempts for 51 yards in the first quarter.
"We're a high-powered offense, but we only got up nine points on the board (in the first half)," Harris said. "We just gotta start clicking earlier in the game. We kinda do that in every game."
Momentum picked up for the Hawai'i offense in the second half. Already down 20-9, the Warriors had yet to score a touchdown, relying on the leg of kicker Justin Ayat, who scored all nine points on field goals.
Sparked by a key interception by cornerback Kelvin Millhouse, the Warriors marched down the field in three plays, two of which were passes to Lelie for 16 and 22 yards each. Lelie beat cornerback Gabriel Franklin in the end zone to grab his 11th touchdown pass of the season. A failed two-point conversion left Hawai'i trailing, 20-15.
Again, the defense stepped up. A fumble recovery by defensive back Hyrum Peters set up another Hawai'i drive that ended with running back Thero Mitchell pushing into the end zone, and pushing the Warriors ahead, 21-20.
Hawai'i couldn't hold onto the lead, as the Broncos drove 65 yards in the final minutes of the game and scored on a run by Brock Forsey, who amassed 132 yards rushing on 29 carries.
"We knew all week this would come down to a close game," said Hawai'i coach June Jones. "We had our chances, but we didn't come through."
Said Harris: "We don't want to regret this. It might haunt us, it might not ."
