Bustin’ the Broncos

Forget about BYU, Boise State is the team Hawaii fans now love to hate

It's official. Hawaii football fans have a new arch nemesis.

Boise State is the new BYU.

Kick off! » When: Today, 4 p.m. » Where: Aloha Stadium » Records: Hawaii 10-0, 7-0 WAC; Boise State 10-1, 7-0 » Rankings: Hawaii, No. 13 USA Today Coaches Poll; No. 14 AP; Boise State, No. 17 in both polls » Series: Boise State leads 6-2

Warrior aficionados hate everything about the Broncos, from their blue-turfed stadium to the fact that a program that was a junior college not very long ago dominates the league, to their penchant for game-turning trick plays (although they didn't mind the hook and ladder and Statue of Liberty that helped them win the Fiesta Bowl and send a chunk of kala UH's way).

Six consecutive losses to the Broncos in conference play -- each more frustrating than the previous -- will create a lot of loathing, as much or more than 10 defeats in a row to the arms of the Jim McMahons and Steve Youngs flinging the ball out of Provo.

It's especially appalling that the source of all this pigskin angst is a D-I-come-lately, a college football equivalent of nouveau riche.

And now, more is on the line than when the Rainbows and the Cougars battled it out at the top of the Western Athletic Conference in the previous millennium, with BYU almost always coming out the victor.

With the exception of 1984, when the unbeaten Cougars won the national championship, the spoils consisted of just the conference title and a berth in the Holiday Bowl, that is, when the Rainbows were close enough to LaVell Edwards' boys to make it interesting.

Now there's a potential spot in a BCS bowl game and the multi-million-dollar payout that goes with it. A healthy dose of national respect is a fringe benefit -- ask the Broncos, whose undefeated dream season last year included a dramatic victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Representatives from three major bowl games are expected to be among the 50,000 people packing Aloha Stadium today.

The Broncos have five WAC titles in a row in addition to the half-dozen consecutive wins over UH. Over time, they've made it so they can't be ignored on the national scene.

But the 3-point-favorite Warriors have some streak cred, too. They have won 11 in a row and join Kansas as the nation's only remaining unbeatens. UH hasn't lost a home WAC game since 2005. Its 14-game overall WAC winning streak goes back to Sept. 2006, when the Broncos topped the Warriors 41-34 in Boise.

Quarterback Colt Brennan could pass himself back into the Heisman picture with a big game in a big win tonight. One touchdown pass gives him sole possession of the NCAA career record for scoring aerials.

With a sprained ankle and concussion behind him, Brennan's confidence is sky high.

"When I walk in there, I feel like this is my offense, my squad, and we are confident. We feel we can play against anyone," he said.

Brennan directs the nation's most productive scoring machine, and the UH defense has provided a multitude of big plays this fall.

The Broncos come in with quiet composure. They've been here before, and they've won here before.

Their star is low-key running back Ian Johnson, who likes to knit and watch soccer on TV. The last time he played here, he met his wife, whom he proposed to after the Fiesta Bowl.

If the Warriors don't start winning some games in this series, it will be like "That '70s Show" with BYU in more ways than one. A one-sided hate affair. And no Hawaii fan wants to go through that again.

---

KEY MATCHUP

UH must not kick itself

Boise State special teams vs. Hawaii special teams

The Heisman hopefuls, the big guys on the line, the great runners, receivers and defenders -- the big stars, and even the coaches, might just all cancel each other out tonight.

It could all come down to a holder on a point-after-touchdown when Hawaii and Boise State meet for the Western Athletic Conference championship.

It has before.

A blizzard of botched kicks, often having to do with the holder not performing his function, have helped Boise State get the winning edge the last two times the teams met.

---

WHO HAS THE ADVANTAGE

---

Messed-up extra points have allowed the Broncos' Orlando Scandrick to run the ball all the way back to the Hawaii end zone in 2005 and 2006, good for two points each time.

Last year, there were also snafus on a field goal and a second extra-point try.

In 2005, there was a Boise State punt that turned into a first down when the Broncos punter dropped the ball, picked it up and ran outside of the Hawaii containment.

On the plus side, Hawaii has returned three kickoffs for touchdowns this season, in addition to a punt. But the Warriors have also allowed too many yards -- including two touchdowns -- on punts and kicks.

Boise State has outscored Hawaii 31-15 in the kicking game the past two seasons, with the final scores 41-34 and 44-41 in favor of the Broncos. If the Warriors' kicking game fails again, the outcome will probably be the same.

---

Ones to watch

Boise State

Ian Johnson (#41)

RB

JR.

5-11

195

Eighth in 2006 Heisman voting. ... Battled injuries to amass 104.5 rushing ypg in eight 2007 outings. ... Fourth in nation among active players with 43 career TDs.

Taylor Tharp (#10)

QB

SR.

6-2

203

Making best of only season as starter after three years as Jared Zabransky backup. ... 7th nationally in passing efficiency. ... Good game manager smooth with play-action passes.

Marty Tadman (#20)

S

SR.

5-11

185

Enters game with 252 career tackles and 14 interceptions (tied for sixth nationally). ... Fiesta Bowl Defensive MVP with two interceptions and five tackles.

