SAN DIEGO, Calif.  – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior football team (8-5, 5-3 MW) concluded its regular-season in thrilling fashion with a 31-30 overtime win over San Diego State  (7-5, 4-4) Saturday night at SDCCU Stadium.  
 
Cole McDonald threw for a career-high 452 yards and three touchdowns, including a 10-yard touchdown to JoJo Ward in the first overtime that proved to be the game-winner. SDSU's Juwan Washington responded on a 25-yard touchdown on SDSU's first offensive play in overtime. But the UH defense broke up a the Aztecs' ensuing two-point attempt in the end zone to seal the win and set off a storm of celebration.
 
The win was UH's first-ever over the Aztecs in seven all-time Mountain West meetings. UH also won for the first time in San Diego since 1988, ending a string of eight straight losses.
 
The overtime was set up by an unexpected finish in regulation. The Aztecs rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to tie the game late in the fourth quarter and were on the verge of winning the game on the final play. However, John Baron, one of the surest kickers in the conference, missed the potential game-winning field goal from 32 yards out.
 
UH rallied themselves early on. After falling behind 14-3 in the first quarter, UH scored 21 straight unanswered points in the second quarter to take a 24-14 lead into the locker room. McDonald threw for 320 of his yards in the first half alone, while also accounting for all three UH touchdowns, including a one-yard plunge
 
However, the UH offense was shutout in the second half, allowing the Aztecs to get back in the game. Junior quarterback Ryan Agnew came off the bench in the fourth quarter to spark a game-tying touchdown drive and took the Aztecs down to the UH 15-yard on their final possession to set up the potential game-winning kick with three seconds left.  
 
A pair of UH receivers cracked the century mark in the win. Ward finished with six catches for 120 yards for his second straight 100-yard game and third overall this season. Cedric Byrd, meanwhile, added six catches for 140 yards and a touchdown.
 
The UH defense, which allowed just three points in the second and third quarters, were led by freshman Khoury Bethley, who tied his career-high with nine tackles and Scheyenne Sanitoa, who had a career-high seven tackles.
 
UH finished the season with its most regular-season wins (8) since 2010 (10) and it's best-ever record (5-3) in seven seasons of Mountain West play. The Warriors now await their bowl fate during Selection Sunday on Dec. 2.