HONOLULU -- Nearly the entire season, Hawaii backup
quarterback Jason Whieldon has watched starter Timmy Chang snag
headlines, be touted as a Heisman Trophy hopeful, even inspire a
bobble-head doll.
But Whieldon will be the center of attention Saturday when the
Warriors take on No. 18 Boise State in the season finale for both
teams.
Whieldon was named the starter this week after replacing an
ineffective Chang and rallying the Warriors to a 37-29 victory over
Alabama last Saturday.
"This is a game that we've been wanting to play all year, and
it's finally here," said Whieldon, one of 19 seniors playing his
final regular season game for Hawaii (8-4, 5-1 Western Athletic
Conference).
Boise State (11-1, 7-0 WAC) is coming off a 56-3 victory over
Nevada that clinched a second-straight conference championship for
the Broncos.
"This is probably the best coached and most flawless team that
we've played," Hawaii coach June Jones said. "They know what
they're doing and we're going to play very good football to compete
with them."
Boise State is led by senior quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie, the
nation's third-leading passer with a 166.4 rating. Behind
Dinwiddie, the Broncos are fourth nationally in total offense,
averaging 494.8 total yards per game, and score 43.6 points per
contest, second only to No. 1 Oklahoma's 48.3 scoring average.
The Broncos aren't a one-man show either.
So far this season, coach Dan Hawkins has taken advantage of his
team's depth at the skill positions, using four quarterbacks, four
tailbacks, two fullbacks, five tight ends and nine wideouts at
different times this season.
"This is the most involved our team has ever been," senior
tight end Kevin Louwsma told The Idaho Statesman. "It's because of
how they've been recruiting. We've got a lot of young guys who can
make plays and are great athletes."
Jones counters the Boise State attack with a high-powered
offense of his own.
Hawaii is second in the nation in passing offense, averaging
379.2 yards per game through the air, and seventh in the country in
total offense with 482.1 yards per game.
But those numbers have been run up almost entirely by Chang. The
junior ranks third nationally in passing average with 326.4 yards
per game, but was booed off the Aloha Stadium field against Alabama
after suffering through one of the worst games of his career,
completing just 7 of 23 passes for 38 yards.
Whieldon came off the bench to throw four touchdowns and run for
another as Hawaii overcame deficits of 14-0 in the first quarter
and 21-16 in the fourth to notch one of the program's biggest
victories.
Saturday marks just the second start of Whieldon's two-year
Hawaii career. The junior college transfer also started the season
opener against Appalachian State when Chang served a one-game
suspension for an academic violation.
He finished that game 21-of-35 passing for 359 yards and three
touchdowns in a 40-17 victory. Whieldon won't predict the outcome
of Saturday's contest, just that he'll give it his best shot.
"I can just predict that we'll be worn out and tired as we come
off the field," Whieldon said.
Chang may still see some action, too.
"He'll get his opportunity to go back in there and turn things
around and he'll do that," Jones said. "It's just a matter of
when he gets an opportunity to do that."
Meanwhile, both teams are looking to keep winning streaks alive.
The Broncos have won nine straight WAC games dating back to last
season, while Hawaii is unbeaten in six home games this season.
Both teams also are headed to postseason bowl games. Hawaii is
set to play Houston in the Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Day. Boise
State this week accepted a conditional bid to play Texas Christian
in the inaugural Fort Worth Bowl on Dec. 23.