BOISE, Idaho >> The Boise State football team’s quarterback of the future has given the Broncos a glimpse of their high-scoring past.
True freshman Brett Rypien, who wasn’t expected to play this season, led the Broncos to a 55-0 win against Hawaii on Saturday night at Albertsons Stadium.
Rypien threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns in less than three quarters of work. He has six touchdown passes and no interceptions in two and a half games since previous starter Ryan Finley broke an ankle bone Sept. 18.
"He’s a poised quarterback," Broncos junior wide receiver Chaz Anderson said. "He’s a leader, and having him at the head of our offense is fun, to say the least."
The Broncos have outscored Idaho State, Virginia and Hawaii 135-14 since Rypien burned his redshirt. They have scored 52-plus points in three straight games for the first time since 2002.
Rypien’s touchdown passes against the Rainbow Warriors included a 54-yard strike to Anderson on his first throw of the game, a 21-yard throw to foot-dragging wide receiver Thomas Sperbeck in the back corner of the end zone and a 24-yarder to tight end Holden Huff on a fake-fumble play.
"The one he threw to Sperbeck, that was actually designed to go to (tight end) Jake Roh," coach Bryan Harsin said. "The safety played it a little bit different. Brett turned around and just whipped it and put it in that pie hole in the back of the end zone and Sperbeck made an unbelievable catch. It wasn’t the primary throw that we wanted, but it was an option and he took it and we got a big play out of it. That’s something about Brett I was really excited about."
Rypien is 51-for-69 for 718 yards this season. He has a rating of 190.02, an elite mark for a guy who graduated from high school in January.
Most importantly, he hasn’t committed a turnover. The Broncos don’t have a turnover in their past three games.
"He’s being stingy with the football, which is what you want," Harsin said. "He understands the way our defense is playing and the way our special teams are showing improvement, we don’t have to win on every throw. If it’s there, he’ll take advantage of it."
Rypien’s transition to college starter has been eased by the dominant play of the Broncos defense.
Boise State hasn’t allowed an offensive touchdown at home this season and has shut out its past two home opponents (Idaho State and Hawaii). The consecutive home shutouts are a first since 1986 for the program.
The defense, in fact, has outscored the past three opponents by itself 16-14.
"It just shows us that when we talk about being dominant, it’s possible," senior safety Darian Thompson said.
Hawaii finished with 170 yards against Boise State. Quarterbacks Max Wittek and Ikaika Woolsey were a combined 11-for-38 for 88 yards with three interceptions and one sack.
Defensive end Kamalei Correa delivered a big hit on Wittek but didn’t get a sack because Wittek fumbled, recovered and ran for a first down.
"We moved the quarterback," Harsin said. "We didn’t let him sit there and pick us apart. They missed a couple throws that were open. I think the pressure and making that guy slide, step and throw is what caused the inaccuracy."
