Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - It was a night of missed opportunities for the Warrior football team in the season-opener against Alabama Saturday night. Hawai'i succumbed to the sea of crimson and white, 25-17, before a sold-out crowd of 92,138 at the newly renovated Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Three Warrior turnovers (2 fumbles, 1 interception) amounted to zero points for Alabama, but the Tide managed to score 12 points in the second quarter and stole close to 12 minutes off the third quarter clock to win its 200th game in the facility.

The teams traded field goals on game-opening drives before Alabama got in the end zone first when fullback Tim Castille scored on a 3-yard run around the left side.

Hawai`i fumbled away it first possession of the second quarter, giving the Tide a first down at the Warrior 28 -yard line. But Alabama failed to capitalize after a 31-yard field goal attempt hit the upright.

After forcing Alabama to punt for the first time in the game, Hawai`i began from its own 1-yard line. Warrior punter Kurt Milne fumbled the snap paving the way for Alabama's Roy Upchurch to recover the ball in the end zone for an apparent touchdown. But a touchdown ruling on the field was overturned on an instant replay review, awarding the Tide with a safety instead, to take a 12-3 lead.

After Alabama's Leigh Tiffin added a 23-yard field goal with 1:19 left in the first half, Hawai`i drove to the Alabama 25-yard line, but opted to go on 4th-and-4 and failed.

Alabama took a 22-3 lead coming out of the locker room when John Parker Wilson hit Keith Brown for a 35-yard touchdown, capping an 8-play, 80-yard drive.

Hawai`i responded with quarterback Colt Brennan, leading the Warriors down to the Alabama 9-yard line, but the drive came to a screeching halt when running back Reagan Mauia fumbled at the 4-yard line.

But Mauia, in for starter Nate Ilaoa who sat out the entire second half, rallied back on the ensuing possession. Mauia took a shovel pass from Brennan and rumbled 16 yards into the end zone for the first Warrior touchdown of the 2006 season, to make it 22-10 with 4:59 left n the third quarter.

A June Jones challenge negated an Alabama touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Alabama managed a field goal to take a 25-10 lead with 14:42 left to play. Brennan got the Warriors moving midway through the fourth quarter, orchestrating an 85-yard drive, ending with a 31-yard strike to Ryan Grice-Mullen, bring the Warriors to within eight, at 25-17.

The Warrior defense held Alabama to six plays, but the Tide managed to burn 4:24 off the clock. Hawai`i got the ball back at its own 25-yard line with 2:04 remaining.

Brennan completed six of his next seven passes to get the Warrior to the Alabama 26-yard line. But the Alabama defense, which got the Brennan three times in the game, forced two incomplete passes and intercepted Brennan in the end zone on the final play of the game.

The Hawai`i offense was held to 87 total yards in the first half, but rebounded in the second to end the game with 372 total yards. Brennan finished with 350 yards and two touchdowns on 30-of-44 passing.

Grice-Mullen led all Warrior receivers with 109 yards (6 receptions) and one touchdown. Ilaoa gained 27 yards rushing and added 49 receiving yards in one half of action.

Alabama sophomore quarterback John Parker Wilson finished with 253 yards and one touchdown on 16-of-29 passing in his first career start. Tide receiver Keith Brown led all receivers with 132 yards (6 receptions) and a touchdown.

Inside linebacker Adam Leonard led the Warriors with a career-high 11 tackles (6 solo), and managed the only Warrior sack of the game (-2). Safeties Leonard Peters and Jacob Patek both added 10 tackles each.

The Warriors will take the week off and prepare for the home opener against UNLV on Sept. 16. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.

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