BOISE, Idaho — Last night was, according to Boise State defensive back Jeron Johnson, a "statement-making game" by the atonement-minded Broncos.

Really, though, all the statement they needed in the aftermath of a nationally televised 27-7 victory over the University of Hawai'i was two words:

"Thank you."

For the Warriors made a gift of this one as surely as if they'd stopped by Macy's wrapping department for a bow, ribbon and greeting card.

A school-record-tying five interceptions — three of which set up all of the 15th-ranked Broncos' 17 second-half points — along with dropped passes and two punts of 25 yards or less were more than the 6-0 Broncos needed to remain unbeaten in the Western Athletic Conference (2-0) and end any real hopes that the Warriors, now 3-4 (2-2 WAC) entertained about repeating as champions.

"They kind of took advantage of me last year (as a freshman)," said cornerback Brandyn Thompson, who turned the tables and the game, picking off three of the five interceptions tossed by quarterback Inoke Funaki on a 17-of-34, 188-yard night.

Indeed, this time it was the Broncos who took all the liberties, stonewalling UH's run game (a net 56 yards), daring the Warriors to pass, and then pouncing from somewhere in the blue turf when they did.

The result was that only once, on a first-quarter field goal, did the Broncos even have to cross midfield to put points on the scoreboard. It is a lot easier to serve up payback, as the Broncos had vowed to do for UH ending their string of five consecutive WAC championships last year, when the Warriors help with a silver platter.

"It was frustrating," Funaki said. "They are a good team, I take my hat off to them, but we helped them too much."

In the space of 15 UH pass attempts — between the end of the second quarter, where UH trailed 10-7, and beginning of the fourth quarter where UH was down 24-7 — four passes were picked off. It was right there that a game UH could have — and probably should have — led at halftime got away from it. For good.

Of course, you got an uneasy feeling in the first quarter when UH reeled off another of those early drives (remember Florida?) and came away with nothing to show for it. The thought of going for a touchdown on fourth-and-one at the Broncos' 15 wasn't all that bad. But the play that resulted, running back Kealoha Pilares' attempt to skirt right end, was, and it lost three yards.

The first interception, with the Broncos leading 10-7, ended at the Boise State 5-yard line what should have been a go-ahead score for UH just before the half. The second and third ones helped stake the Broncos to a 14-point third quarter and 24-7 lead.

"We're right back in the same turnover deal," UH head coach Greg McMackin said. "We can't turn the ball over five times."

But the Warriors, who had been squeezing turnovers out of victims the two previous weeks, reverted back to the form that might return them to the nation's leader in turnover margin.

If the Broncos are, as their coach, Chris Petersen, put it, "a work in progress ..." then what are we to make of the Warriors at this point?

The Warriors, who have tried to reinvent their offense to suit Funaki's running abilities, are also a work to be sure. But the progress part of it? That was hard to certify last night with the reversion to turnovers.

The Warriors have six regular-season games remaining and need to win at least four of them to become bowl eligible and land a berth in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl.

Not an impossibility by any means with the cast of opponents (Nevada, Utah State, New Mexico State, Idaho, Washington State and Cincinnati) they have remaining.

But far from a lock if the turnovers continue.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.