Ewaliko went from high to low

SAN DIEGO » Twice in a matter of seconds kick returner Keelan Ewaliko had his breath taken away Saturday night.

The first time was after racing the length of the Qualcomm Stadium field with the second-half kickoff return for the University of Hawaii.

Then, it happened again when he looked up and saw the Rainbow Warriors’ offense preparing to go back onto the field.

"I was like, ‘What?’ " Ewaliko said.

Having an apparent 100-yard kickoff return nullified by a holding penalty "was like a dagger to the heart," the redshirt freshman from Maui said of a pivotal play in the ‘Bows’ 20-10 loss to San Diego State.

"I was like, ‘No, no!’ " Ewaliko said.

Had the touchdown held up, it would have given UH a 14-10 lead to open the third quarter. Instead it would be as close to the end zone as UH got in a second half in which it settled for just one field goal.

"I’m not sure who they called (the penalty) on, but … as I watched the replay, I didn’t see anything," Ewaliko said. "I saw a clean play."

For Ewaliko, the 2013 Hawaii High School Athletic Association state 100- and 200-meter champion, it wiped away what would have been his first 100-yard return at any level.

Though he started 3 yards deep in the end zone, it would have gone into the record book as a 100-yarder, matching the longest in UH history since the NCAA fixed the maximum at 100 yards in 1941.

The legendary Tommy Kaulukukui is credited with the UH record of 103 yards against UCLA in 1935.

Three players — Mike Edwards (twice), Chad Owens (twice) and Ross Dickerson — have 100-yard returns for UH.

Ewaliko said, "I’m always expecting to bust (loose for a TD), but then there is always one (defender) that kind of messes things up for us."

This time, after fairly hurdling a defender, he looked downfield and didn’t see that one guy, just room to run.

"I was looking around to see if anybody was around me, but I didn’t see anyone at that point. It was like, " ‘I’m gone!’ "

But, he said, "I couldn’t think about anything else but ‘Don’t get caught from behind. If I get caught from behind that will just kill me.’ "

After that, "I can’t explain it; it was just a feeling of excitement, rush," Ewaliko said.

Ewaliko had his own miscue in the fourth quarter when a pass intended for him was picked off. "I felt like I slowed down and Ikaika threw the ball further than I expected," Ewaliko said "I take full blame on that play. I shouldn’t have let him get the ball in the first place. I should have done what I could to knock it away."

After his TD was called back, Ewaliko said, "It was like you can’t do anything about it, just gotta let it go and we have to work harder and get another one."

With three and a half years left, he’ll get his chances.