Instant Analysis: Boise State finally has established itself as Mountain West powerhouse
Final score: Boise State 31, Hawaii 10
Records: Boise State is 12-1 overall; Hawaii is 9-5
Why the Broncos won: They dominated fourth down. Hawaii took a field goal off the board in the second quarter to go for it on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line. Quarterback Cole McDonald ran a keeper to the right, but defensive tackle Sonatane Lui anticipated the snap perfectly and combined with linebacker Riley Whimpey to make the stop and keep the score 3-3.
“I didn’t think field goals were going to win this football game,” Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich said. “.... I thought we had to play aggressive to win this football game vs. this team.”
[Related: Boise State gets redemption after last year’s title loss; Bowl projections: Boise State could face its former coach; scoring summary]
Later in the quarter, the Broncos kept the offense on the field on fourth-and-4 at the Hawaii 36-yard line. The Warriors brought nine guys to the line of scrimmage and kept their safeties within 10 yards of the line, expecting a quick throw. Instead, quarterback Jaylon Henderson took advantage of man coverage down the sideline to hit Khalil Shakir for a touchdown.
“It was a great call by Boise,” Rolovich said.
And in the third quarter, the Warriors went for the TD on fourth-and-goal at the 5-yard line. McDonald threw his fourth consecutive incompletion, leaving Boise State with a 17-3 lead.
What it means: Nine years into its Mountain West era, Boise State has become the powerhouse everyone expected.
The Broncos are a blocked PAT last year away from having three straight Mountain West championships. They have hosted the title game three straight years, and they have won 15 straight games within the Mountain Division — every game the past three years. They are 24-3 in Mountain West games overall, with an 11-point loss at Fresno State in 2017 when a rematch for the title was already secured; a six-point loss at home against San Diego State in 2018; and a three-point loss in overtime to Fresno State in the 2018 championship game.
In the previous six seasons, the Broncos won one outright title (in 2014) and one shared title (in 2012, before the championship game). They appeared in just one of the first four championship games, and in coach Bryan Harsin’s first three seasons they lost six games in the Mountain Division.
It took longer than anyone expected when Boise State moved from the WAC to the Mountain West in 2011 — but the Broncos have established themselves as the Mountain West’s annual team to beat. And that status is in no danger with one-third of the conference already changing coaches next season — Fresno State, Colorado State, New Mexico and UNLV.
It’s not quite WAC-era-level dominance, Harsin pointed out Saturday, but it’s an impressive run.
“This league, the teams we play, every single week to find a way to win like we did, every one of the games that we played in, it’s really difficult to do,” Harsin said. “… Do I think that we’re the team that’s going to roll through the league and it’s going to be that way? No, I’ve got a lot of respect for all the teams that we play. I know when we operate the way we need to, I know how successful we can be.
“… I don’t know what to say for the future of it. But I do know this: I know that Boise State and our brand is very strong and is a big part of the Mountain West. Now that I really believe in, and I know how important our program is to that conference, as well. It’s important that my focus is on Boise State and the people that support it and the people that help our program and the people that are going to be out there helping us while we’re coaching and trying to win football games but promoting our program and helping our conference, those things matter. I know what kind of brand we have, and I know how strong this can be, as long as we continue to keep doing the things that we talk about within our program to make it that way.”
Player of the game: Boise State senior defensive tackle Sonatane Lui made two huge plays for a Broncos defense that only allowed three points in the first three quarters. Lui timed the snap perfectly — coming really close to getting an offside flag — on Hawaii’s fourth-and-goal inside the 2-yard line. Lui blew up the play, and Whimpey helped him tackle McDonald short of the goal line. In the third quarter, Lui stripped McDonald in the pocket for a sack and forced fumble. The Broncos recovered and scored a touchdown two plays later.
Play of the game: Boise State wide receiver John Hightower made a leaping catch along the sideline late in the first half — which was a great play by itself. But then he used a hand to keep his balance when he came back down on one foot, shaking off a hit from a defender. That left Hightower all by himself to dash into the end zone for a 36-yard touchdown with 14 seconds left in the first half, giving the Broncos a 17-3 halftime lead.
What’s next: Boise State will learn its bowl destination Sunday afternoon.
This story was originally published December 7, 2019 at 5:13 PM.
