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The 2007 Sheraton Hawaiʻi Bowl was an edition of the Sheraton Hawaiʻi Bowl. It pitted the Boise State Broncos against the East Carolina Pirates in a postseason American college football game in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. The Boise State University represented the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and East Carolina represented Conference USA (CUSA) in the competition. The game was the final competition of the 2007 football season for each team and resulted in a 41-38 East Carolina victory, even though spread bettors favored Boise State to win by 12 1/2 points. The bowl game paid out $750,000 to East Carolina.

In a game that was expected to be a offensive shootout, East Carolina took a 31-14 lead in the first half. The Broncos stormed back, and tied the score at 38 after Chris Johnson fumbled and Marty Tadman recovered the ball and ran 47 yards for a touchdown. As time ran out, East Carolina's Ben Hartman made a 34 yard game winning field goal. 30,467 people attended the game, making it largest crowd to attend the Hawaii Bowl, without Hawaii playing. Boise State's loss brought it to a final 2007 record of 10-3, while East Carolina's final-game win earned it a record of 8-5.

Selection Process

Hawai'i football normally has an automatic bid to the Hawai'i Bowl, unless the team has a better bowl to go to. When Hawai'i has a higher bowl to go to, the WAC selection goes to the second placed team.

The Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) has the first choice of being able to go to the Bowl. If the Pac-10 isn't able to field six competitive teams, then the bowl birth goes to CUSA. After the CUSA Champion is crowned, the best match-up goes to the Hawai'i Bowl.

Pre-game buildup

On December 1, 2007, it was announced that East Carolina would be the CUSA representative, after the Pac-10 couldn't field six competitive teams. It was also announced that Boise State would represent the WAC in the bowl game. This was the first time the two teams have ever met.

Game summary

First quarter

East Carolina won the coin toss and defered the ball until the second half. Boise State began in their 4 yard line and went three and out.

East Carolina started on their 43 yard line. The offense marched up to the 19 yard line. ECU Kicker Ben Hartman made a field goal from 36 yards.

On the ensuring kickoff, Austin Smith return the kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown. The touchdown and point after gave Boise State their only lead of the game at 7-3.

The next two drives for each team ended in punts. On East Carolina's third drive, Chris Johnson rushed on the first play 68 yards for a touchdown. With the ensuing point after, East Carolina lead 10-7. The next Boise State drive ended in a three and out, with a punt. The Pirates marched down the field 55 yards, but the quarter ended.

At the end of the first quarter, East Carolina led Boise State 10-7.

Second quarter

ECU began the second quarter on Boise's 30 yard line. Quarterback Patrick Pinkney started the drive with a 14 yard rush. After three more successful plays, Dominique Lindsay rushed 3 yards for a touchdown. Kicker Ben Hartman converted the point after, which made the score 17-7 ECU.

The Broncos first drive of the second quarter was halted after a holding penalty and a incomplete pass. Boise was forced to kick.

The Pirates second drive of the second quarter began on their 26 yard line. ECU ran four plays to capitalize on a touchdown. On the drive, Chris Johnson completed a 46 yard rush and a 18 yard pass for a touchdown. After the drive, ECU lead 24-7.

Boise State first play was intercepted by Travis Williams. East Carolina was force three-and-out and was forced to punt.

On Boise second play of the drive, the team completed its first first down of the game. They continued the drive by going 69 yard in 8 plays for a touchdown. The series included five complete passes and two rushes. The resultant score was 24-14 East Carolina.

East Carolina started their series on their 41 yard line. A substitution infraction on ECU and a incomplete pass forced ECU to punt the ball away.

On the Broncos fourth drive of the second quarter, the team began with three complete passes for 18 yards on three plays. On the third play, BSU's Titus Young had a forced fumble by ECU's Travis Williams. Jay Ross recovered the fumble.

East Carolina ran 5 plays for 38 yards. With the clock running down, ECU elected to kick a field goal. The score after the field goal was 31-14 ECU. Boise Quarterback Taylor Tharp went two-for-four, but ran out of time for the first half.

At halftime, East Carolina led Boise State 31-14.

Third quarter

Because Boise State had received the opening kickoff, East Carolina received the ball to open the second half. ECU completed seven rushes and four passes for 74 yards in 5:53. On the last play of the drive, Brandon Simmons completed a three yard rush for a touchdown. Doug Palmer for ECU false started on the point after kick. After the five yard penalty, Hartman after completed the kick attempt, ECU increased its lead to 38-14.

