SAN JOSE, Calif. — After sitting out the first four games of the season with injuries, University of Hawai'i linebacker Blaze Soares grew frustrated.

When he was used sparingly in his first return to action, those frustrations mounted.

"I had a lot of frustrations," Soares said last night. "So it was good to unload on somebody."

San Jose State running back James T. Callier was that "somebody" and the last 2 minutes, 56 seconds of the fourth quarter was when Soares forced a crucial fumble that helped the Warriors rally to send the game into overtime en route to a 42-35 victory.

Linebacker Adam Leonard recovered the ball at the San Jose State 45 and the Warriors scored the tying touchdown eight plays later on quarterback Colt Brennan's 2-yard run.

"That was the game," Brennan said. "That gave us our shot for overtime."

And, what a shot it was.

"This football team has played almost seven games and that's the first fumble we had this year," lamented San Jose State coach Dick Tomey. "We were the only team in the nation without a fumble."

Until Callier, who had been finding holes in the UH defense, ran into Soares.

"When they gave the ball to that fullback, I knew he was coming my way," said the former Castle High standout.

Moments earlier, Soares said: "Coach (Greg) McMackin told us we needed a big play. So, I knew I had to hit him, so I hit him with everything I had. When I heard him, I knew he felt it. He let out a big moan and I knew the ball was loose."

Leonard said: "All I thought about was wrap up that ball and let's get our offense back on the field to win this thing. We wanted to give them the ball so they could do their job and get us into overtime."

Soares, who was expected to be a big-play performer for the Warriors until suffering a stinger and hamstring injuries said, "I was so tired of not being able to contribute that I really wanted to unload on somebody. It made me feel good."

A feeling the Warriors were able to share in last night.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.