The 2007 Hawaii Bowl kicked off on December 23, 2007, at 8:00 p.m
EST in front of an estimated crowd of 30,467, which was the largest crowd in Hawaii Bowl history for a game not featuring the
Hawai'i football team. The game was nationally televised on
ESPN, and was watched by an estimated average of 1.6 million people, good enough for a
television rating of 1.47. East Carolina had to travel one way, making it the longest bowl trip of the season for any team during the 2007 bowl season. Boise State, meanwhile, traveled to Hawaii. Due to the distance involved, East Carolina fans wishing to support their school, but unable to travel to the game, bought 2,709 tickets for
troops stationed in Hawaii as a show of support. The weather at kickoff was mostly cloudy with winds from the northeast at 13 miles (21 km). The temperature was . For the officiating crew, the
referee was Terry Leyden,
umpire was Kevin Matthews, and the
linesman was Bob Bahne. The
line judge was Bart Longson, the
back judge was Joe Johnston and the
field judge was Ed Vinzant. The
side judge was Craig Falkner.
First quarter East Carolina won the pre-game
coin toss and deferred the ball until the second half, allowing Boise State to receive the ball to begin the game. The Broncos received the opening
kickoff at their 4–yard line and went
three-and-out. Following the Broncos'
punt, East Carolina began its first
possession of the game on its 43–yard line. The offense marched to the 19–yard line of Boise State, but was stopped on third down. ECU
kicker Ben Hartman was sent into the game and made a
field goal from 36 yards away. The Broncos' first drive of the second quarter was halted after a holding penalty and an
incomplete pass denied BSU a chance for a
first down. Boise was forced to kick the ball away once more. To begin its first series of the second half, Boise State returned the post-touchdown kickoff 55 yards. Two quick plays later, Boise quarterback Taylor Tharp completed a pass to
Jeremy Avery for a touchdown, cutting East Carolina's lead to 17 points, 38–21. The Broncos began the second drive of the fourth quarter by going 80 yards in nine plays for a touchdown. It took just three minutes and 59 seconds and BSU only three first downs. Boise had now cut the Pirates' lead to 38–31. On the next drive, ECU brought in a new quarterback, Rob Kass. Kass was initially successful, and gained a few first downs. The Boise State defense stiffened, however, and ECU was forced to punt the ball away. After a touchback, Boise State began on its 20–yard line. Running back Jeremy Avery rushed for four yards on the first play. On the third play, Tharp completed a pass for nine yards for a first down. Tharp then passed three straight times for 32 yards and two first downs. On subsequent plays, Tharp rushed for six yards and passed for another six to convert BSU's third first down of the drive. Three plays later, however, the Broncos' Titus Young fumbled the ball for the second time in the game, and as before, ECU recovered, seemingly sealing the victory. After a Boise State unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, ECU began at their 39–yard line, needing only to rush the ball to keep the clock moving in order to secure the win. On the second rush by Chris Johnson, however, he fumbled the ball. The fumble was recovered by Broncos' defender Marty Tadman at the ECU 47–yard line and returned all the way for a touchdown. After the PAT, Boise State tied East Carolina 38–38. The fumble and touchdown turned what had been an inevitable ECU victory into a tie game. Boise kicked the ball deep, hoping to stop the Pirates' offense and force
overtime. Following the kick, ECU began at its own nine–yard line. The Pirates began the drive with one minute and 16 seconds left in the game. Dominique Lindsay rushed for two yards before Rob Kass completed a pass to Jamar Bryant for 39 yards, enough for a first down near midfield. The Pirates' continued to move forward, passing for short yardage and rushing for short gains that kept the clock moving, but advanced the ball closer to field goal range. On the third to the last play, Kass rushed for seven yards, and ECU took a timeout with 15 seconds left. Rob Kass lost one yard while moving the ball towards the center of the field in order to set up a game-ending kick. ECU took its last timeout, again stopping the clock. With four seconds remaining on the clock, ECU kicker Ben Hartman converted a 34–yard field goal to take the lead and the win, 41–38, as time ran out. == Final statistics ==