How do you spell redemption?

Last night it resounded from the south end zone seats at Aloha Stadium in chants of "Ty-ler...Ty-ler."

After being booed in his last home appearance, University of Hawai'i quarterback Tyler Graunke left the field to an enthusiastic chorus of his name. Two weeks after chants of "We want Colt" rang through the ear holes of his helmet, Graunke walked to the Warriors' locker room amid pats on the shoulder pads, his head held as high as the shaka signs he returned to the remnants of a crowd of 33,398 after helping lead the Warriors to a more-difficult-than-expected 52-37 victory over tenacious Utah State.

But, then, if anybody defines tenacity and feisty, it is the man who wore No. 6 — and a target on his back — for the Warriors.

"Tyler is a fighter," said Colt Brennan, the starter he replaced with 52 seconds left in the second quarter and the No. 15 Warriors clinging to a 24-13 lead. "We had confidence in him," Brennan said after limping off having reaggravated a right ankle injury.

A confidence that was as well-placed as the 36-yard pass Graunke threaded to Davone Bess the first time he touched the ball, taking the Warriors to the Aggie 1-yard line, from where he scored on a one-yard keeper two plays later.

By the time Graunke departed in favor of Inoke Funaki in the fourth quarter, it was with 9 completions in 11 pass attempts, 246 yards, three touchdowns and the Warriors comfortably up 52-27 and on the way to a sixth consecutive victory.

"Tyler didn't skip a beat, he was amazing. He put a smile on everyone's face, I'm excited for him," said C.J. Hawthorne.

So excited, too, was Brennan that he limped onto the field to congratulate his road roommate after the first touchdown series. "What he did was big for the team — and for him," Brennan said.

Something that was not lost on Graunke when he watched Brennan go down and take a while getting back up. "Colt is a tough guy and when it took that long, I knew it was time to step up and help the team," Graunke said. "It was my time."

Time to show what he could do in a pinch. Time to erase the memories of Charleston Southern where, starting in place of Brennan, he had struggled. Time, too, you figure to bolster his own confidence. "I didn't have a chance to warm up or anything but I didn't need to," Graunke said. "The adrenalin was pumping from the time I grabbed my helmet. The team needed me."

Providence had delivered him a second chance to show what he could do and knowing another one might not be served up anytime soon, Graunke knew he had to make the most of it. And rarely has a backup responded with such precision or delivered as many big plays. In bang-bang-like fashion there were 36-, 21-, 36-, 30-yard passes.

"We — those of us who see him every day in practice — know what Tyler can do," said quarterbacks coach Dan Morrison. "It was good to see Tyler be the player we know he is."

Why did UH head coach June Jones stay with Graunke through the struggles against Charleston Southern? How come Jones permitted the long leash two weeks ago when the more vocal but unknowing segment demanded Brennan's return?

Because he knew there would come a game like last night when the Warriors would need Graunke. And they'd need him to pull them through when Brennan wasn't an option.

And, you suspect, because knowing the resilience of Graunke, he figured this is what could happen.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.