RENO, Nev. — Staring back at the most difficult of odds, the Hawai'i football team refused to blink, producing a made-for-national-television thriller of a 28-26 victory over Nevada last night.

The self-styled "Iceman" — kicker Dan Kelly — was true on a 45-yard, field-goal attempt with 11 seconds left to ice the Warriors' 10th victory in as many games this season.

"There's a certain thing about me," said Kelly, who converted the first game-winning field goal of his life. "I don't know what it is. I don't feel the pressure until after or before the kick."

Nevada tried to rattle Kelly, calling consecutive timeouts. The second timeout came a nanosecond before Kelly converted from 45 yards, barely sneaking in the right upright.

But Kelly, unfazed, welcomed a chance to kick for real.

"The first one was really ugly," Kelly said of what essentially became a practice kick. "It was a hooker. It looks better for ESPN if the kick is nice."

Indeed, it was a fitting conclusion to a game that had several dramatic elements.

By winning, the Warriors set up a winner-take-WAC championship game against
Western Athletic Conference defending champion Boise State Friday in a nationally televised game at Aloha Stadium.

What's more, the Warriors remained in contention for a Bowl Championship Series berth and accompanying $4.5 million pay day. A loss would have vaporized those wishes, as well as made the Warriors an over-qualified Hawai'i Bowl participant.

The Warriors had to overcome the absence of star quarterback Colt Brennan, who was limited to two plays after suffering a concussion last week, and the Wolf Pack's grind-it-out running offense that scored 16 of the first 22 points in the second half.

Brennan was cleared to play yesterday, although the intent all along was for Tyler Graunke to start.

Brennan entered on the second play, completing a 7-yard pass to Davone Bess, then exited. In the second quarter, he had a 14-yard completion before calling it a night.

"I wanted him to go in there and throw a couple of passes," head coach June Jones said, noting Brennan was given quick-release plays that posed little risk of getting hit.

"When I threw the second pass, I didn't want to come out," Brennan said. "The one thing is, if I had taken the shot, there's a good chance I could have gotten another concussion."

Jones said he remained confident in Graunke, a fourth-year junior who completed 33 of 46 passes for 358 yards and two touchdowns. Graunke, making his second start of the season, was sacked three times, but never intercepted.

"We have so much faith in Tyler," said left slotback Davone Bess, who caught 12 passes for 137 yards. "It goes back to practice. He works so hard."

What Graunke needed were opportunities. And the Warriors' defense provided that after running back Luke Lippincott scored his second touchdown, on a 5-yard run, to move the Wolf Pack ahead, 26-25, with 8:27 left.

The Warriors stopped the Wolf Pack three times after that, once when defensive tackle Keala Watson forced a momentum-jerking turnover. Watson, filling in for an injured Fale Laeli, forced and recovered a fumble.

The Warriors also helped contain the Wolf Pack with the 88 scheme in which nine defenders are aligned near the line of scrimmage. In the coverage, the safeties, who usually are aligned 12 yards from the line of scrimmage, play 6 yards off. The plan was to clog the running lanes and dare Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick to throw.

Middle linebacker Solomon Elimimian became the "spy" assigned to track Kaepernick, an elusive runner. The drawback is the cornerbacks are required to play man-to-man defense.

"Our corners really accepted the challenge," defensive coordinator Greg McMackin said. "There was a lot of pressure on them, and they did a good job."

The Warriors stopped the Wolf Pack with 3:02 remaining, forcing a punt.

The Warriors' final drive began with 2:16 to play, on their 12. With no timeouts.

"Tyler's been practicing two-minute drills for almost four years," Jones said.

Before going onto the field, Graunke consulted with Brennan.

"Colt told me to stay calm," Graunke recalled. "But I knew we already won this game a week ago with all of the work we put in practice. Coach Jones trusts me, too, and that's huge. I knew we were only down by one, so we just had to get it close."

Graunke completed seven passes in the final drive, including three to Bess.

"Everybody was all poised," Bess said. "Nobody panicked."

Graunke said: "We're Hawai'i. We're Warriors, baby. We play to the last second. I knew we were going to win."

The Warriors advanced to the 27, where the field-goal unit was summoned on fourth down.

"We wanted to win it for Tim," Ryan Grice-Mullins said of holder Tim Grasso, whose grandfather Tony died on Tuesday. Grasso wore a T on his left sleeve, and his emotions on the other.

"It was so emotional for me," said Grasso, who attended a wake on Wednesday and rejoined the team Thursday. "I wanted this so much."

Kelly made sure of it.

"Tim is such a great guy, and he's been through a hardship," Kelly said.

Grice-Mullins said: "That's what this year is about. Not just winning, but playing for each other. We love each other. We're brothers. That's why I have tears in my eyes. We did it for each other."

See Tsai's blog at http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.