To begin the first series of the second half, BSU ran the kickoff return back 55 yards. Two quick plays later and Boise Tharp completed a pass to Jeremy Avery for a touchdown. BSU began to cut into the lead. The score was 38-21 ECU.

After the punt, the Pirates rushed for two and passed for one. The three plays netted only 2 yards, and ECU was forced to punt the ball away. Boise State completed three first downs on the series. BSU kicker, Kyle Brotzman, converted a 31 yard field goal. The Broncos shrank the lead further. The series went 40 yards, at 9 plays. It took the team 2:37.

East Carolina took the kickoff on the 39 yard line, after Boise player illegally touched the ball on the 39. Pinkney threw a incomplete pass to start the drive. After two more plays failed to convert the first down, ECU was forced punt the ball away. After a touchback, Boise State began on their 20 yard line. The Broncos completed three plays for 11 yards, before the third quarter ended.

At the end of the third quarter, East Carolina led Boise State 38-24.

Fourth quarter

BSU started the fourth quarter by throwing two incomplete passes. Tharp then completed two passes for a combined 39 yards. J.J. Milbrook then intercepted Tharp's fifth pass of the quarter. He returned the interception for 27 yards. The Pirates completed one first down but failed to convert the interception into points. Kicker Matt Dodge set up for a kicking play. He rushed the ball instead, picking up the first down. The Pirates than rushed three plays and threw an incomplete pass. On fourth down, Dodge punted the ball 47 yards for a touchback.

The Broncos began the second drive of the fourth quarter by going 80 yards in nine plays for a touchdown. It took 3:59 and BSU had three first downs. Boise melted the lead more. The score was 38-31 ECU.

On the next series, ECU brought in a new Quarterback, Rob Kass. The first two down, ECU completed two rushes for five yard. Kass was hurried on the third down and the pass was incomplete. On fourth down, ECU punted the ball away. After a touchback, Boise State began on their 20 yard line. Running Back Jeremy Avery rushed for four yard on the first play. On the third play, Tharp completed a pass for nine yards for a first down. Tharp than passes for three complete passes for 32 yards for 2 first downs. Tharp than rushed for six yards, than passed for six yards to convert another first down. Three plays later, Titus Young fumbled the ball, and ECU recovered.

After a Boise State unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, ECU began on their 39 yard line. On the second rush by Chris Johnson of the series, he fumbled the ball to Marty Tadman on ECU 47 yard line and ran the ball in for a touchdown. After the PAT, Boise State tied East Carolina 38-38.

Boise kicked the ball to ECU 9 yard line. The Pirates began the drive with 1:16 left in the game. Dominique Lindsay rushed for two yards and Rob Kass completed to Jamar Bryant for 39 yards, for a first down. Kass than rushed for seven yards, and ECU took a timeout with 15 seconds left. Rob Kass loss one yard to line up the ball between the uprights. ECU took its last timeout to stop the clock to be able to get special teams on the field. Boise State Head Coach Chris Petersen called a timeout to try to ice the kicker. With four seconds left on the clock, ECU Kicker Ben Hartman converted a 34 yard field goal to take the lead and win.

Final statistics

In recognition of their performances during the game, East Carolina running back Chris Johnson and Boise State running back Jeremy Avery were named their teams MVPs of the game, respectively. Johnson set an NCAA bowl record with 408 all-purpose yards.

Boise State statistical recap

Completions/Attempts Carries Long play Receptions

East Carolina statistical recap

References

1. World Feature Syndicate via Long Beach Press-Telegram, Dec. 19, 2007
2. http://awfulannouncing.blogspot.com/2007/12/your-comprehensive-bowl-game-announcing.html
3. ^ 1st Quarter ESPN.com Play-by-Play. Accessed December 24, 2007.
4. ^ 2nd Quarter ESPN.com Play-by-Play. Accessed December 24, 2007.
5. ^ 3rd Quarter ESPN.com Play-by-Play. Accessed December 24, 2007.
6. ^ 4th Quarter ESPN.com Play-by-Play. Accessed December 24, 2007.
7. ^ ESPN.com Chick-fil-A Bowl Recap Accessed October 13, 2007.

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