Box Score

RUSTON, La. - Gerard Lewis batted down a two-point conversion to preserve a thrilling come-from-behind victory for the 20th ranked University of Hawai`i as the Warriors edged Louisiana Tech, 45-44, in overtime, Saturday night in the Western Athletic Conference season opener for both teams in front of 22,135 at Joe Aillet Stadium.

Jason Rivers' 6-yard reception and Dan Kelly's extra-point kick proved to be just enough. Tech took their opening possession and countered with Dustin Mitchell going in from two yards out. Then the Bulldogs went for the win, but Lewis knocked down the 2-point pass attempt.

The Bulldogs went up 14-0 in the first quarter on a 2-yard run by Patrick Jackson. Then Jackson broke free for a 16-yard scamper with 4:03 left in the quarter.

The Warriors pulled to within seven when Leon Wright-Jackson scooted 47 yards up the middle with 1:43 remaining.

Hawai`i then knotted up the score when quarterback Colt Brennan plunged across from 1 yard out with 10:11 left in the second. Tech took a 21-14 lead into the half when Daniel Porter broke free from the line for an 18-yard run.

The Warriors struck first in the third quarter as Brennan found Ryan Grice-Mullen all alone for a 64-yard scoring strike.

Tech reclaimed the lead in the third on a 42-yard field goal by Danny Horwedel.

UH took its first lead of the game with 2:04 remaining in the third when Brennan connected with Grice-Mullen on a 17-yard pass.

After the UH defense held, a muffed handoff between Brennan and Wright-Jackson gave the Bulldogs back the ball late in the third. Tech then drove 33 yards on three plays, capped by a 3-yard touchdown pass by Zac Champion to Josh Wheeler to recapture the lead, 31-28.

The Warriors regained the lead, 35-31, on a Brennan 19-yard scoring strike to Davone Bess with 8:35 left in the game.

Tech converted a fourth and 1 from its 22 when Dennis Morris broke free for 21 yards to the UH 1. Morris then carried it across for the 1-yard score to give the Bulldogs a 38-35 lead.

Brennan finished with career-highs of 43 completions and 61 attempts for 548 yards and five touchdowns (four passing and one rushing). Brennan was 11 yards from his own school mark of 559 set during last year's Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl against Arizona State. Rivers finished the game with a school-record 14 receptions for 176 yards.

The Warriors return to Houston tonight to prepare for their non-conference game at UNLV Sept. 15.

GAME NOTES
Colt Brennan moved into 5th place on the NCAA Career Passing TD List - 101
Brennan has thrown for 400+ yards in his last 8 games
Brennan has thrown a TD pass in 28 consecutive games
Brennan tied the NCAA Record for Consecutive Games with 200+ yards passing in a game - 28
For the fourth time under Jones, three receivers recorded 100+ receiving yards in the same game - Jason Rivers (176), Ryan Grice-Mullen (162) and Davone Bess (118)

-UH-