Rynan Clady (#79)

LT

JR.

6-6

315

Dominant lineman expected to declare for NFL Draft after season. Named to several preseason All-America lists. ... Helps generate 482 yards and 42.8 points per game.

Hawaii

Colt Brennan (#15)

QB

SR.

6-3

201

Sixth in 2006 Heisman Trophy voting. ... Set NCAA record for single- season TD passes (58) last year. ... 121 career TD passes ties with Ty Detmer for NCAA record.

Dan Kelly (#86)

PK

JR.

6-3

202

"Iceman" kicked 45-yard FG twice to beat Nevada with 11 seconds left, as Wolf Pack called timeout. ... 11 of 14 in field goals. ... Made 50 PATs in row for school record.

Ryan Grice-Mullins (#1)

Y SLOT

JR.

5-11

180

Has two 1,000-plus receiving yards in 3 seasons. ... 115.9 receiving yards per game puts him 5th in nation and 1st in WAC. ... Also 5th and 1st with 8.5 catches per game.

Adam Leonard (#44)

BUCK

JR..

6-0

236

Two TDs on four interceptions this season. ... Also leads team with 117 INT return yards. ... One forced fumble and one recovered. .... 201 tackles in past two seasons.

---

---

What to watch

Expect plenty of offense

Your stomach got its fix yesterday. It is a feast for the eyes when Boise State plays Hawaii. These teams combine to average 90 points and nearly 1,000 yards per game, so there will likely be offense aplenty. There are, however, several spectacular defensive playmakers who can change the game's complexion with a turnover.

Here is some of what to look for today from the WAC's two best teams:

When Boise State has the ball

Ian Johnson isn't fancy, but he's one of the toughest running backs in the nation. And he runs behind a huge offensive line led by future pros Jeff Cavender at center and Ryan Clady at left tackle.

"Stop Ian Johnson," said UH linebacker Adam Leonard, when asked the key to slowing the Boise State offense. "That's the guy. He's a scoring machine."

Jeremy Avery and D.J. Harper have also gotten carries and had big games, but Harper is out with an ankle injury.

Leonard said quarterback Taylor Tharp is good at keeping the Broncos out of trouble.

"He's going to put his team in the best position by not making mistakes and he's going to find the open man," Leonard said. "He's real accurate and we know we're going to have our hands full with him."

When Hawaii has the ball

Quarterback Colt Brennan looked good as new at practice this week after coming back from a concussion that allowed him to throw just two short passes in last week's win over Nevada.

Brennan has to be at his best throwing the ball, or Boise State's ball-hawking safety Marty Tadman might pick one off.

In the past two games between these teams, Warriors slot Ryan Grice-Mullins and Broncos corner Orlando Scandrick provided an entertaining matchup, but Grice-Mullins sprained an ankle in last year's game.

Wide receiver Jason Rivers is due for a big game, but he missed some practice time with headaches.

Hawaii has a full stable of running backs to help take the pressure off Brennan if necessary.

---

HOW THEY FARED

The head-to-head matchups

Sept. 21, 1996

Hawaii	20
Boise State	14

At Aloha Stadium: Glenn Freitas passes for two touchdowns in UH coach Fred vonAppen's first victory. The Broncos at this time are in the Big West Conference in their first Division I season.

Sept. 18, 1999

Hawaii	34
Boise State	19

At Aloha Stadium: Quincy LeJay scores on a 54-yard interception return for the first TD in new coach June Jones' second win. UH goes 9-4 season, completing a turnaround from 0-12.

NOV. 10, 2001

Boise State	28
Hawaii	21

At Aloha Stadium: Brock Forsey rushes for 132 yards and scores two TDs. UH falls to 5-3 but goes on to win its last four games. This starts Boise State's ongoing streak of 49 WAC wins in a row.

OCT. 5, 2002

Boise State	58
Hawaii	31

At Boise, Idaho: T.J. Acree takes a reverse handoff and throws a 25-yard pass to Donny Heck for the Broncos' first TD as UH is routed on its first trip to the blue turf of Bronco Stadium.

DEC. 6, 2003

Boise State	45
Hawaii	28

At Aloha Stadium: Donny Heck scores four TDs and UH quarterbacks Jason Whieldon and Tim Chang combine to yield three interceptions. Hawaii finishes 5-3 and 9-5 overall.

OCT. 29, 2004

Boise State	69
Hawaii	3

At Bronco Stadium: Jared Zabransky runs for four TDs. Tim Chang is expected to break the career passing yardage record, but throws four picks and becomes the all-time interceptions-thrown champ.

OCT. 1, 2005

Boise State	44
Hawaii	41

At Aloha Stadium: The Broncos dominate the kicking game, as Daryn Colledge blocks a FG and a PAT and Orlando Scandrick returns both all the way, and Quinton Jones goes 92 yards with a punt return.

Sept. 23, 2006

Boise State	41
Hawaii	34

At Bronco Stadium: Special teams fail UH again. Three botched kicks account for a seven-point swing. Ian Johnson rushes for 178 yards and two TDs. Colt Brennan throws five TDs but fumbles at a key point.