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Hawaii’s last bit of film study on Friday provided a hint of what would transpire yesterday.
As part of their pregame motivation, the Warriors watched the dramatic conclusion of their last visit to Northern California.
Last night’s rematch with the Spartans followed nearly the same script.
From the game-saving turnover to the play call on the pivotal touchdown, the Warriors’ meeting with San Jose State last night evoked vivid memories of their 2007 battle at Spartan Stadium.
And as it was two years earlier, the night ended with Hawaii celebrating a dramatic overtime win, edging the Spartans 17-10 before a crowd of 18,327.
“(Associate coach) Rich Miano reminded me that it would be a good idea to show the last 6 minutes of the ballgame (in 2007),”; UH head coach Greg McMackin said, “;and it’s unbelievable it comes right down to the last play.”;
Along with the late-game drama, the outcome also preserved Hawaii’s postseason hopes. Where the 2007 win proved vital in UH’s run to the Sugar Bowl, last night’s kept the Warriors (5-6, 3-5 Western Athletic Conference) in contention for a berth in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.
“;We’ve got a little streak going and it keeps us alive,”; McMackin said following the Warriors’ third straight win. “;We’re in a single-elimination tournament and it keeps us alive.”;
San Jose State (1-9, 0-6) had no such motivation, but delivered a spirited effort for outgoing head coach Dick Tomey in his final meeting against his former team.
“;I’m disappointed, but I’m really proud of my guys,”; said Tomey, who last week announced his retirement effective at the end of the season. “;Given what our guys have been through this year, I’m really proud that they fought, because a lot of teams with less character … would not have been as resilient.”;
For all of the similarities to the 42-35 shootout in the Warriors’ previous visit to San Jose, the key difference was that this game was defined by defense.
The Warriors came up with four turnovers, the last when defensive tackle Tuika Tufaga forced a fumble and cornerback Jeramy Bryant pounced on the loose ball with less than a minute left in regulation and the Spartans driving toward a winning score.
“;We got off the ball, I saw the running back (Lamon Muldrow) coming down my gap and I did my job,”; Tufaga said. “;I was just trying to slam him to the ground and it was a plus that the ball came out.”;
A Hawaii offense that struggled in the red zone most of the night struck first in overtime when running back Leon Wright-Jackson took a pitch on an option play and scored on a 5-yard run.
The Warriors then rallied around the defense, the entire team coming together during a timeout, and sealed the win when Bryant knocked down SJSU quarterback Kyle Reed’s pass on fourth down.
“;(After the offense scored) our confidence level was going up so high because everybody knew our defense was going to come strong at the end,”; Tufaga said.
Both of the Warriors’ touchdowns came on option runs similar to the play Colt Brennan executed at the end of regulation to send the 2007 game into overtime.
UH quarterback Shane Austin made his first career start in place of Bryant Moniz and scored on a 3-yard run around the right side in the first quarter to give the Warriors a 7-0 lead.
Although the Warriors outgained the Spartans 211-126 and came up with three interceptions in the first half, they went into halftime with a 7-7 tie.
UH came up empty on two trips into the red zone and SJSU tied the game with a 2-yard run by Reed to cap an 80-yard march late in the second quarter.
“;The defense was playing their hearts out and we would get down there and we couldn’t finish,”; Wright-Jackson said. “;And they were behind us still. We just had to believe in each other and they picked us up when we were down.”;
After a scoreless third quarter the teams traded field goals in the fourth, a 27-yarder by UH’s Scott Enos and a 33-yard kick by SJSU’s Tyler Cope. Hawaii was flagged for running into the kicker on Cope’s field goal, but the Spartans elected to take the points rather than the first down.
After Enos missed a 31-yard attempt with 3:48 left, the Spartans moved into UH territory before Tufaga forced the fumble and overtime.
The Warriors got the ball first in the extra period and the last of Austin’s 299 passing yards came on a 10-yard completion to Kealoha Pilares to give UH first and goal at the 7. Two plays later, they again called the option. This time Austin pitched the ball to Wright-Jackson, who had a clear path to the end zone.
“;The way the defense was lined up, I could foresee it was going to be a good play,”; Wright-Jackson said. “;I concentrated on catching the pitch from Shane, the blocks were there, Kealoha ran off his guy, and I just ran as fast as I could to the end zone.”;
The Warriors close the regular season with home games against Navy and Wisconsin needing to win both to reach the postseason.
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