Game 11 | Warriors bowl over winless Knights at Aloha Stadium

Nov. 22 at Aloha Stadium • UH 59, Army 28

Advertiser Staff

For all the critics who questioned the relevance of the run-and-shoot offense or wondered if a recent slump had become a trend, the University of Hawai'i football team has this message: See ya on Christmas Day.

"It's going to be a merry Christmas," UH offensive tackle Brandon Eaton said in the celebration of the Warriors' 59-28 victory over Army at Aloha Stadium.

By winning their seventh game, the Warriors (7-4) ensured a winning record in their 13-game regular season and met the minimum requirement to securing a berth in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl on Christmas Day.

Offensive tackle Uriah Moenoa said the bowl invitation surpasses any monetary gift he has received for the holidays.

"A bowl is better than money because I get to be with these guys for another three weeks," Moenoa said. 'I'll take that any day over money."

The Warriors entered as heavy favorites against Army, which matched the NCAA-worst 0-12 seasons shared by UH and Colorado State. The Black Knights will own the record outright if they lose their season finale against Navy.

The Warriors, who have struggled on the road, appeared to be at ease at Aloha Stadium, where they are now 18-4 in the last three seasons. They rolled up a school-record 741 yards in offense and forced two turnovers inside their 5. Roll the credits for:

• Quarterback Tim Chang, who became the seventh player in NCAA history to amass 12,000 career passing yards. Chang reached the milestone with an 8-yard pass on the last play of the first quarter; he finished 25 of 43 for 356 yards and two touchdowns. He also scored on a 2-yard bootleg.
• Slotback Chad Owens, who pulled in a school-record 14 receptions. He had 168 receiving yards and a touchdown.
• Backup running back John West, who ran for two touchdowns and turned a shovel pass into a 32-yard scoring play.
• Backup quarterback Jason Whieldon, who completed 16 of 17 passes for 178 yards and a TD.

Despite Whieldon's breakout performance, UH coach June Jones quickly defused any quarterback controversy, saying Chang would start against Alabama Saturday.

ARMY 0 7 14 7 — 28

HAWAI'I 17 14 14 14 — 59

First Quarter

UH—FG Nolan Miranda 32

UH—Jason Rivers 59 pass from Tim Chang (Miranda kick)

UH—Kelvin Millhouse 28 interception return (Miranda kick)

Second Quarter

UH—Chang 2 run (Miranda kick)

UH—Mike Bass 6 run (Miranda kick)

Army—Brian Hill 79 interception return (Anthony Zurisko kick)

Third Quarter

UH—Chad Owens 2 pass from Chang (Miranda kick)

Army—Carlton Jones 59 pass from Zac Dahman (Zurisko kick)

UH—John West 5 run (Miranda kick)

Army—Jones 43 run (Zurisko kick)

Fourth Quarter

UH—West 32 pass from Jason Whieldon (Miranda kick)

UH—West 9 run (Miranda kick)

Army—Jones 1 run (Zurisko kick)

Attendance—35,370

RUSHING: Army—Jones 16-83, William White 2-1, Ricardo Vans 1-minus 7, Zac Dahman 5-minus 17. Hawai'i—Michael Brewster, 3-60, West 12-46, Whieldon 5-42, Bass 4-30, Kala Latuselu 5-13, Chang 2-5, Kainoa Akina 1-3, Team 1-minus 1.

PASSING: Army—Dahman 27-40-2—338, Team 0-1-0—0. Hawai'i—Chang 25-43-3—356, Whieldon 16-17-0—178; Akina 1-1-0—9.

RECEIVING: Army—White 9-71, Aaro Alexander 6-95; Carlton Jones 4-87; Clint Woody 3-36; Walter Hill 3-36; Doug Horaist 1-7; Tielo Robinson 1-6. Hawai'i—Chad Owens 14-168; Jason Rivers 5-117; Jeremiah Cockheran 5-43; Gerald Welch 4-53; Mike Bass 3-37; C. Herbert 3-31; Se'e Poumele 2-20; Britton Komine 2-19; John West 1-32; M. Brewster, 1-12; Ross Dickerson 1-7; M. Miyashiro 1-4.