For a while, everything else could be forgotten during Hawaii’s last Western Athletic Conference football game.

For one half of football, things like lagging attendance, unmet expectations, coaches on the hot seat and the previous losses that led to it all — for both teams — were cast away so we could savor a game that went down to the final play.

It was Hawaii and Fresno State at Aloha Stadium, and while UH suffered its third loss in a row, 24-21, it was an exciting ballgame right to the end. We’ve seen this before, several times. Of course, this was different because of the big picture, but for an hour or so it didn’t matter as UH rallied back from a 17-0 first-half deficit.

"It was a good show," said UH sophomore quarterback David Graves, a big part of the reason why it was. "You could feel the energy, feel the place come alive. Of course that doesn’t matter when it’s over and we’re on the wrong end of it."

A thrilling ballgame, one being decided by the players, by who could make the most plays in the clutch. For those final few scintillating minutes, we could forget that much more was expected from both teams this season.

There was more on the line in other years … 1999, when Hawaii beat Fresno State in OT to grab a share of the WAC championship. Or maybe 2007, when the Warriors kept their dream season alive despite Colt Brennan being knocked out of the game.

Some called this a must win for Hawaii. But it really wasn’t. It was bigger than most games because it was Fresno State, but the must wins start six days from now against Tulane. UH must go 2-for-2 against the inept Green Wave and then BYU to qualify for the Hawaii Bowl.

The two upcoming games — and if there is a bowl game — will have much more impact on any decisions by UH having to do with coach Greg McMackin’s contract situation.

The Warriors came a few yards short Saturday of making that Christmas Eve date much closer to reality. Instead, it ended with another disappointment on the scoreboard in a season full of them for UH fans.

But Graves at quarterback provided something that had abandoned much of the fan base: a glimmer of hope. His numbers weren’t very impressive, but his play-making ability sure was, whether it was making things happen with his feet, including UH’s first touchdown, or his arm, as Royce Pollard and Billy Ray Stutzmann exploited a Fresno State secondary prone to coverage busts.

"David Graves came in and did a real good job," McMackin said.

It came down to a few yards in the final seconds, if Graves in his first meaningful action could get UH close enough for a game-tying field goal, or win it with another pass to a wide-open Billy Ray Stutzmann or Royce Pollard or another brilliant scramble.

It ended with Graves desperately dumping the ball off … to left tackle Brett Leonard. That’s not allowed.

Graves knows that, and he knows he has to throw the ball away in certain situations; that comes with experience. "I’ve got to learn to stop taking sacks," he said.

And he got a taste right away of the kind of fan reaction the starting quarterback at UH gets during a turbulent season.

"The first series I got booed off," Graves said. "A little bit (surprising). But I feel it was deserved.

"The second (drive) was a whole different story."

A touchdown to start the comeback, but a comeback that ultimately fell short. Another sad end of the story for UH. But if you look at it as the first chapter for David Graves as the Warriors quarterback, you’re allowed to hope for future games when exciting finishes will be successful.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783.