The University of Hawai'i defense has heard all about how many of last year's starters it's had to replace, but it mattered little to the Warriors last night.

Despite playing without its lone returning starter — senior defensive end Fetaiagogo "John" Fonoti, who sat out with a knee injury — UH's defense made some key plays down the stretch to seal the 25-20 season-opening win over Central Arkansas.

"We played with 22 new guys on defense tonight," Warriors' head coach Greg McMackin said. "They got reps, they've gonna get better and we're gonna get better next week. I was very pleased with the adjustments they made, I think we really improved in the second half as a football team."

After giving up 14 first-half points, the Warriors buckled down to allow just 132 second-half yards and one score, which came on a 1-yard Brent Grimes touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.

"Mentally, we just decided that this wasn't going to happen in our house," said Warriors' safety Aaron Brown.

Central Arkansas punted on its first three second-half possessions before orchestrating the 10-play, 86-yard drive capped by Grimes' score.

On UH's ensuing possession, slotback Kealoha Pilares was stripped by UCA's James Lancaster, who also recovered the loose ball on the play.

The Bears earned first downs on a Grimes' run and a nine-yard pass from Robbie Park to Preston Echols, but a false start on third-and-two cost five yards and Park's pass on third-and-seven fell incomplete and UCA was forced to punt.

"There were a lot of new guys out there and we kind of started off slow because everyone was a little nervous," senior linebacker Blaze Soares said. "But, when we came out in the second half, everyone was alive again, because we got out those butterflies and everyone knew what they had to do and we did it."

Following a 47-yard punt and five-yard return by Ryan Henry, Greg Alexander connected with Greg Salas for a 66-yard gain. Alexander found Rodney Bradley for the go-ahead score three plays later to make it 25-20.

The Bears began their ensuing drive at their own 26-yard line, however, a false start pushed them back and left first-and-15.

Defensive tackle Rocky Savaiigaea credited the 33,298 fans in attendance for the late assistance.

"It was crazy because once the crowd got into it, it pumped us up even more," Savaiigaea said. "(The fans) were making noise, chanting 'defense' and we felt it on the field. It was just great and we owe a lot to them."

On first-and-15, Brown dropped Park for an 11-yard sack, much to the delight of the crowd.

After a Bears' timeout, linebacker Corey Paredes hit Park as he released the ball and nickelback Richard Torres recovered in the end zone for what looked like a Warriors touchdown, but the play was ruled an incomplete pass.

However, the play was reviewed — and overturned — with the Warriors taking over at the UCA 2 with 1:02 left.

"That was a big string of momentum — when a player steps up in a time of need," Soares said. "That won us the game right there. Those two guys came to play and they showed up."

Alexander took a knee twice and UH ran out the clock to end the game.

Said McMackin: "I'm real proud of how we finished the game."