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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 8:04 p.m., Thursday, December 25, 2003

Warriors hold off Houston in triple OT, 54-48

Advertiser News Services

Michael Brewster's 8-yard touchdown run in the third overtime sent Hawai'i to a 54-48 victory over Houston in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl game that ended with an ugly fight at midfield at Aloha Stadium tonight.

Shortly after Hawaii stopped the Cougars on fourth down in the third OT, several scuffles broke out with some players swinging helmets at each other and throwing punches.

Coaches and police broke up the brawl after several minutes, and both teams finally headed to their locker rooms.

It was a wild ending to a thrilling game.

Hawai'i failed on a two-point conversion after Brewster’s score, giving Houston a chance to win the game. However, the Warriors defense stopped the Cougars on fourth down from the 20-yard line to end the game.

Houston forced the overtime when Kevin Kolb and Vincent Marshall connected on an 81-yard touchdown pass with 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The score came after Nolan Miranda missed a 29-yard field goal with 58 seconds left that would have given Hawai'i a 10-point lead.

Tim Chang came off the bench to throw for 476 yards and five touchdowns for Hawaii (9-5). He completed 26 of 42 passes with one interception after starter Jason Whieldon left with a shoulder injury early in the second quarter.

Chang threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Britton Komine in the first overtime, but Houston’s Anthony Evans scored on a 6- yard run to tie the game 41-41.

Houston (7-6) went ahead in the second overtime on Jackie Battle's 3-yard touchdown run. Chang then tied the game with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jason Rivers.

Rivers caught seven passes for 143 yards and three scores for Hawaii, while Jeremiah Cockheran had five receptions for 164 yards. Brewster finished with 80 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Kolb passed for 335 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for Houston and Battle rushed for 131 yards and three scores. Marshall caught eight passes for 161 yards and a touchdowns and Chad McCullar had five receptions for 103 yards and a score.

Associated Press and Bloomberg News Service contributed to this report.