Hawai'i strong safety Lono Manners can delivery a hard hit with anyone on the football field. But in last night's 44-41 Western Athletic Conference loss to Boise State, it seems his efforts fell more on hard luck.

Manners was credited with two forced fumbles, intercepted his first pass of the season and second of his career, and broke up three pass plays, including a jarring hit on BSU receiver Cole Clasen, who dropped a pass on third-and-4 at the BSU 36.

Unfortunately for Manners, the Warriors could not capitalize on his turnovers and big plays.

Following his interception of a Jared Zabransky pass intended for Derek Schouman, the Broncos got the ball back when Colt Brennan was intercepted two plays later by Korey Hall. So all Manners did was force running back Ian Johnson to fumble three plays later, only to have the Warriors have to punt the ball away.

Late in the third quarter, when Manners crushed Clasen into dropping the third-down pass, BSU punter Kyle Stringer rushed for 13 yards and a first down after being forced to run after losing control of the long snap. The Broncos eventually scored to tie the game at 28 early in the fourth quarter.

Manners has been making key plays all season with little fanfare. He entered the game sixth on the team with 12 total tackles, 10 of them unassisted.

"I've been telling people that Lono is one guy I would pay admission to watch," UH secondary coach Rich Miano said. "He does that at practice, he does that at game. He doesn't get credit for all the tackles that he made the first three games. He's just a Warrior."

He actually made himself a Warrior. For starters, he walked-on to UH after a stellar prep career at Wai'anae.

"I'm glad that I did walk on because it made me work harder to earn a scholarship," he said.

On top of that, his strength is, well, his strength.

"He bench presses 500 pounds," Miano said. "He's off the charts strength-wise."

Manner said he started getting into weight training from high school.

"I was into powerlifting," he said. "It's just something that I like to do."

The 5-foot-10, 204-pound Manners said his strength gives him confidence on the field that in turn allows him to make bone-jarring hits or be among the team leader in tackles. He was tied for fourth last night with seven.

"You feel like you have an advantage over (your opponent)," Manners said of feeling strong on the field.

The Warriors could use more players such as Manners.

"He has great intensity and is a tough player," Miano said. "I wish we had 11 guys like that. He's a special guy."

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.