Box Score
Post Game Notes
Post Game Quotes

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i Warrior football team ended the 2008 college football regular season with a heartbreaking 29-24 loss to Big East champion Cincinnati Saturday night at Aloha Stadium. The Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl-bound Warriors finished the regular season at 7-6.

 

The Bearcats (11-2) rallied with 19 unanswered points in the fourth quarter after the Warriors went ahead 24-10 with 12:36 left.

 

UH trailed 10-0 for much of the first half before rallying with 24 straight points of their own which spanned three quarters. The Bearcat comeback started with a 20-yard interception return for a touchdown by Brandon Underwood off a tipped pass, cutting the deficit to 24-17.

 

After forcing the Warriors to punt on their ensuing possession, the Bearcats settled for a 44-yard Jake Rogers field goal with 8:19 left. Both teams followed with three-and-out possessions but Cincy's punt pinned UH on its own one-yard line.

 

On the very next play, Daniel Libre was tackled in the end zone for a safety and the Bearcats trailed 24-22 with just under five minutes to play. On its own 31 following the free kick, Mardy Gilyard connected with Dustin Grutza for a 69-yard catch-and-run which put the Bearcats ahead for good 29-24.

 

The Warriors went three-and-out on its next possession and the Bearcats ran out the clock.

 

UH quarterback Greg Alexander completed 28-of-42 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns, one to Malcolm Lane in the third quarter and other to Jon Medeiros to start the fourth.

 

The Bearcats got on the scoreboard first after both teams stalled on their opening possession, with a 53-yard field goal by Rogers. Still scoreless, the Warriors blocked a 40-yard attempt by Rogers midway through the second quarter. But on the ensuing possession, Alexander was stripped dropping back to pass, giving Cincinnati the ball back.

 

The Bearcats marched downfield but was stopped on third and goal from the two. On Rogers' 19-yard field goal attempt, UH's Antawn Mahaley was called for a personal foul for falling on an opposing player. The Bearcats capitalized with Delbert Ferguson's one-yard reception from Tony Pike

 

The Warriors finally got on the scoreboard at the end of the first half. UH marched 85 yards on five straight completions by Alexander but stalled on the Cincy 11 yard line forcing Dan Kelly's 28-yard field goal.

 

On UH's opening possession of the second half, the Warriors drove the length of the field culminating on a one-yard touchdown run by David Farmer. On the ensuing kickoff, Guyton Galdeira stripped John Goebel and Jayson Rego returned the fumble to the Cincinnati 5. Two plays later, Alexander found Lane on a shovel pass giving the Warriors a 17-10 lead.

 

After a Desmond Thomas interception on the last play of the third quarter, the Warriors took advantage of the miscue and Alexander found Medeiros for his first career touchdown reception.

 

The Warriors will next play in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl, Christmas eve, against a team to be determined. Kickoff is 3:00 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.