Kaniho brothers make rare list in Boise State’s upset of No. 25 Bulldogs
READ MORE
Boise State 40, Fresno State 14
Boise State running back George Holani played a full game without limitations for the first time this season and the defense forced three turnovers as the Broncos rolled at No. 25 Fresno State.
Expand All
‘Broncos are dangerous’: Healthy Holani helps Boise State deliver huge road victory
‘Defining moment’ win at Fresno State could be turning point for Boise State, Avalos
Kaniho brothers make rare list in Boise State’s upset of No. 25 Bulldogs
Instant analysis: RB Holani is big in return to full health as Boise State routs Fresno
Final: Boise State 40, No. 25 Fresno State 14; Broncos get five sacks, three picks
There are rare stats — such as Boise State’s five sacks and three interceptions against Fresno State — and then there’s the almost unheard of.
Kekaula and Kaonohi Kaniho on Saturday became just the third set of brothers in NCAA history with interceptions in the same game as the Boise State defense dominated No. 25 Fresno State in a 40-14 victory at Bulldog Stadium.
“It’s pretty special,” Kekaula said. “(Our) parents actually decided last minute to end up coming to this game, so it was awesome having them in the stands. When the offense was running the clock out, we both kind of looked up there and they just kind of gave us the chest bump.”
Fittingly, older brother Kekaula, a fifth-year senior from Kahuku, Hawaii, was the first to intercept Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener. His pick on the Bulldogs’ second drive of the game set up the Broncos’ first touchdown for a 10-0 Boise State lead with 6:38 remaining in the first quarter.
“I was standing right behind Kekaula on his interception and the coverage we were playing, I could see his eye progression, and that dude is such a stud, because that wide receiver, he telegraphed the route and Kekaula played it unbelievable,” Boise State coach Andy Avalos said. “That was such a big play to start the game, because that concept that they tried to run there, if we don’t stop that there, we’re going to get it a bunch more times in the game.”
Safety JL Skinner grabbed the Broncos’ second interception in the third quarter, and Kaonohi’s pick— the second of his career — in the fourth quarter led to another TD and a 33-7 Boise State lead.
The Broncos now have 11 interceptions this season.
“He’s out there on an island by himself, and the way that he was playing it, we asked him to compete a little bit better,” Avalos said of Kaonohi. “They kept taking it, chunking away. They weren’t getting the run yards, so what was that becoming? Those five yards, six yards were becoming their run yards. And so we had to find a way to play that better on the outside.
“We challenged him to compete better against those guys. Not only did he do that, he came up, had some great tackles and then he intercepted a ball. That’s what competitors do, they respond. It was awesome.”
Andy and Peter Ford each had interceptions for Clemson against North Carolina in 1995, and twin brothers Josh and Daniel Bullocks did the same for Nebraska when the Huskers beat Kansas in 2003.
Now the Kaniho brothers can add their names to a very short list.
“It’s awesome. I mean, I don’t have any words for it,” said Kaonohi, who finished with a team-leading seven tackles. “It’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime dream.”
Four of Boise State’s five sacks came in the first half — the most since the Broncos registered four in the opening half against BYU on Nov. 3, 2018. Demitri Washington, Riley Whimpey, Jackson Cravens, Divine Obichere and Scott Matlock each took down Haener in the game.
The total number of sacks and interceptions is the most for the Broncos since Oct. 17, 2008, when they had seven sacks and five interceptions against Hawaii.
“That performance was everything,” said Boise State kicker Jonah Dalmas, who nailed four field goals in the win. “... Huge shoutout to the defense. They all did their jobs, and they did it effectively and efficiently. We were all juiced, and we kept that energy throughout the whole entire game.
“... I definitely think that the defense was a huge part of creating great field position for us and getting our offense back out on the field so we could keep putting points on the board.”
Skyview High grad gets first TD
It may have been in the closing minutes of a blowout, but the Broncos cheered as if it were the first quarter when Tyler Crowe scored on a 7-yard run.
The 5-foot-11, 220-pound running back from Skyview High School started fall camp as a walk-on and earned himself a scholarship in September.
Saturday’s touchdown — the first of his college career — was another milestone in an already memorable season for the redshirt sophomore. Crowe totaled 9 yards on two carries, helping the Broncos amass a season-high 187 yards on the ground.
“He does that in practice every day. He has the same work ethic every day, so it’s just something we expect of him,” said George Holani, the Broncos’ starting running back. “He’s definitely stepping up and trying to play more of a role in this offense, and he’s been taking advantage of every rep.”
LeBeauf back, Farrar still out
Boise State had one of its top cornerbacks back on the field for Saturday’s game.
Redshirt junior Tyric LeBeauf announced his return on Twitter before kickoff using a gif of the clown from the movie “It” with the caption, “I’m back.”
LeBeauf had missed the past three games for undisclosed reasons. Kaonohi Kaniho started in his place against BYU, Air Force and Colorado State.
Despite missing three games, LeBeauf still leads the Broncos with three interceptions this season. He finished Saturday’s game with one tackle.
Center Will Farrar missed his second game in a row with an undisclosed injury. Fifth-year senior Jake Stetz started in his place again.
Boise State wasn’t missing any players because of COVID-19 protocols, according to a spokesperson for the program.
Broncos keep Milk Can trophy
The trophy, which dates back to 2006, was still with the Broncos going into Saturday’s game even though they lost their last meeting with Fresno State, in the 2018 Mountain West championship game. The trophy is awarded only to the winner of regular-season games in the series, and Boise State beat the Bulldogs in a 2018 regular-season game at Albertsons Stadium.
Boise State is 16-7 all-time against Fresno State, but the Broncos had lost their last meeting in Fresno, a 17-14 defeat in 2017.
The Bulldogs were 4-0 at home this season, with wins against UConn, Cal Poly, UNLV and Nevada. They’d also beaten two ranked teams — UCLA and San Diego State — in the same season for the first time since 2004.
Quick hits
The Broncos wore white jerseys, white pants and blue helmets. ... Team captains Khalil Shakir and Kekaula Kaniho were joined by defensive end Shane Irwin and offensive lineman Jake Stetz as game captains. ... Fresno State won the coin toss and deferred. ... Boise State was led onto the field by edge Dylan Herberg, who carried the Dan Paul Hammer. ... Linebacker Ezekiel Noa carried the American flag and tight end Tyneil Hopper carried the Bleed Blue flag. ... Dalmas connected on a season-long 47-yard field goal in the first quarter. ... Boise State posted its largest margin of victory over a ranked team in the FBS era and the Broncos won their second road game against a Top 25 team for the first time in the FBS era. ... With his 283 passing yards against the Bulldogs, junior quarterback Hank Bachmeier moved into eighth place all-time at Boise State with 5,515 yards. ... With his 67 receiving yards, Shakir moves into eighth place all-time at Boise State with 2,605 yards.
This story was originally published November 7, 2021 at 12:27 AM.
