BOISE, Idaho — Boise State looks like it’s finally going to get one of those tough tests that have been absent from its schedule for more than a month now.
The Broncos’ last four wins have come easily as they built big, early leads against softies such as Toledo, New Mexico State and San Jose State, sending quarterback Kellen Moore and crew to the sideline early in the second half.
No. 2 Boise State’s easy road stands to get a lot rougher today when Hawaii pays a visit to Bronco Stadium. The Warriors (7-2) have won six straight games, boast the nation’s most potent passing attack and a defense that excels at forcing turnovers. Hawaii’s resurgence also has raised the stakes in the battle for the Western Athletic Conference title.
Both coaches insist the showdown will have all the intensity of their 2007 matchup, when a Hawaii offense led by Colt Brennan and Davone Bess outscored the Broncos to win the conference title and a trip to the Sugar Bowl.
“Our team gets it,” Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. “To have a team that is as hot as anybody in the country right now — this is going to be a good, tough, hard-nosed WAC championship-type game.”
Two months ago, few would have predicted today’s clash between these perennial WAC heavyweights would mean as much as it does now. After going 6-7 a year ago and with questions at quarterback, the Warriors were pegged to finish at the bottom of the pack in the WAC. But a potent offense led by quarterback Bryant Moniz and an opportunistic defense has put third-year coach Greg McMackin in position to win his first conference title. The Warriors have already accepted an invitation to play in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.
Earlier this week, Petersen recounted a moment in the locker room with his players who were listening to a television analyst argue how the Broncos, ranked No. 4 in the BCS standings, needed to make a statement, to play a perfect game against high-flying Hawaii if they really wanted to woo voters in the polls.
“I was thinking to myself: ‘No we don’t.’ That’s not our thing,” Petersen said. “Then one of the other kids said to me: ‘Whatever just happened to winning the game?’ “
