He'd had enough.

Robert Souza, a Warrior football season-ticket holder for more than 30 years, watched as yet another Colt Brennan pass was plucked out of the air and he'd simply had enough.

The 58-year-old Kailua resident, one of scores of die-hard University of Hawai'i football fans who packed Eastside Grill to watch yesterday's UH-San Jose State game, cut a bee-line to the exit, punching the door on the way out.

The dream season had been so easy to define the day Brennan announced he was returning for one more season — a perfect record, a BCS bowl bid, a Heisman Trophy for Brennan — but so too had the danger.

The team's weak 12-game schedule left no room for imperfection in the eyes of skeptical national poll voters. Despite the Warriors' 6-0 start and unprecedented No. 16 ranking, even the most optimistic fans knew that a single loss would likely derail all of those lofty goals.

And now, with the Warriors trailing 35-21 in the fourth quarter, the dream season for which Souza and Warrior Nation prayed seemed to be lost.

"This really hurts," said Souza, as he leaned against a telephone pole outside the bar. "I had so much hope. I've been a fan since 1971. I stuck with them through the 0-12 season. This is just so sad and so disappointing, especially on national TV."

Souza rubbed his forehead as the implications of the last two hours swirled in his brain.

"The Heisman and the BCS bowl are out the window," he said. "They're just not going to happen now. They had a chance, but it's not going to happen and there's not going to be a second chance."

Still, Souza couldn't stay outside long, not while time remained on the clock and hope, however slim, still existed. With a sigh, he returned to the bar.

Inside, Jared and Crystal Shinno were steadfast in their belief that the Warriors would pull out the victory.

"We've just got to pick it up," said Jared, 25. "We've just got to man up. It would be disappointing if we lost, but that doesn't matter because we're going to win tonight."

And if not everyone in the bar shared the same unquestioning faith in the team and its celebrated quarterback — certainly not the few boo-birds who chanted for coach June Jones to pull Brennan in favor of backup Tyler Graunke — none seemed willing to call it a night.

Ian Nelson, 25, of Kailua, had spent the late afternoon giving physical expression to the emotional highs and lows the game evoked. He leapt from his chair, palms pointed skyward, at each bobbled pass. His body convulsed with every defensive miscue.

"I'm a little surprised," Nelson said as he watched the Warriors line up for another possession. "If they lose, Brennan is out of the Heisman race and they're definitely not going to be in the Top 25, but...

"Yeah!"

The room erupted as Brennan connected with slotback Davone Bess for an 11-yard touchdown and didn't let up until well after Dan Kelly's point-after attempt cleared the uprights.

With 3:53 left in the game, the Warriors' slim chance of victory was widening.

Less than a minute later, Blaze Soares caused a San Jose State fumble and fellow linebacker Adam Leonard recovered the ball at the SJSU 45. The ensuing cheers nearly drowned out the sound from the television sets mounted in every corner of the room.

The noise intensified as Brennan ran two yards for another touchdown and Kelly connected on the tying kick to send the game into overtime.

"This game is making me smoke too much," said 43-year-old North Shore resident Dennis Billings as he stole outside for a quick drag during the intermission.

"It's crazy, but it's great," Billings said. "It's football!"

All along University Avenue, patrons from Eastside Grill, the Varsity and Red Lion University screamed into their mobile phones and high-fived friends and strangers alike as they stumbled back and forth between bars.

Back inside Eastside Grill, Souza pressed his hands together in muttering prayer.

Like the Warriors themselves yesterday, Souza's faith might have bent, but it didn't break, and Brennan's touchdown pass to receiver Jason Rivers in overtime and cornerback Myron Newberry's game-saving interception seemed like nothing less than divine grace to the emotionally spent fan.

Nearby, the stalwart Shinnos were unfazed by the improbable turn of events.

"Stick with Hawai'i," Jared Shinno hollered across the still-packed room. "We're going 12-0. Stick with UH!"

As ESPN analysts breathlessly dissected the final minutes of the game, Souza fielded calls from friends in Florida, California, Wisconsin and Las Vegas.

"I'm at a loss," Souza said as he slumped back in his chair, seemingly shell-shocked. "I just can't believe it."

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.