Warriors zero for the road

BOISE, Idaho >> On retro night, the University of Hawaii football team relived its worst nightmares in a 55-0 loss to Boise State.

Not even the old-school white uniforms could prevent the Rainbow Warriors from absorbing another white-washing, their third scoreless performance in as many road games this season.

"We just weren’t ready," said UH defensive coordinator Tom Mason, who served as BSU’s interim head coach in 1996. "I didn’t have them ready as a coach. I didn’t have a good game plan for them. It’s one of those things that got out of hand."

The Broncos’ 49-0 lead at the intermission was the largest for a UH opponent in a half since Fresno State constructed a similar advantage in 2004. The 35 second-quarter points also were the most against UH since the Broncos scored 38 in 15 minutes in a meeting between the teams in 2004.

Freshman Brett Rypien, nephew of former Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien, was 19-for-25 for 271 yards and three touchdowns. Jeremy McNichols rushed for 108 yards and boosted his NCAA-leading touchdown total to 12 with two scoring runs. The Broncos rolled up 554 yards in total offense, averaged 6.3 yards per play, and held possession for 37 minutes, 33 seconds.

Adding injury to insult, the Warriors absorbed several health issues. Quarterback Max Wittek was pulled just before halftime when he aggravated a sore left knee.

"He couldn’t play," UH coach Norm Chow said. "The doctors wouldn’t let him."

Chow said Wittek’s knee was "drained" last week, and the senior co-captain was determined to play.

"He’s a tough guy," Chow said. "We needed his leadership to be effective."

But Chow said Wittek "struggled with his health right from the get-go," likely contributing to 7-for-24 passing for 66 yards. He was intercepted twice, once on a ricochet.

Right wideout Quinton Pedroza aggravated a knee ailment, and was not available for the final three quarters. Running back Paul Harris, kickoff returner Keelan Ewaliko and safety Marrell Jackson also exited under doctors’ orders.

"We knew this was going to be tough," Chow told reporters. "You guys know that. It’s still tough. We need to play better, which we’ll do. We’ll go home and get better."

The Warriors braced for a challenge in this Mountain West Conference opener. The Broncos entered with a 15-game winning streak in league openers, and 94-4 on Albertsons Stadium’s blue turf since 2000.

It was not the blue field, but the team in the all-gray uniforms — BSU’s fifth attire combination in as many games — that created the most problems for the Warriors.

"They’re an amazing team," UH defensive end Luke Shawley said. "I personally think this is the best team we’ve played so far. They’re animals out there. They play hard and they’re well-coached."

The Warriors’ plan was to heat-seek Rypien, who was making his second start — the first at home — since replacing injured Ryan Finley. But the Warriors could not reach Rypien in 29 pass plays because of the Broncos’ counter-punches of maximum protection, three-receiver sets and McNichols.

Of McNichols, who is skilled on cutbacks and dipping to avoid would-be tacklers, Mason said, "They did a good job of covering him up."

The Broncos usually use pre-snap motions and shifts to create mismatches — and chaos. But the Broncos’ opening touchdown was pure athleticsm. Wideout Chaz Anderson, a converted defensive back, sprinted past the secondary for a 54-yard touchdown.

"We got caught out of position," strong safety Daniel Lewis said. "He got behind the coverage. We have to stay behind that."

Mason said: "They just out-ran out us. Shoot, I don’t want to single any kid out. When something like that happens, is it the pass rush? Is it the coverage? There are a lot of different things that go into a play like that."

The Broncos made it 14-0 when McNichols eluded a linebacker while turning the left corner on a 13-yard run.

It was 21-0 when wideout Tom Sperbeck caught a 21-yard pass while dragging his tip-toes in the left corner of the end zone.

Later, the Warriors stopped the Broncos on third down, and appeared to force a field-goal attempt. Then defensive end Kennedy Tulimasealii jumped offsides, setting up a fourth-and-1 at the UH 24. This time, Rypien dropped back, faked a fumble, and when 11 Warriors charged, threw to tight end Holden Huff alone in the end zone.

"It was definitely a well drawn-out play," Lewis said. "I’ve never seen anything like it. But it was Boise. We should have expected it. We have to stay mentally tough."

Mason said: "I thought we gave up a lot of chunk plays early and got really behind. Then it got out of hand. When we play a team like that, you have to match the intensity and that they’re playing. We didn’t match the intensity."

To be sure, the Warriors had their fingerprints on this disaster. They dropped six passes, with two deflections leading to interceptions. They fumbled a fake punt, only to be saved because the play was voided on a false start. An interception was nullified because of a roughing-the-passer infraction.

"We gave them a lot," Shawley said. "That’s the kind of thing we need to get fixed."

FIRST PERIOD

Boise State

>> Score: Chaz Anderson 54-yard pass from Brett Rypien. Tyler Rausa kick.

>> Drive: 1 play, 54 yards, 0:08 elapsed time. Time: 10:25. Score: Boise State 7, UH 0

Boise State

>> Score: Jeremy McNichols 13-yard run. Rausa kick.

>> Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, 2:00 elapsed time. Time: 5:11. Score: Boise State 14, UH 0

SECOND PERIOD

Boise State

>> Score: Thomas Sperbeck 21-yard pass from Rypien. Rausa kick.

>> Drive: 6 plays, 61 yards, 2:29 elapsed time. Time: 14:36. Score: Boise State 21, UH 0

Boise State

>> Score: Holden Huff 24-yard pass from Rypien. Rausa kick.

>> Drive: 5 plays, 84 yards, 2:15 elapsed time. Time: 9:44. Score: Boise State 28, UH 0

Boise state

>> Score: Akilian Butler 10-yard run. Rausa kick.

>> Drive: 2 plays, 12 yards, 0:35 elapsed time. Time: 6:46. Score: Boise State 35, UH 0

Boise State

>> Score: Kelsey Young 9-yard run. Rausa kick.

>> Drive: 9 plays, 59 yards, 3:33 elapsed time. Time: 1:59. Score: Boise State 42, UH 0

Boise State

>> Score: McNichols 15-yard run. Rausa kick.

>> Drive: 6 plays, 61 yards, 0:47 elapsed time. Time: 0:04. Score: Boise State 49, UH 0

THIRD PERIOD

Boise State

>> Score: Rausa 23-yard field goal.

>> Drive: 13 plays, 67 yards, 4:52 elapsed time. Time: 10:08. Score: Boise State 52, UH 0

FOURTH PERIOD

Boise State

>> Score: Rausa 37-yard field goal.

>> Drive: 4 plays, 0 yards, 1:51 elapsed time. Time: 12:17. Score: Boise State 55, UH 0

TEAM STATISTICS

INDIVIDIAL STATISTICS

DEFENSIVE STATISTICS

TACKLES FOR LOSS-YARDS: Hawaii— Kennedy Tulimasealii 1-5, Jerrol Garcia-Williams 1-4, Jeremy Castro 1-1, Gaetano DeMattei 1-1, Marrell Jackson 1-1. Boise State—Tyler Horn 1-8, Darren Lee 1-2, Tanner Vallejo 1-1. 

sacks-yards: Hawaii—none. Boise State—Tyler Horn 1-8.

INTERCEPTIONS: Hawaii—none. Boise State— Donte Deayon 1-5, Darren Lee 1-0, Darian Thompson 1-0.

kick blocked: Hawaii—none. Boise State—none.

quarterback hurries: Hawaii—none. Boise State—none.