honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 12:09 p.m., Tuesday, November 20, 2007

UH faces Boise State with BCS hopes on line - video

By Todd Dvorak
Associated Press

See the UH Warriors at practice today in this ADVERTISER VIDEO. The Hawai'i team is ready for the much anticipated game on Friday that is receiving national attention.

BOISE, Idaho -- On the line for Hawaii against Boise State on Friday night is a perfect season, the Warriors' BCS hopes and, oh yeah, a conference title.

Although No. 14 Hawaii has gained most of the attention out of the mid-major Western Athletic Conference this season, 17th-ranked Boise State — which last year played the BCS upstart role Hawaii hopes to claim this year — is undefeated in the league, too.

"This game is really huge," Broncos running back Ian Johnson said. "We've done everything to get to this point. This is the pinnacle of our season right now ... the little turning point of whether we finish it off strongly or not. This is the biggest thing for us right now."

The last time two teams from the WAC were ranked this high coming into a league game was 1994, when No. 11 Colorado State met No. 15 Utah. Both teams are in the Mountain West now.

Boise State (10-1, 7-0 WAC) put itself in position to win a sixth consecutive crown by dismantling Idaho Saturday 58-14. The victory was the Broncos' ninth straight since losing at Washington.

Hawaii (10-0, 7-0) beat Nevada 28-26 Friday night without Colt Brennan, the WAC's leading passer with 3,237 yards and 28 touchdowns. Brennan, who suffered a concussion Nov. 10 against Fresno State, practiced Monday and was preparing to play against the Broncos.

The Warriors' high-scoring offense has slowed somewhat in his absence, requiring a field goal in the closing seconds to win at Nevada. Hawaii still leads the nation in scoring with 48 points per game. Boise State is third, averaging 44.2 points.

Neither team can control its fate in the polls, where a good showing will be needed for at-large BCS consideration. But the conference championship is there for the taking.

"I think we've got two really good teams here," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. "It's hard for me to say what one of us deserves. I just got to believe it's going to work out for both teams whatever happens.

"I just tell our guys if we play to the best of our ability and take care of business, we're going to play somewhere good."