Broncos leave UH feeling blue

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

BOISE, Idaho — Some days are good and, as the University of Hawai'i football team learned the hard way, some days are like yesterday's 58-31 loss to Boise State at Bronco Stadium.

Boise State's Brock Forsey bulls ahead for a first down as Hawai'i defensive end Kevin Jackson closes in. Boise State blasted UH, 58-31. Associated Press

"It humbled us," UH middle linebacker Chris Brown said. "This brings us back down to Earth."

The Warriors' fingerprints could be found all over this debacle. The Broncos recovered a blocked punt in the end zone, recovered two fumbles, intercepted a pass, scored on a trick play and parlayed two fourth-down plays into touchdowns. What's more, Tyler Jones, a backup kicker who missed four of five field-goal attempts in the Broncos' first four games, converted from 52 and 48 yards.

This off-Broadway Avenue production left the Warriors dazed and confused. "I can't believe the score was as bad as it was," UH defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said, "but it was."

As the mercury dipped into the low 50s, the Warriors could not warm up to the challenge. Despite Tim Chang completing his first six passes, UH's opening drive stalled at the 19, and the Warriors settled for a Justin Ayat field goal. That turned out to be the highlight, as the Broncos scored 21 unanswered points and never looked back.

"That's tough to overcome," Jones said. "It's tough to overcome at home. When you're on the road, it's doubly hard."

The turning point came on the Broncos' first possession, soon after right tackle Rusty Colburn suffered a fractured right leg. During the medical timeout, BSU head coach Dan Hawkins called for a special play he designed during closed practices last week.

Tailback Brock Forsey took a handoff and ran to his left, then handed off to wideout T.J. Acree, who was running to the right. The Warriors, who were in a cornerback blitz, watched in stunned silence as Acree threw to a wide-open Donny Heck on the left side. Heck completed the 25-yard scoring play for a 7-3 Bronco lead.

"It was the only time I usually get in, you know, non-garbage time," Heck said. "It was just a fake in our sweep action with a little pitch. Hawai'i didn't see it coming. We call it '48 sweep ...' oh, I don't know the name. But I knew the play. The butterflies were coming, but I caught it."

Lempa acknowledged "it was a good play. They got us on that. That changed the momentum."

Michael Brewster stretches for the goal line to complete a 34-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Associated Press

"We knew there was a gap there," Carr said. "I was pretty confident I was going to get at least one blocked punt. ... I came in the A gap, right straight up the middle. I saw the ball, picked it up and did was I was taught to do every day in practice. It was scoop and score."

The play was set up because Moe usually blocks to his left. But instead of sending one defender through the gap, the Broncos sent two. Upback Chad Kapanui, who is aligned five yards in front of McBriar, blocked one Bronco, but said, "I couldn't get two. We had some miscommunication."

McBriar said: "I was a touch slow. I know I didn't handle the ball cleanly when I caught it. I didn't see (Carr). He took it right off my foot."

On UH's ensuing possession, Chang, trying to scramble, was hit from behind by rover Quintin Mikell. Linebacker Andy Avalos recovered and returned the ball to the UH 7. Two plays later, Forsey leaped into the end zone, making it 21-3.

"I made a mistake by not tucking the ball when the pressure was around me," Chang said. "I gave up seven right there. We put ourselves in the hole. They made it hard for us to come back."

The Broncos contained the Warriors' run-and-shoot offense with a deceptive defensive scheme. Whether aligned in a 4-3 or a three-man front, the Broncos would drop back into a deep zone, making it difficult for Chang to complete long passes.

"They weren't allowing anything to go by them," said Chang, who threw deep five times, completing only one long pass.

Hawai'i's John West looks for running room in the first quarter. Associated Press

Chang completed 35 of 57 passes for 360 yards, but most were on inside screens or shovel passes. Slotback Chad Owens and wideout Justin Colbert had 12 and 10 catches, respectively, but neither topped 100 receiving yards.

UH's rat-a-tat passing attack was no match for the Broncos' deliberate offense. The Broncos had possession for 34 minutes, 35 seconds, punctuated by their opening drive of the second half, which spanned 10:31.

They turned to the thunder-and-lightning duo of Forsey, who carried 31 times for 105 yards, and David Mikell, who added to his WAC scoring lead with two of his seven carries resulting in touchdowns.

"I try to hit the holes downhill," said Forsey, a bullish runner who can squat-lift 500 pounds. "I try to push for as many yards as I can."

Most of his rushing yards came off cutbacks, in which he would attack an opening and, if it is closed, bounce outside and look for the next on-ramp into the running lane.

"Every time we filled one gap, they would make another," UH's Brown said. "We would go with the flow, then the guy would run the other way. It messed us up."

BSU quarterback B.J. Rhode said: "With our running backs, you know you're going to have very few negative plays. Even the quarterbacks are taught to go forward. If you think you're going to get sacked, step up and take a 2-yard loss instead of 8."

To counter the Broncos' running attack, the Warriors sometimes moved strong safety Hyrum Peters into the tackle box, the imaginary rectangle near the line of scrimmage. That allowed Rhode to have his choice of receivers.

"If they want to load up the box with eight or nine guys, then we can throw the ball," said Rhode, who threw two scoring passes. "We've got good receivers, and we know (the linemen) can protect."

Jay Swillie, who earned the nickname "First Down" because 75 percent of his catches go for first downs or touchdowns, lived up to his reputation with six first-down receptions, including a 12-yard scoring play on fourth down. The Broncos converted all three of their fourth-down plays.

"When we get in the huddle (before a fourth-down play), we tell each other, 'Strap it up, fellas, we need this,' " Swillie said. "We have a lot of different play-makers on this team, a lot of different threats."

Swillie said the Broncos' offense begins with Forsey. "With the great running game, you can't help but run it and run it," Swillie said. "That opens it up for the receivers. The receivers are always saying, 'We want the ball.' But what can you do when you have great running backs? It's about sharing."

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