StarBulletin.com

Picked apart


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POSTED: Saturday, October 18, 2008

BOISE, Idaho » Boise State defended its home field as usual and effectively ended Hawaii's hopes of defending its Western Athletic Conference title last night.

The 15th-ranked Broncos came up with five interceptions and remained perfect on their blue turf in WAC play with a 27-7 win over the Warriors.

Hawaii (3-4, 2-2 WAC) trailed 10-7 at halftime, but interceptions on its first two possessions of the third quarter led to touchdown passes by Boise State freshman Kellen Moore and the Broncos (6-0, 2-0) rolled to the win.

“;We were in a single-elimination situation for the WAC championship,”; Hawaii coach Greg McMackin. “;Boise beat us and they're still in the race. I would think it'd be a miracle for us to be in the race now.”;

Moore completed 25 of 33 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns as the Broncos avenged last year's loss at Aloha Stadium.

Hawaii quarterback Inoke Funaki threw for 188 yards, but finished with a school-record-tying five interceptions, three by cornerback Brandyn Thompson, and was sacked five times.

After Hawaii came up empty on fourth down at the Boise State 15 on its first possession of the game, the Broncos marched 68 yards and took the lead on a 31-yard field goal by Kyle Brotzman.

Boise State stretched it to 10-0 when Moore rolled and hit Richie Brockel for a 2-yard touchdown pass.

A 39-yard completion from Funaki to Mike Washington set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Daniel Libre. But the interceptions to start the third quarter and subsequent scoring passes to Julian Hawkins and Austin Pettis gave Boise State control as they limited an opponent to seven points or fewer for the fifth time in six games.