honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, December 30, 2007

UH tops Spartans in OT, 42-35

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Colt Brennan ran in the game-tying touchdown on a 2-yard keeper with 31 seconds left to send the game into overtime.

Advertiser library photo

spacer spacer

SAN JOSE STATE | OCT. 12

SAN JOSE, Calif. — In the chill of the night, on a drenched field turned into poi, the Hawai'i football team kept its dreams alive.

Led by a fast-and-furious defense and a quarterback who was stirred but not shaken after four interceptions, the Warriors rallied from a 14-point deficit with under 4 minutes left in regulation to produce a 42-35 overtime victory over San Jose State Friday night at Spartan Stadium.

Colt Brennan's 2-yard keeper with 31 seconds left forced extra play, and his 9-yard scoring toss to wideout Jason Rivers — on his league-record 75th pass — were the game's final points. Cornerback Myron Newberry's leaping interception — his second of the game — in the end zone punctuated the comeback.

"Who said we were dead?" said Adam Leonard, who suctioned a crucial fumble caused by fellow linebacker Blaze Soares in the final minutes. "Not us. We don't think that as a team."

"The dream is never dead," added slotback Ryan Grice-Mullins, who made a school-record-tying 14 catches. "No matter what the score is, no matter how many ticks are on the clock, the dream is never dead. We set our goals. We're going to continue our mission.

We're not going to let anybody stop it."

The outcome enabled the 16th-ranked Warriors (7-0, 4-0 in the Western Athletic Conference) to clinch a postseason bowl berth.

"That was just one step," slotback Davone Bess said, referring to the Warriors' pretty-please wish of an unbeaten regular season and a Bowl Championship Series berth.

"We haven't eaten yet," Bess said. "This was just the appetizer."

Make a difference. Donate to The Advertiser Christmas Fund.

• • •