Game 4 | Warriors bounce back

Sept. 27 at Aloha Stadium • UH 41, Rice 21

Advertiser Staff

The University of Hawai'i converted three turnovers into points and held off a Rice surge to earn a 41-21 football victory at Aloha Stadium.

An announced crowd of 35,180 watched the Warriors end a two-game losing streak to win the Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

The Warriors played the second half without two of their best players. Wideout Jeremiah Cockheran aggravated a sprained right ankle on UH's first series of the third quarter. Defensive tackle Isa'ako Sopoaga suffered a sprained right knee.

Still, the Warriors managed to deny the Owls — who scored 21 consecutive points in the second quarter — by blocking a field goal that would have tied the score at 24 in the third quarter and moving out of reach with a 12-play drive capped by John West's somersault touchdown.

UH quarterback Tim Chang threw for 397 yards and two touchdowns.

He broke the school record for completions (42) and attempts (70) in a game. The 70 attempts also set a WAC record.

RICE 0 21 0 0 — 21

HAWAI'I 14 10 0 17 — 41

First Quarter

UH—West Keliikipi 1 run (Justin Ayat kick)

UH—Gerald Welch 8 pass from Tim Chang (Ayat kick)

Second Quarter

UH—Welch 10 pass from Chang (Ayat kick)

UH—FG Ayat 33

Rice—Marcus Battle 5 run (Brandon Skeen kick)

Rice—Brandon Boyd 85 fumble return (Skeen kick)

Rice—Terry Holley recovers punt snap in end zone (Skeen kick)

Fourth Quarter

UH—John West 3 run (Ayat kick)

UH—FG Ayat 35

Attendance—35,180

RUSHING: Rice—Henderson 13-55, Lott 8-52, Q. Smith 2-29, Bailey 9-29, Beck 5-22, Battle 1-5, Hatfield 2-1, Moore 1-0, Herm 1-(minus 7). Hawai'i—West 8-60, Bass 8-46, Chang 7-32, Whieldon 1-8, Brewster 1-8, Keliikipi 1-1, Team 1-(minus 36).

PASSING: Rice—Henderson 6-12-3—131, Herm 1-2-0—42. Hawai'i—Chang 42-70-0—397.

RECEIVING: Rice—Battle 5-156, Beck 1-10, Lott 1-7. Hawai'i—Rivers 7-45, Cockheran 6-122, Welch 6-71, Dickerson 5-42, Komine 5-30, Keliikipi 4-27, Miyashiro 3-25, Brewster 2-8, West 2-5, Poumele 1-12, Bass 1-10.