Hawaii pulls off 34-27 win over Air Force in 2OT
MARC PISCOTTY / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER
Hawaii’s John Ursua (#45) looks for the end zone in front of a pair of Air Force defenders during their game at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Co.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hawaii wide receiver John Ursua, center, is tackled after catching a pass by Air Force defensive backs Weston Steelhammer, top, and Jesse Washington in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, at Air Force Academy, Colo.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
From left, Hawaii running backs Diocemy Saint Juste and Steven Lakalaka join tight end Metuisela ‘Unga perform the team’s traditional haka, or war cry, before facing Air Force in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, at Air Force Academy, Colo.
An improbable miss in regulation by Air Force place-kicker Luke Strebel gave the University of Hawaii new life it wouldn’t waste.
UH starting quarterback Dru Brown got up off the deck to lead the Rainbow Warriors to a 34-27 double-overtime victory that UH rookie head coach Nick Rolovich won’t ever forget.
After last week’s difficult loss at home to Nevada-Las Vegas, this one was particularly sweet. A late eight-minute option march by the Falcons’ offense set up a 32-yard field-goal attempt for Strebel that he missed wide right, giving the Warriors a huge second chance. Prior to the miss, he had been a perfect 13-for-13.
Hawaii won the toss and went on defense first after surviving the brutal fourth-quarter drive. The Falcons scored a touchdown in the first overtime on a 5-yard run by quarterback Nate Romine that gave them a 27-20 lead when Strebel added the extra point.
Hawaii came back to tie it after managing a big third-down conversion at the 15, and then completed a scoring pass from Brown to Marcus Kemp. Sanchez added the PAT to make it 27-27.
That combination gave UH a 34-27 lead in the second overtime on a 25-yard scoring pass from Brown to Kemp. Back came Air Force with its plodding, but very efficient offense. The Falcons converted one first down, but couldn’t get another as the defense came up big. A third-and-7 pass play fell incomplete, setting up a fourth-and-7 that was intercepted by Jalen Rogers in the end zone to seal the deal.
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The win lifted Hawaii to 4-4 for the season and 3-1 in league play. Air Force dropped to 4-3 overall and 1-3 in the conference.
With the score tied at 20, the teams traded punts, with Air Force starting its final drive from the 13 with 8:18 left. From there, the option grind began for the Falcons against a defense that had been on the field a lot during a hot afternoon in Colorado.
Under the guidance of Romine and the wide body of Shayne Davern, the Falcons methodically marched down the field against a defense that couldn’t stop what it knew was coming. The march set up a 32-yard field goal by Strebel that went wide right.
With the score tied at 13 to start the fourth quarter, Air Force completed a drive it began in the third with a 2-yard scoring run by Davern. Strebel added the PAT to make it 20-13 Air Force with 13:33 remaining in the game. The drive was 12 plays, 75 yards, and had the feel of the first-quarter scoring drive of 13 snaps from center by Air Force that resulted in its first touchdown.
With the UH defense tiring, the offense put together a good drive of its own to give the unit some much-needed rest. On a first-and-10 call, Brown threw a perfect 40-yard touchdown pass to John Ursua as Sanchez added the PAT to make it 20-20 with 11:51 remaining. The drive went 75 yards on five plays and had the Falcon Stadium crowd of 29,132 a little nervous coming down the stretch.
Air Force struck quickly on the opening series of the second half, as Romine broke off a 41-yard scamper to the UH 34. It set up a 47-yard field goal by Strebel that tied the game 10-10 with 12:40 left in the period. It was Strebel’s 12th consecutive 3-pointer to start the season.
Genta Ito had a nice return of 39 yards to give UH decent field position to start the second half. But Brown was picked off for the second time, this one by Jes Washington, who returned it to the UH 42. The throw was into double coverage and woefully underthrown.
A big hit by Diocemy Saint Juste on Washington knocked him out. It was reviewed by the officials for targeting, but it was ruled not to be a violation, allowing Saint Juste to remain in the game. After a lengthy delay, Washington was removed from the game on a cart, strapped to a board.
