BOISE, Idaho >> Hawaii's Tim Chang completed 35 passes last night, but that was OK with Boise State. The Broncos were content to give the Warriors some short and medium passes. But they didn't give up many long ones, and that's a big reason BSU beat UH 58-31 last night at Bronco Stadium. Broncos’ defense
doesn’t get beat deep
By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com"They had a good game plan and they stuck to it," Chang said. "They made it hard for us, made us earn everything. They keep everything underneath them."
BSU coach Dan Hawkins said the Broncos wanted to limit yards after catches. And they did.
"That's huge for them because that's what they like to do. They go deep a little bit, but they've got quasi-running backs playing receiver," Hawkins said. "Obviously you don't want to give them too much space. Early on in the first half that was one of our issues. I think we were giving them a little too much space to run."
Chad Owens had 12 catches for 93 yards, and Justin Colbert caught 10 balls for 95 yards and a touchdown. But their long plays were 17 and 24 yards.
Hawaii coach June Jones said the Warriors could have executed better offensively.
"I think when we look at the film, we'll see they didn't cover us again," Jones said.
Broncos rover Quintin Mikell had 11 tackles, a sack, three forced fumbles and four blocked passes. Chris Carr, listed as his backup, had seven tackles, and free safety Wes Nurse made five tackles and returned a fumble 36 yards. Cornerback Gabe Franklin intercepted a pass.
"Whatever it was, (the BSU secondary) did some good things," Owens said. "We started out slow, toward the end we showed some character."
Ilaoa hurt: UH inside receiver Nate Ilaoa, who started the last two games, left in the first half with a subluxation of his right shoulder, similar to the injury that has bothered middle linebacker Chris Brown.
Team doctors said last night they don't know how long Ilaoa will be out.
Boise State starting right tackle Rusty Colburn left with a broken tibia. He will be out at least six weeks.
Local Broncos: BSU middle linebacker Chauncey Ako, who was born in Hauula, was in on eight tackles -- one for a loss.
Second-team defensive end Loa Emmsley, a Kalaheo graduate, assisted on one stop.
"This was my dream come true," Emmsley said. "Everything worked out perfect for us."
Short yardage: Linebackers Pisa Tinoisamoa and Brown led UH with 10 tackles apiece. ... The Warriors' charter flight home was expected to arrive in Honolulu at 3 a.m. today.
BACK TO TOP |
There were no cameras around to catch it. No commentary from CNBC-TV announcer Mark Rohlfing. Pair heats up when
cameras cool downBy Paul Arnett
parnett@starbulletin.comFor most of the day, Turtle Bay Championship first-round leaders Steve Stull and R.W. Eaks were stuck in the putt-putt lane. Rarely were they referred to during the two-hour TV window of opportunity because neither man could hold the lead.
So, it was somehow fitting that both players in the final group, who are likely bound for the Qualifying School next month in Florida, eagled the par-5 18th hole with not a camera crew or reporter in sight.
Eaks, who is the longest senior off the tee, landed on the green in two and sank a 15-footer to finish with a 1-over 73. His two-day total of 141 finds him three shots off the pace of four golfers, including two-time defending champion Hale Irwin.
Stull also had a moment of good fortune. Like Eaks and Jim Albus, he fashioned a 4-under 68 on Friday to share the early lead. At one point, he was 6-under-par on the back side, only to let two shots slip away at the end.
At the time, Stull wasn't that upset about it. Had he parred the last two holes, however, he would have shot a 6-under 66 and needed only an even-par 72 yesterday to retain a share of the lead. Instead, Stull stepped up to the 18th tee 3-over for his round and 1-under for the tourney.
"I've been hitting my driver well all week," Stull told the media Friday.
And he must have been right, because his drive on the 539-yard 18th yesterday allowed him to take a swing at landing the ball on the green in two. It didn't work out that way. His second shot found a greenside bunker, instead.
But as fate would have it, Stull's blast landed in the bottom of the cup. Like fellow first-round leaders Albus and Eaks, he is tied for 10th with a 3-under 141.
Local ties: There are several local connections at this week's Turtle Bay event, including Hilo-born Steven Veriato, who remained in contention yesterday with a second-round 71. His two-day total of 141 left him in a tie for 10th, three strokes off the lead.
The Texas A&M graduate lives in the Lone Star State, but always enjoys coming back to Hawaii. He said yesterday he played steady and true, but needed a low round today in order to contend.
"You have to be patient in these conditions," Veriato said. "I've played in the wind a lot of my career. Hopefully, it will help me today."
Fellow local player Larry Stubblefield wasn't quite as fortunate as Veriato, but he still played respectably. The Kailua resident followed up his 74 on Friday with a 1-over 73 yesterday. He is 3-over for the tournament and tied for 40th entering today's final round.
Dave Eichelberger, who has local ties as well at the Oahu Country Club, is a little farther down the list. He shot a 75 yesterday for a two-day total of 151. He is tied for 56th, 13 strokes off the pace.
Hear no evil: For two rounds, Irwin walked the walk while Gary McCord talked the talk.
Thanks to the golf gods, Irwin will have to win the tournament paired with McCord for a third consecutive 18 holes. Yesterday, if McCord wasn't chatting with his caddy about his inability to sink anything, he was chastising the flat stick personally.
So much so, Irwin jokingly said he would wear ear muffs tomorrow to keep himself focused.
What's it like to be paired with McCord?
Irwin went there carefully.
"Let's just say he and his caddy talked about his putter -- a lot," Irwin said.
Tour donation: The Senior PGA Tour is making a weekly $5,000 donation to benefit junior golf in conjunction with its official tournaments for the remainder of the 2002 season. The donations coincide with the Senior Tour's recent decision to discontinue weekly individual pro-am competitions that offered $5,000 in prize money to the low 10 individual profesional scores and ties.
This week, the Turtle Bay Championship contributed $5,000 to The Aloha PGA Section Junior Golf Program. Over the last several months, donations were made to local junior golf organizations, including First Tee chapters, in the name of the respective Senior Tour tournaments and players.
Off the green: Irwin needs to finish fifth or better in this event to have an opportunity to clinch his first Charles Schwab Cup. Second-place challenger Bob Gilder, who shot yesterday's low round with a 6-under 66, could delay Irwin's run for the $1 million annuity, by finishing ahead of Irwin this week. Gilder enters today's final round tied for sixth, two strokes off the pace. ... The odds are pretty good that any of the four second-round leaders will win this $1.5 million event. In four of the last six years, the man who held or shared the lead after 36 holes went on to win it. ... The Palmer Course at Turtle Bay played slightly easier yesterday than it did on Saturday a year ago. In 2001, the 78-man field averaged 74.130 vs. 73.449 yesterday. The easiest hole for the tourney is the par-5 ninth, yielding 4.756 strokes. The hardest is the par-4 11th. Golfers are averaging 4.288 strokes with only eight birdies in two days on the 433-yard hole.