Warriors trump Aztecs, 41-40
After a stinging loss on national television last week to Alabama, Hawaii tonight faced the San Diego State Aztecs — a team that had beat them the nine last times they tussled. And in the fourth quarter, the Aztecs had the Warriors on the ropes with an 11-point lead.
But Hawaii fought back in the last ten minutes, despite a dropped punt that bobbled its way to the Hawaii 8-yard line, squeezing in two touchdowns for the one-point win. The Senior Night victory gives the Warriors their first double-digit season record since 1992, the year UH won the Western Athletic Conference championship and the Holiday Bowl under Bob Wagner.
SDSU coach Tom Craft ends his first year and the team’s longest season ever (13 games in five months) 4-9. They haven’t had a winning season since leaving the WAC. Hawaii improves to 10-3 (7-3 in the WAC), and will play Tulane in the new ConAgra Foods Hawai`i Bowl on Christmas Day.
Nineteen seniors were honored tonight: Shawn Withy-Allen, Pisa Tinoisamoa, Keith Bhonapha, Justin Colbert, Josh Galeai, Sean Butts, Thero Mitchell, Jr., Greg Kleidon, Jonathan Kauka, Matt Wright, Mat McBriar, Lui Fuata, Chris Brown, Alapa’i Andrews, La’anui Correa, Vince Manuwai, Neal Gossett Jr., Viliami Taufa, and Colin Wills.
