SEATTLE >> Twice Richard Torres has known the thrill of taking an interception to the end zone only to have his heart broken by late penalty flags.

So, the first thing the University of Hawaii safety did after crossing the goal line with his 99-yard interception return against Washington on Saturday was survey the field behind him for any sign of officials’ laundry.

“I looked downfield real good … just to make sure,” Torres said.

The touchdown — which tied a 42-yearold UH record for longest interception return — was the Warriors’ most memorable defensive play in a 40-32 loss to the Huskies. Though, for a time, it looked like the breakthrough effort that might allow the Warriors to stage a comeback since UH closed to 2114 in the second quarter after trailing 21-0.

“It was a real big-time play that we needed to get back into it,” head coach Greg McMackin said.

“It gave the sideline a real lift,” said quarterback Bryant Moniz. “Big defensive plays can do that.”

Torres, who has four interceptions as a Warrior and scored a touchdown on a 57yard fumble return against Idaho last year, knows something about big plays. Just not so much about seeing his interceptions for touchdowns stand up.

Twice in his senior year at Kahuku High, Torres said, returns were called back by penalties. “Once against Punahou and the second time against Kailua in back-to-back games,” he said. “So this time I looked back before I started celebrating too much.”

Torres said, “I was roaming and trying to disguise it from the quarterback (Keith Price). I saw the pattern develop, saw the ball and just tried to break to it. I was excited, but made sure I made the catch and tucked it away good and then headed upfield as fast as I could.”

When he saw John Hardy-Tuliau block Price, Torres said, “I knew I was gone and nobody was gonna touch me.”

Only Paul David, who took an interception back 99 yards in a 57-19 victory over Nevada-Las Vegas in 1969, has had a return as long as Torres’ in UH history.

This time, Torres said, “It was a dream come true” because nobody called it back.