Six Shooter: Brennan carries Hawaii past Northern Colorado

Sep 2, 2007, 8:20 GMT

Honolulu, HI - Colt Brennan picked up right where he left off last season, throwing for six touchdowns, all in the first half, as 23rd- ranked Hawaii routed Northern Colorado, 63-6, in its season opener.

Hawaii (1-0) came into the game ranked in the preseason polls for the first time in program history on the heels of a record-breaking season for Brennan, who set a new mark with 58 passing scores.

Eleven times the program scored at least 40 points, hitting for 61 or more in three straight and four of five outings during one stretch. The Warriors got off to another spectacular start Saturday, as Brennan completed 34-of-40 passes for 416 yards.

Brennan shattered or tied 18 NCAA records, 17 WAC marks, 41 school standards, and was the first Warrior quarterback since 1978 to earn All-America status last year. After the season, speculation of Brennan leaving early to enter the NFL Draft was put to rest when the junior announced his intention to stay at the school for his senior season.

Michael Washington ran a punt back 80 yards for a score and Malcolm Lane returned a kickoff 94 yards for a score.

Ryan Grice-Mullen had nine receptions for 130 yards and a pair of TDs for the Warriors, who outgained Northern Colorado, 577-182.

Dominic Breazeale went 9-of-16 passes for 62 yards with an interception for the Bears (0-1), who also got 70 yards through the air from Mike Vlahogeorge.

The game marked the start of Northern Colorado's second season under coach Scott Downing. Last year, the Bears posted a 1-10 record in their first season as members of the Big Sky Conference.

Hawaii took the ball after the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards to the end zone with Grice-Mullen the recipient of Brennan's first TD toss, a 15-yarder.

Running back David Woods fumbled on Northern Colorado's first possession and Brennan took over on a short field and threw 30 yards to Jason Rivers for another score, all within the first five minutes of the game.

The mistakes continued for the Bears, as Breazeale fumbled, leading to another Brennan TD pass, this one five yards to Davone Bess.

Brennan's fourth scoring toss of the opening quarter was to C.J. Hawthorne from 30 yards out for a 28-0 lead after 15 minutes.

Less than a minute expired in the second quarter when Brennan found Bess for a two-yard TD pass, and it became 42-0 on Brennan's 26-yard pass to Grice-Mullen with just under two minutes left in the half.

Washington returned a punt to the end zone less than two minutes into the second half before Northern Colorado finally scored on a five-yard run by Vlahogeorge with 10:22 left in the fourth.

However, Lane ran the ensuing kickoff back for a score for a 56-6 lead, and with Brennan out of the game, Inoke Funaki passed to Greg Salas for 24 yards and a TD midway through the fourth.

Game Notes

Hawaii plays at Louisiana Tech next Saturday, while Northern Colorado hosts Chadron State...Rivers had five catches for 101 yards.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

.