As Colt Brennan lay supine on the turf after being leveled by Fresno State linebacker Marcus Riley, two thoughts battled for space in linebacker Timo Paepule's mind.

The first was "Uh-oh."

The second?

"I wanted to get them back," Paepule said.

He wasn't the only one.

"They were celebrating while he was lying there," defensive lineman Siave Seti said. "They looked at us like, 'That's it for you.' "

As Brennan eventually rose to return to the locker room, the tension mounted. Then defensive back Keenan Jones provided the pressure release.

On the ensuing punt, Jones got a bead on Fresno State punt returner Clifton Smith. Jones bore down at full stride on Smith as he caught the ball and promptly leveled him with a clean but make-no-mistake-what-I-mean tackle.

"That was the turning point," Seti said. "Thank God he made that hit."

HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS GET CLOSER LOOK AT WARRIORS

Former Rainbow outfielder Mario Monico also was on the sidelines prior to the game watching warmups. He was accompanying his son, Jordan, a senior quarterback and a baseball player at Moanalua. The younger Monico said he wants to play both sports in college.

Monico was among a number of high school players who were guests of the Rainbows. Among them was Leilehua sophomore quarterback Andrew Manley, who Friday guided the Mules to their first OIA championship since 1984.

Manley, who is 6 feet 2, said he would love to play in UH's offense. He said his family has had season tickets to UH games for three years.

GUEST VICTORINO CHOSE BASEBALL OVER FOOTBALL

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino (St. Anthony '99) attended last night's game. He is spending about 1 1/2 weeks on Maui, but was on O'ahu just for the game as a guest of UH coach June Jones.

Victorino, who had signed a letter of intent to play baseball at UH, was offered a football scholarship by Jones on the day the Los Angeles Dodgers drafted him in 1999. Victorino was a standout in football, baseball and track at St. Anthony.

"I would've love to play in this offense," said Victorino, who probably would've been a slotback.

Victorino, who makes his home in Las Vegas, said he is still doing some rehab on an injured right calf that hampered him this past season.

"We did well, made the playoffs," he said. "We'll have a good team next year."

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com and Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.