Box Score

FRESNO, CA – Timmy Chang threw for a career-high 462 yards and two touchdowns to help Hawaii (6-2, 5-1 WAC) to a 31-21 win over Fresno State (4-5, 2-2 WAC) in a Western Athletic Conference game before a national audience on ESPN2 at Bulldog Stadium Friday night.

A game of classic Hawaii vs. Fresno State style went down to the wire…again. The Warriors, trailing 21-9 at the end of three quarters, erupted for 22 points in the fourth quarter to win for the first time since Sept. 22, 1973.

Chang hit Justin Colbert for a 58-yard touchdown 77 seconds into the fourth quarter to spark the comeback. On Hawaii's next possession, Chang drove the Warriors down to the Fresno State 25-yard line, but tossed an interception to Tyrone Culver to seemingly take the air out of the Warriors.

But three plays later, Kelvin Millhouse intercepted Fresno State quarterback Paul Pinegar to get the ball back for the Warriors. Chang then orchestrated a 9-play, 51-yard drive capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass to Britton Komine on fourth down to give Hawaii the lead for good (after a two-point conversion) at 24-21 with three minutes to play.

The first half was non-eventful compared to the second. Fresno State got on the board first when Rodney Davis, who finished the game with 140 yards, scored the only touchdown of the first half on a 3-yard run with a little more than five minutes left in the first quarter. Hawaii's Justin Ayat kicked three field goals (39, 50, 26) to put the Warrior up 9-7, at the break.

The Bulldogs recaptured the lead, 14-9, on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Pinegar to Marque Davis halfway through the third quarter and six plays later, Dee Meza blocked the Warrior punt and returned it 10 yards for a touchdown to make it 21-9 with 5:43 to go in the third quarter, but the Warriors would not be denied.

John West broke free for an 81-yard touchdown run on Hawaii's last possession to round out the scoring. Colbert finished the game with a career-high 11 catches for 188 yards and a touchdown. Jeremiah Cockheran also recorded a career-high five catches for 112 yards. Chang also set career marks in completions (36).

Next week the Warriors continue WAC play against San Jose State. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday at Aloha Stadium.

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