Fresno State down, UMass to go for Hawaii football team

FRESNO, Calif. >> With the football season on the brink, Hawaii did not blink.

Steven Lakalaka scored on a 2-yard pileup with 59 seconds to play and 6-foot-7 freshman Viane Moala blocked a field-goal attempt from 43 yards as time expired to boost the Rainbow Warriors to a dramatic 14-13 victory over Fresno State on Saturday.

“It wasn’t easy,” said UH offensive lineman Leo Koloamatangi, whose ailing left hand was bandaged and his face covered with emotion. “It’s all about who’s going to fight through, and we fought through.”

During the celebration on the Bulldog Stadium’s artificial surface, coach Nick Rolovich sprinted away from an iced-water shower from cooler-carrying offensive linemen. The Warriors, too, escaped a cold dousing to win their third road game, finish the Mountain West at 4-4 after going winless in the league a year ago, and keep alive their bowl hopes. If the Warriors defeat UMass in the regular-season finale, their 6-7 overall record probably would be enough for a Hawaii Bowl berth because there are not enough eligible teams projected to fill the 82 slots.

“It’s one step at a time,” UH safety Damien Packer said. “Our thoughts go to UMass.”

It will be a redirection following a week versed in the history between UH and Fresno State. Rolovich, a former UH quarterback and assistant coach, had wanted to emphasize how the Warriors’ victory in 1999 was a turning point after going winless the previous year, and how the 2008 upset — punctuated by backup quarterback Inoke Funaki’s leadership and Tua Mahaley’s block of a Bulldogs field-goal attempt — was a testament to the power of an ensemble cast.

“That’s the beauty of YouTube,” Rolovich said.

Wideout Marcus Kemp said: “We watched videos of old games all week. (Rolovich) was really driving in the fact these games (against Fresno State) have been fights for years, and how big this rivalry was to him, and how it should be for us.”

The Bulldogs had entered on an eight-game losing streak and with a different mentality. Tim DeRuyter was fired as head coach two weeks ago, and his successor, Jeff Tedford, was auditing the game until the program’s registration is in his name at the season’s conclusion. Interim head coach Eric Kiesau gave the first NCAA start to quarterback Zach Kline, a graduate transfer from California, and the ball to Josh Hokit, who moved from linebacker to running back this past week.

Kline’s lateral to Christian Cronk, a left tackle aligned as an eligible receiver, resulted in a 1-yard touchdown that tied the score at 7 with 5:26 remaining in the first half. “What a ballsy call,” Rolovich marveled. “I thought that was awesome.”

Hokit bulled his way for 97 yards, digesting yards and time.

“He ran hard,” UH defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said. “He knocked us back a few times. But we knocked him back, too.”

The Warriors’ defense, which struggled against the run and allowed opening-drive touchdowns the previous four games, proved tough when it mattered. The Warriors forced eight punts and six three-and-out drives. The Bulldogs settled for Kody Kroening’s two second-half field goals, the latter extending his consecutive streak to 15 and extending their lead to 13-7.

The Warriors, meanwhile, could not get traction with a running game crafted mostly from formations involving a tight end and H-back. Running backs Paul Harris, Diocemy Saint Juste and Lakalaka combined for 67 yards on 18 carries.

“We thought we had some schematic advantages with some of the formations and things we were doing,” Rolovich said. “We didn’t win the line of scrimmage. I know we didn’t rush for very much.”

The Warriors also were sabotaged by 11 penalties for 89 yards and 1-for-11 inefficiency on third down.

But all of that was erased on their final drive, which started with 3:33 to play. On fourth-and-4 from the UH 47, quarterback Dru Brown hit slot receiver Makoa Camanse-Stevens for a 14-yard gain.

Later, on third-and-6 from the Fresno 18, Brown threw to a leaping Marcus Kemp in the end zone. Kemp appeared to have the ball for a breath when it was slapped away by cornerback Tyquwan Glass. Rolovich chose not to challenge the incompletion ruling.

“We needed the timeouts,” Rolovich said.

Kemp said: “I thought I was in for a split second,” Kemp said. “(Glass) made a great play.”

On fourth down, Brown threw incomplete. But linebacker James Bailey was ruled to have hit Brown after he released the pass, a roughing penalty that advanced the Warriors to the 9.

Brown then threw to Ursua on an out route. “They drew up that play at halftime,” said Ursua, who was forced out at the 2. Earlier, Ursua was hammered while reaching for a pass. “I’m the pinata that bounces back,” he said.

Rolovich then summoned Lakalaka, the short-yardage specialist.

“Who wants it more?” Lakalaka said. “Once I got the ball, I wanted to score very bad. At first, I got stopped. Then I realized the whistle wasn’t blowing. I kept pumping my feet. It was just me and (the defender). It was mano o mano. I ended up scoring. I did it for the boys. I did it for the state.”

Holder Ikaika Woolsey did not doubt Rigo Sanchez would convert the go-ahead, point-after kick.

“Rigo is a well-oiled machine,” Woolsey said. “As long as I put the ball down with the laces out, he’ll make it.”

Sanchez’s PAT was true.

“I just do my job,” Sanchez said.

The Bulldogs drove to the UH 24. Kline then absorbed a 2-yard loss to place the middle in the middle of the 26. The Bulldogs called timeout, and then the Warriors called time.

Kroening, who had not missed a field-goal attempt since the opening game, launched a shot that did not clear Moala’s hands.

“It felt great,” Moala said of the second block of his freshman season.

Kemp, who was aligned next to Moala, said: “He’s a big, soft giant who doesn’t speak much. When the game’s on the line, he makes plays. I give him all the props in the world.”