RUSTON, La. — "It's not every day a guy throws for 500 yards against you and you feel like you did a pretty good job against him," Louisiana Tech coach Derek Dooley said marveling at the irony of his own statement.

Yet, that pretty much summed up the Bulldogs' feelings about "holding" University of Hawai'i quarterback Colt Brennan to 548 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-44 UH overtime victory last night.

The Warriors' Heisman Trophy candidate completed 43 of 61 passes — personal highs for attempts and completions — with one interception.

Brennan had a hand in all three UH turnovers — a fumble, a fumbled handoff exchange and an interception — that Tech capitalized on to score 21 points.

Still, UH coach June Jones said, "I'm proud of him. He did a nice job when we had to have it."

Indeed, Brennan completed 25 of 35 second-half passes to rally the Warriors to their Western Athletic Conference opening victory.

"I'm glad we won for him because he really took us down the field in that 31-point second half (and overtime)," Jones said. "With all the pressure, he showed what he was made of."

Jones said Brennan "had one bad decision when he misread the coverage" on a fourth-quarter pass that led to an interception. "He didn't go through his progressions — he had C.J. (Hawthorne) open — but he misread the coverage and the kid (Marquis McBeath) made a nice play."

Said Dooley: "If you're going to blitz Colt Brennan you can't be late. I thought we did a good job of getting to him at times, but he also made us pay with some big plays."

BCS EYE-OPENER

Apparently it isn't just hardcore UH football faithful that are keeping an eye on the possibility of the Warriors making a Bowl Championship Series appearance.

Dwayne Lewis of the Allstate Sugar Bowl attended last night's game to check out the Warriors.

"I figured since they were down here might as well come see them," said Lewis, who made the 4-hour drive from New Orleans. "I've heard and read a lot of great things about them and wanted to take the chance to see them."

Several magazines and online services have projected the Warriors to the New Orleans-based Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 if they go unbeaten and earn BCS qualification.

UH has appeared in only one Mainland bowl, the San Diego-based Holiday Bowl in 1992.

The difference between a BCS appearance and playing in the hometown Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl for UH would be approximately $4 million — before expenses — according to people familiar with bowl payouts.

Representatives from the Mobile, Ala.-based GMAC Bowl also attended last night's game. The WAC has an affiliate relationship with the bowl. In the event a WAC team plays in the GMAC Bowl, a Mid-American Conference team would play in one of the WAC-related bowls.

HAKA DRAWS PENALTY

UH was assessed a 15-yard unsportsman-like conduct penalty to start the game for doing the haka, Jones said.

The penalty forced UH to kick off from its 15-yard line and helped Tech to open the game at its 44, opening the way for a 56-yard scoring drive on its first series.

The officials, who were not available for comment, can impose such a penalty if they believe an unsportsman-like incident occurred.

UH was on a hill overlooking the field when it performed the haka. "We couldn't do the haka on the field so we came up here (on the hill) to do it and they penalized us for it," Jones said.

There is a WAC advisory not to face the opposing team when doing the haka but no rule against performing it.

UH performed a celebration haka after the game, facing the Hawai'i fans in the stadium.

GOING FOR 2 WAS RIGHT

Jones said he understood Dooley's reasoning for going for two points — and the victory — in overtime instead of kicking the extra point.

"I think he made the right decision," Jones said. "He was at home, they didn't have much luck stopping us and they felt like it was their best chance to win it right there. To go 25 yards on offense (in overtime), I think the advantage would be ours."

Jones said "I play for ties at home and go for the win on the road; that's what I would do."

NOTES

Colt Brennan's 548 yards passing missed his school record by 10. ... Jason Rivers tied his school record for receptions (14), matching the total he had against Arizona State in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl. ... UH reported no major injuries that should keep anybody out of Saturday's Nevada-Las Vegas game. UH officials said there were several cases of cramps brought on by the 87-degree heat. ... Seven NFL scouts representing six teams attended the game. The New Orleans Saints had two scouts. The Edmonton Eskimos were the only Canadian League team with a representative.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.