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>> Situation: San Jose State 10, Hawaii 0, 0:37 remaining first quarter, Hawaii ball third-and-9 at San Jose State 49
>> The Play: QB Dru Brown completes a pass to Marcus Armstrong-Brown for 17 yards and a first down.
>> Impact: After a sluggish start with no first downs on its first two possessions, Hawaii mounted a 75-yard touchdown drive that included moving the chains on three third-down plays. In previous games, Hawaii had struggled offensively and defensively on third down.
>> Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich: “You look at the final statistics of six of 15 defensively and offensively 10 of 15 on third down, and that’s much better.”
Another Grand Time
>> Situation: Hawaii 14, San Jose State 13, 14:37 remaining third quarter, Hawaii ball second-and-9 at own 26
>> The Play: RB Diocemy Saint Juste bursts through the right side of the line for a 38-yard gain, his longest of the game.
>> Impact: With the run, Saint Juste became the first Hawaii player to rush for more than 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. Four plays later, Brown threw a pass into the end zone for WR Dylan Collie which, after replay review, was ruled a touchdown. For the night, Saint Juste carried a school-record 39 times for 202 yards and two touchdowns. He is now second on the all-time career rushing list for Hawaii with 2,686 yards.
>> Rolovich: “He’ll go down as one of the all-time greats at this university.”
End Zone Pick
>> Situation: Hawaii 21, San Jose State 13, 8:52 remaining third quarter, San Jose State ball third-and-goal at Hawaii 6
>> The Play: LB Jahlani Tavai intercepts a pass in the end zone that was tipped by S Kalen Hicks and Tavai returns it to the Hawaii 8.
>> Impact: San Jose State had driven from its own 25 to within inches of the Hawaii goal line, but came up empty after two penalties for 19 yards and Tavai’s interception.
>> Tavai: “We had a few schemes going prior to that interception. The D-line had a good stunt — that caused them to go offside. They kept pushing themselves back. So after that, it was just (a) great team effort. Kalen Hicks had a great rub on the receiver, and just popped the ball in the air.”
Costly High Five
>> Situation: Hawaii 28, San Jose State 20, 8:44 remaining fourth quarter, Hawaii kicking off from own 35
>> The Play: KR Rahshead Johnson goes 96 yards for a touchdown, but David Williams is called for unsportsmanlike conduct, pushing the PAT attempt back to the 18. DL Viane Moala blocks the kick and CB Rojesterman Farris II returns it all the way to the San Jose State end zone.
>> Impact: Instead of closing to within one point with a 20-yard kick, or trying a two-point conversion to tie the game, the penalty forced an easier-to-block lower kick. Moala’s fourth career block and Farris’ return gave Hawaii two points and it remained in the lead at 30-26. San Jose State was penalized 11 times for 104 yards.
>> San Jose State coach Brent Brennan: “Way too many penalties. All kinds of crazy, ridiculous, absurd penalties that I’m honestly totally embarrassed about. We gave them two points, that’s the craziest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Ewaliko Ensures It
>> Situation: Hawaii 30, San Jose State 26, 6:53 remaining fourth quarter, Hawaii ball third-and-6 at own 41
>> The Play: Brown finds WR Keelan Ewaliko open deep for a 56-yard pass to the San Jose State 3.
>> Impact: Two plays later, RB Ryan Tuiasoa scored on a 3-yard run and Hawaii led by 11 with 6:09 left. San Jose State turned the ball over on downs and on a fumble recovered by DE Meffy Koloamatangi on its last two possessions. Ewaliko caught 3 passes for 82 yards to lead Hawaii’s receiver corps after SB John Ursua, the nation’s leading receiver in yardage per game, left early with an injury.
>> Ewaliko: “Outside guys once in a while get opportunities. Every time we get the chance to touch the rock we try to make something happen.”
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