Sunday, November 11, 2001
[ UH WARRIOR FOOTBALL ]
Boise State football coach Dan Hawkins preaches a doctrine of poise under pressure to his players. Dinwiddie, Forsey
bounce back bigBroncos rein in Warriors
By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.com
Last night a sophomore and a junior were among his best students.
Bronco quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie and running back Brock Forsey shook off the sting of crucial mistakes in the third quarter to lead Boise State to the game-winning score in the 28-21 victory over Hawaii at Aloha Stadium.
"We weren't in sync as 11 people," Dinwiddie said of the Broncos' mistake-ridden third quarter. "But that last drive we finally played together, and good things happen when you do that."
Dinwiddie's two interceptions and Forsey's fumble in the third quarter helped Hawaii turn a 20-9 halftime deficit into a 21-20 lead entering the final period.
But the duo took over with 6:12 left in the contest.
Dinwiddie completed passes to three different receivers in the Broncos' decisive 65-yard drive. The shortest, but perhaps the biggest, being a 7-yard connection with Jay Swillie on third-and-6 at the Hawaii 45.
But it was Forsey's tough runs down the stretch that broke the Warriors' back.
The junior, listed at a generous 5-foot-11 and 198 pounds, rumbled for 31 yards on four carries and scored the winning touchdown on a 4-yard run, bouncing off Hawaii defenders and into the end zone with 3:15 left in the game.
"He really defines our team," Hawkins said. "He's just a hard-nosed guy. He's a very blue-collar person. He's not as fast as (fellow BSU running back) David Mikell. But for him to come back after he had the fumble and make a nice run down on the goal line -- that was big."
Dinwiddie then hit tight end Jeb Putzier, who caught four passes for 60 yards, for the 2-point conversion.
Forsey finished with 132 rushing yards and 6 catches for 46 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown reception just before halftime. Dinwiddie had one of his quieter passing days, completing 18 of 32 passes for 211 yards. But he continually frustrated UH with his ability to scramble for first downs.
"He's a good quarterback, very accurate and he's mobile," Hawaii safety Jacob Espiau said. "They threw everything at us and we had to be prepared for everything. For most of the game we were, but at moments we weren't."
The coolness of Dinwiddie and Forsey also helped the Broncos stay in the hunt for the Western Athletic Conference title and a bowl berth with their second victory before a raucous road crowd.
Both also played key roles in Boise State's 35-30 win over Fresno State on Oct. 19.
"It was awesome," Dinwiddie said. "The crowd was loud and we had trouble on offense hearing things. But if you're going to be a big-time team, which we think we are, you have to win those big games. If you don't you're never going to compete for a championship or bowl game, ever."
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii