SAN JOSE, Calif. — "Who is gonna make the big play?"

"Who is going to step up and get the job done?"

That, "is what our offensive line kept asking us in the huddle during the final drive," said Davone Bess, a University of Hawai'i freshman slotback.

"We, the younger players, couldn't let them down," Bess said. "The OL line, Derek Faavi, Samson (Satele), (Brandon) Eaton and those guys challenged us to come through."

With two catches for 19 yards as part of a nine-reception, 102-yard, two-touchdown day, Bess and his teammates came through on a 10-play, 80-yard drive that pushed across the go-ahead score with 5 minutes, 26 seconds left in a 45-38 victory over San Jose State yesterday.

"To be honest, our OL is the backbone of this team and they put us in position to get it done so we had to follow through," quarterback Colt Brennan said. "They said, over and over, 'We're going to win this game ... We're going to win this game.'

"They told us not to worry about the crowd or anything else, just concentrate on getting it done and we didn't want to let them down."

TAILGATE DRAWS 2,000

Nearly 2,000 UH alumni, Hawai'i transplants and visitors attended the seventh annual Hawai'i tailgate.

The event, a joint effort of the Hawai'i Chamber of Commerce of Northern California and UH Alumni Association, preceded yesterday's game and featured live Hawaiian music and food booths adjacent to San Jose State's baseball stadium.

A supply of rally towels that was distributed to the first 1,000 fans through the gates ran out less than an hour into the event, officials said.

"This is about our biggest one yet," said Eric Tao, president of the HCCNC.

The event alternates between San Jose (odd number years) and Fresno State (even numbered years) based on UH's football schedule.

Keith Kamisugi, formerly of Mililani, who works in communications in San Francisco, said, "I'm amazed at the people I run into at these."

NEW UNIFORMS A HIT

UH debuted its replacement road uniforms to favorable media reviews.

The white jerseys with black numerals replaced the white with silver numbers that media and sports information people had struggled with at Michigan State, Idaho and Louisiana Tech.

"I love 'em," said KFVE sportscaster Jim Leahey.

"These are much better," said KKEA sportscaster Bobby Curran.

In the face of complaints from Hawai'i and other media that reached the Western Athletic Conference office, UH ordered new jerseys. UH said they were replaced at what was described as a nominal charge by the manufacturer, which UH has a marketing agreement with.

Exact figures were not immediately available.

Equipment personnel said the new uniforms arrived during the week and name plates were sewn on Wednesday, the day before the Warriors departed for San Jose.

INSPIRING ISLAND TIES

San Jose State quarterback Adam Tafralis said the Spartans, who haven't won since Sept. 3 in a 1-6 start, really wanted this one for their five coaches with Hawai'i ties.

"We said this would be a great one for us to be able to get for coach (Dick) Tomey, coach (Ken Margerum) and a couple of other coaches (who) were in Hawai'i. Coach Tomey especially. But it didn't happen."

INJURY WATCH

UH officials said there were no injuries sustained in the San Jose State game that were likely to keep any players out of Saturday's game with No. 24 Fresno State at Aloha Stadium.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.