IDAHO | SEPT. 29

MOSCOW, Idaho — Heck has no fury like a Hawai'i football team scorned.

Enraged and then inspired by a nationally aired verbal slap, the 17th-ranked Warriors vented on Idaho for a 48-20 win Saturday.

With quarterback Colt Brennan hobbling and often struggling — his career-high five interceptions offset 369 passing yards and three scoring throws — the Warriors received an angry boost from their defense to improve to 5-0.

The Warriors intercepted Idaho's Nathan Enderle five times. Weakside linebacker Adam Leonard and right cornerback Myron Newberry each had an interception return for a score.

The Warriors held the Vandals (1-4) to 90 rushing yards, 64 below their average for the first four games.

And the Warriors were particularly stubborn in the "sudden-change" category. The Warriors' six lost turnovers led to only two Vandal field goals.

For Hawai'i, motivation came in the form of an alleged putdown by ESPN's Craig James, who reportedly questioned the top-25 quality of the defense.

During a defensive meeting Friday night, defensive coordinator Greg McMackin spoke of James' comments. At one point, McMackin, fueled by emotion, lost his grip on a water jug, with the contents spraying on defensive end Amani Purcell.

"The jug went in one direction and the water came in my direction," Purcell recalled. "Everybody was like, 'Dang, we have to take this seriously.' "

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