BOISE, Idaho — The Boise State Broncos defeated Hawaii 31-10 on the blue to win the Mountain West Championship Saturday afternoon.
The Broncos did it as a team, getting contributions all over the board. As always, it all started with the team running out of the tunnel with a hammer.
"The reason why we run out with a hammer in games like this is trying to get everybody to understand the concept of team," said Boise State Head Coach Bryan Harsin.
The defense made a goal-line stand in the second quarter, followed by an interception by Keko Nawahine to keep the score tied at 3-3.
Late in the second quarter, the Broncos offense got rolling, and on fourth down, Jaylon Henderson would find Khalil Shakir for a 36-yard touchdown with 1:07 left in the half.
Less than a minute later, Jaylon Henderson hit John Hightower who made a spectacular play to not only make the catch but keep his balance and sprint into the endzone. BSU led 17-3 at the half.
The Broncos would carry that momentum into the second half as Jaylon Henderson, who threw for 212 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, earned offensive MVP.
Sonatane Lui forced a fumble on a strip sack and received the honor as defensive MVP after the defense made another goal-line stand.
"Lui came off a mission and walked on to Boise State and here he is up at the podium," said Harsin. " Jaylon Henderson came in and was the third string quarterback at the beginning of the season and here is up on the podium and we have a lot of guys in that locker room who are just like that and the one message I want everybody to understand that I talk about all the time, is hard work does not go unnoticed."
The Broncos have accomplished two of their three goals for the season: win the Mountain West Championship going unbeaten in the conference, and defend the blue. BSU was also undefeated at home.
Their next goal is to win a bowl game and they will find out who they play on Sunday during the selection show that airs on ESPN at 10:00 a.m.
The bad news from the final Saturday of college football for Bronco Nation happened when Memphis came from behind to beat Cincinnati 29-24 in the American Athletic Conference Championship. Memphis is the only team out of the Group of Five ranked ahead of Boise State.
