Box Score
Post Game Notes

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The University of Hawaii football team (3-3, 1-1 WAC) dropped heartbreaker at San Jose State, 28-27 on Friday, in a nationally televised game on ESPN. The Warriors took a 27-20 lead in the fourth quarter only to see the Spartans (3-4, 2-1 WAC) score the winning touchdown with 36 seconds left in the game to defeat the Warriors.
 
The Warriors dodged a bullet early in the first quarter. Moniz dropped a snap on UH's own 8-yard line but the Warrior defense held. UH safety John Hardy-Tuliau made a spectacular play, punching the ball out of SJSU receiver Noel Grigsby's hands as he landed in the endzone. The Spartans then missed a 30-yard field goal attempt that caromed off the right upright.
 
The Warriors took over at the spot of the kick and proceeded to have an impressive 80-yard, nine-play drive to get on the scoreboard first. Moniz found Royce Pollard on a play in which Moniz faked the option and found a wide-open Pollard for the 16-yard touchdown.
 
SJSU answered and marched downfield and tied the score with a 20-yard rush by Chandler Jones and following a Hawaii three-and-out, the Spartans scored again on a 32-yard field goal by Jens Alvernik.
 
Later in the second quarter, Moniz uncharacteristically threw back-to-back interceptions that snapped his career high of 151 pass attempts without a pick. Hawai'i avoided disaster when SJSU's Payton Thompson's pick-six from SJSU's 29-yard line was called back because of a personal foul penalty. The Warriors defense responded by holding the Spartans to a 3-and-out and forced a punt. But on the ensuing possession, Moniz was intercepted again by James Orth. UH's defense came up big again with a goal-line stand and forcing the Spartans to kick a 19-yard field goal for a 13-7 lead.
 
On the ensuing kickoff, returner Scott Harding fumbled and SJSU's Chandler Jones scooped it up and returned it for a touchdown and a 20-7 lead.
 
Just before the end of the half, the Warriors drove downfield and Pollard fumbled after fighting to gain more yardage deep in SJSU territory. The turnover was UH's fifth of the first half. It marked the most turnovers in the first half for the Warriors since committing six last year against Tulsa in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl.
 
The Warrior defense came out inspired to start the second half, forcing the Spartans into turnovers on their first five possessions of the half including a fumble and interception by safety Richard Torres. After the interception, Moniz found Jeremiah Ostrowski for a 19-yard touchdown on fourth down pulling UH to within 20-14.
 
UH forced yet another Spartan turnover, the fourth in as many possessions. This time safety John Hardy-Tuliau got the interception. Three plays later, Moniz scrambled 74 yards to the SJSU 2-yard line.  On the next play, Joey Iosefa scored from a yard out giving UH the lead for the first time of the game.
 
For the fifth consecutive possession, UH forced a Spartan turnover, this time cornerback Mike Edwards picked off Matt Faulkner.  Two plays later, Iosefa shot up the middle for a 32 yard touchdown. On the point after attempt, the Spartans blocked the kick and Duke Ihenacho returned it for a 2-point conversion which proved to be crucial.
 
With UH leading 27-22, the Spartans then marched downfield and missed a 50-yard field goal attempt.  UH took the ball back and dove to the Spartan 25-yard line on eight plays and attempted a 42-yard field goal by Tyler Hadden that was blocked by SJSU's Travis Johnson with a power rush up the middle.
 
The Warrior defense came through again, forcing San Jose State's sixth turnover of the half when Paredes forced a fumble that was recovered by Aaron Brown giving the ball back to the offense with 2:35 left in the game.
 
Hawai'i's drive stalled and with 1:31 left, Alex Dunnachie's punt forced the Spartans to start at their own 13 yard line. San Jose State then executed an efficient six play, 87-yard drive and scored the winning touchdown on a 37 yard pass to Jones from Matt Faulkner.
 
The Warriors now return home to host New Mexico State for Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 22. Kickoff is set for 6:05 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.