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Shooting blanks
This was Hawaii’s third shutout loss in five games this season, as the Rainbow Warriors were also blanked by Ohio State and Wisconsin.
The only other season in which Hawaii was shut out three times was 1966.
This is the second time UH has suffered back-to-back shutouts. It also happened in 1998, when UH went 0-12. One of those was a 66-0 loss to Wyoming, which is the widest margin of defeat in a shutout.
The 66-point deficit was matched in a 69-3 loss to Boise State in 2004.
This is the second game this season in which Hawaii did not reach the red zone. UH’s deepest penetration was to the Boise State 35 in the third quarter. Hawaii also failed to get to the opponents’ 20-yard line in its 38-0 loss at Ohio State.
Mountain to climb
Hawaii has not won its Mountain West Conference opener in four seasons of membership. UH hosts San Diego State (2-3 overall, 1-0 conference) on Saturday, the second of eight consecutive weeks of conference competition.
The Warriors’ seven remaining conference opponents have a combined overall record of 14-20. The only future MWC opponent with a winning record is New Mexico (3-2).
Hawaii has not won its conference opener since it was in the WAC in 2011, at Louisiana Tech.
Retro Rainbows
Hawaii went old school with its uniforms, attired in vintage all-white road uniforms featuring Rainbow stripes on the white pants, jerseys and helmets.
Boise State wore bluish grey pants and jerseys with bright blue helmets.
Bag of tricks
Boise State’s fourth touchdown came on a trick play reminiscent of one tried by the Broncos against the Warriors in 2004. On fourth-and-1 at the Hawaii 24, quarterback Brett Rypien pretended to have lost the ball. In the ensuing confusion tight end Holden Huff slipped behind the defense and easily scored on a lobbed pass from Rypien.
When the Broncos beat Hawaii in 2004, one of the few plays that didn’t work also was on fourth-and-1, early in the game. Hawaii led 3-0 when Jared Zabransky faked a fumble, picked up the ball and nearly connected with wide-open Sherm Blaser. Hawaii took over, but Boise State’s defense held and the Broncos scored 69 points the rest of the way.
Woolsey gets in
No. 2 quarterback Ikaika Woolsey started the second half as starter Max Wittek tended to a left knee injury after completing seven of 24 passes for 66 yards with two interceptions in the first half. Wittek netted 5 yards in three rushing attempts.
Woolsey completed four of 14 passes for 22 yards and had one intercepted. He also rushed three times for 16 yards.
Last year Woolsey started 12 games of UH’s 4-9 season.
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