Box Score

(HONOLULU)—The University of Hawai'i Warrior football team saved the best for last by routing previously undefeated Brigham Young, 72-45, before an Aloha Stadium sellout crowd of 50,000 and national audience on ESPN2.

The Cougars were in trouble from the start when UH's Chad Owens returned the opening kickoff 64-yards. Two plays later, Nick Rolovich hit Channon Harris for a 23-yard touchdown.

After the Warrior defense forced BYU punt on its first possession, Chad Owens scored Hawai'i's second touchdown, a 74-yard punt return to put the Warriors up 14-0 in the blink of an eye.

Brigham Young (12-1, 7-0 MWC) tried to rally, but were unsuccessful. After a 44-yard field goal by Matt Payne, the Cougars scored their first touchdown when Brandon Doman hit a wide-open Spencer Nead for a 24-yard touchdown to make it 14-10, but not for long.

Owens, took the ensuing kickoff and dashed 100 yards to the endzone for his second touchdown of the day and second 100-yard kickoff return in as many games. At game's end, Owens broke two NCAA records and became the only player in UH history to go the distance on a kickoff and punt return in a single game.

Hawai'i (9-3, 5-3 WAC) took a 30-10 halftime lead and parlayed it into the most points in school history. Rolovich, who helped the Warriors score 27 points in the third quarter alone, broke the school record with 543 passing yards and eight touchdowns.

The Cougars, who held the ball for more than 37 minutes and gained 612 yards of total offense, matched the Warrior scoring for most of the second half but fell too far behind to catch up. Hawai'i took advantage of seven Cougar turnovers and racked up a season-high 646 yards of total offense. Both teams combined for a school record 14 fumbles in the game.

Three of Rolovich's touchdown tosses went to senior wide receiver Channon Harris who finished the game with 11 catches for 145 yards. Lelie caught eight for a game-high 262 yards and two scores. It was Lelie's third straight game with more than 200 receiving yards.

Season ending Notes:

The Warriors…
Completed the 2001 season with a 9-3 record and won 8 of their last 9 games.

Are 2-0 against ranked teams in 2001 having defeated then No. 18 Fresno State (38-34) and No. 9 Brigham Young (72-45).

Bid aloha to 21 seniors after the game at the tradtional “Senior Walk.”

Scored a school-record 72 points, aslo the most ever given up by Brigham Young.

Scored in double digits in all four quarters for the second straight game.

Finished tied for 3rd in the WAC with a 5-3 record.

Return Specialist Chad Owens…

Is the first player in UH football history to record two touchdowns off returns in a game (1 punt return, 1 kickoff return).

Broke the NCAA record for most combined kickoff and punt returns in a game with 342. The record was held by Tutu Atwell of Minnesota (284 yards) against Iowa State set Sept. 13, 1997.

Tied the NCAA record for most combined return touchdowns. (1 punt return, 1 kickoff return). The record is held by six other players, the last being Joe Rowe of Virginia vs. Central Michigan on Sept. 7, 1996.

Broke the NCAA record for most kickoff return yards in a game with 249. The old record of 248 was held by Tyrone Watley of Iowa State vs. Nebraska, Nov. 15, 1997.

Wide Receiver Ashley Lelie…
Finished his junior season as the school's all-time leading receiver with 3,341 career yards (194 receptions) in 36 games.

Increased his record of most touchdown catches in a career with 2 tonight. He has 32 in 36 games.

Broke the school record for most receptions in a season with 84. The old record was held by Dwight Carter (77) set in 1999.

Added to his school record for most receiving yards in a season and currently has 1,713 (old record of 1,253 yards held by Dwight Carter in 1999).

Caught for 262 yards today and now has 10 games with 100-or-more yards receiving, 2 with 200-plus. His 200-yard games have come in his last three games.

Has caught at least one pass in 32 straight games and started 31 straight games.

Has caught a pass for 40-plus yards in 6 of his last 7 games.

Quarterback Nick Rolovich…
Is 8-1 as the Warrior's starting quarterback in 2001.

Has thrown at least one touchdown pass in his last 9 games.

Broke the season record for touchdown passes in a season with 34. The old record of 28 was set by Dan Robinson in 1999.

Broke his own record with 8 touchdown passes in today's game. (old record was 7 vs. Miami-Ohio, Nov. 17, 2001).

Added to the record of touchdowns with same passer and receiver (Rolovich and Lelie. The duo currently has 15 touchdowns. The old record of 9 was held by Dan Robinson and Dwight Carter in 1999, Warren Jones and Chris Roscoe in 1988, and Garrett Gabriel and Chris Roscoe in 1989.

Threw for 543 yards tonight and ended his career 5th in all-time passing at UH with 4,176 yards (541 attempts). He has thrown for 1,548 yards in his last three games, breaking the school record of 1,169 set by Dan Robinson in 1999 (371 vs. San Jose State, 268 vs. Fresno State and 530 vs. Navy).

Miscellaneous Notes…
There has been one sellout crowd at Aloha Stadium in each of Hawaii Head Coach June Jones' seasons. Jones completed his third season as Head Coach at Hawai'i and owns a 21-16 overall record.