By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

Two plays into the University of Tulsa's first offensive series, University of Hawai'i safety Leonard Peters blew into the backfield unobstructed and nailed quarterback James Kilian.

Never mind that the officials called it an incomplete pass to the disappointment of the crowd, a message had been sent in black-and-blue:

The Warriors' defense was a welcome mat no longer.

Kilian's expression said as much and, before long, there would be no doubt anywhere in Aloha Stadium where "dee-fense" once again became a cheer, not a cause for prayer.

Defensive back Leonard Peters and the rest of the Warriors' defense made it a rough night for Tulsa quarterback James Kilian. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

On a night when pass receiver-punt returner extraordinaire Chad Owens came up with three touchdowns, it was the reawakened defense that held things together until he could take the game over and then put its foot down in a second half, where Tulsa managed only a field goal, to keep it that way.

A source of concern entering the season and an object of disappointment after giving up an average of 38 points in the two losses, the defense dominated last night in a way we were afraid we might never see this season.

You knew the offense would come around, eventually. We expected that the special teams would step up, in time. But the defense that had to replace nine starters? That was the $64,000 question.

Last in the Western Athletic Conference in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense — a triple crown to be avoided — entering the game, the Warriors arrived with an attitude last night.

Tulsa had the ball for 15 series and UH forced 10 punts — six in three downs-and-out situations — and came up with an interception.

Holding an opponent to 16 points was remarkable enough. It has been 27 games since the Warriors have held an opponent under 250 yards total offense, but they turned the trick on Tulsa (248). The fact that UH actually out-rushed somebody (128-59) was as attributable to the defense as much as the offense.

They treated Kilian, who was sacked five times and worked over on a half dozen other occasions, like a pinata, and showed his receivers not a whole lot more mercy.

In this, defensive end Melila Purcell was the poster player for pain. Twice off the field, once with a knee injury and with a "stinger", he returned both times and laid what might have been the hit of a night of big hits on Kilian in the third quarter.

Lono Manners weighed in with seven tackles and Kenny Patton came up with a big end zone interception. And, even Nkerum "Tony" Akpan, the basketball player-turned quarterback nightmare, seemed to blossom before our eyes as the game went on.

One game does not a season make. But for UH, the just-in-time arrival of its defense last night gave cause for hope.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.

HAWAI'I'S REMAINING GAMES

Oct. 9: Nevada*

Oct. 16: at Texas-El Paso*

Oct. 23: San Jose State*

Oct. 29: at Boise State*

Nov. 6: Louisiana Tech*

Nov. 12: at Fresno State*

Nov. 20: Idaho

Nov. 27: Northwestern

Dec. 4: Michigan State