StarBulletin.com

Broncos wipe out Warriors 54-9


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POSTED: Sunday, October 25, 2009

Boise State’s march toward a BCS berth continued — as did Hawaii’s struggles — as the sixth-ranked Broncos routed the Warriors 54-9 tonight at Aloha Stadium.

Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore, the nation’s leader in passing efficiency entering the game, threw for 223 yards and five touchdowns as the Broncos (7-0, 2-0 Western Athletic Conference) built a 34-0 lead by halftime.

Hawaii’s losing streak reached five straight games, the program’s longest since its winless season in 1998, and the Warriors fell to 2-5 overall and 0-4 in WAC play.

Hawaii committed four turnovers in the first half, three inside the Warriors’ 20, and Boise State converted the takeaways into 20 points.

Shane Austin replaced an injured Bryant Moniz at quarterback to begin the second quarter and completed seven of his first nine passes, but also tossed two interceptions which led to a Boise State touchdown and field goal.

Hawaii forced Boise State into a three and out to open the game, but a fumble by UH running back Leon Wright-Jackson gave the Broncos the ball back on the Warriors’ 13.

Boise State settled for a field goal, but wouldn’t be denied on its next possession. Facing fourth and 2 at the UH 35, Moore faked a handoff, rolled out and found tight end Tyler Shoemaker wide open. Shoemaker rumbled the rest of the way for a touchdown and the Broncos led 10-0.

Moore converted Hawaii’s second fumble — this time by Greg Salas — into a 14-yard touchdown pass to Austin Pettis to extend the Broncos’ lead to 17-0 at the 13:32 mark of the second quarter.

Hawaii’s first scoring opportunity went awry when safety Jeron Johnson intercepted an Austin pass in the end zone.

A double pass from Moore to Pettis to tight end Kyle Efaw went for 28 yards. Moore added to the lead two plays later with a 24-yard strike to Titus Young.

After Moore’s fourth TD pass of the half, linebacker Hunter White intercepted a Shane Austin pass and Brotzman added a 29-yard field goal just before the break.

UH’s third lost fumble led to a 48-yard touchdown pass from Moore to Young to give the Broncos a 44-0 lead with 6:59 left in the third quarter.

The Broncos shutout bid was broken up when a shotgun snap went over Moore’s head and into the end zone. Moore recovered the ball in the end zone for a safety. The Warriors finally reached the end zone in the fourth quarter with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Austin to Jon Medeiros.