The Falcons offense went right back to work, quickly picking up a first down before the UH defense held, forcing a 42-yard field goal by Strebel that went through to give Air Force a 13-10 advantage with 9:17 left in the third.
The Falcons forced Hawaii to punt on the next series, taking over at their own 20 after a 52-yard boot by Rigo Sanchez. Air Force picked up a first down, but then was called for a personal foul that backed them up to their own 18. Facing third-and-22, Romine was forced out of the pocket by Jahlani Tavai and fumbled. It was recovered by Hawaii’s Leo Koloamatangi at the Air Force 11. But Hawaii had to settle for a 35-yard field goal by Sanchez that tied the game 13-13 with 2:02 left in the quarter.
On the next series, Romine opted to go through the air, completing his first pass of the day for 20 yards to Ryan Reffitt, setting up an eventual fourth-and-1 by the Falcons at the Hawaii 46. Earlier in the game, the Falcons went for it on fourth down and failed. This time, D.J. Johnson left no doubt with a 3-yard gain to keep the drive alive with 43 seconds left in the quarter.
The Hawaii defense came up with a big play to open the second quarter, stopping Air Force on a fourth-and-1 at the UH 46. It set the tone for the Rainbow Warriors.
The Hawaii offense completed a 29-yard pass from Brown to favorite target Marcus Kemp on the first play after the big stop. The nice catch was near the sideline and was reviewed, but the completion stood as called. Two plays later, the Warriors converted a third-and-6 on a 9-yard pass from Brown to Ursua to the Air Force 11.
Two snaps later, UH had a third-and 7 from the Falcons 8, but this time the Air Force defense held, leading to a 25-yard field goal by Sanchez to cut the deficit to 7-3 with 11:29 left in the half.
The Hawaii defense held on the ensuing series, but the punt exchange left the Warriors at their own 1-yard line. No problem, Brown hit a 41-yard pass to Kemp to escape the shadow of their own goal line. Two plays later, Brown found Kemp near the sidelines once more. It was called incomplete and after a long review, the play stood as called. UH eventually was forced to punt, giving the Falcons the ball at their own 17 midway through the quarter.
On the ensuing offensive series, the Hawaii defense made two nice plays against the run, but was called for pass interference on third-and 15. No matter. Two plays later, the Warriors’ Kory Rasmussen forced a Johnson fumble that was recovered at the Air Force 32 by Tavai.
The Hawaii offense took over from there. Facing a third-and-7, Brown completed a 16-yard pass to Metuisela Unga and then a 12-yarder to Ursua setting up a first-and-goal at the 4. From there, UH scored just before the half on a hard 1-yard run by Steven Lakalaka that stood up after review.
Sanchez added the PAT to give UH its first lead of the game at 10-7 with seven seconds remaining.
Both teams moved the football well enough in the opening quarter, but it was Air Force that struck first to take a 7-0 lead.
After holding Hawaii on its opening offensive series, Air Force’s option attack put together a methodical drive against the struggling Rainbow Warriors run defense.
Falcons running back Tim McVey mercifully ended it with a 6-yard run straight up the heart of a defensive unit that has proved time and again it has trouble defending the run.
Air Force overcame a third-and-12 and a first-and 20 during the 13-play, 79-yard drive as Strebel added the PAT to make it 7-0 Falcons with 7:27 left in the quarter.
Hawaii moved the ball well enough on the next drive, but it all ended in Air Force territory with an interception by Falcons safety Brodie Hicks of starting UH quarterback Brown. It was the first pick since the Michigan game for Brown, who has shown a penchant for turning over the football this season.
The defense tightened up on the ensuing offensive series, forcing a three-and-out, but Hawaii lost significant field position on the punt, starting its third drive at its own 16. Neither team did much the rest of the period.
85 responses to “Hawaii pulls off 34-27 win over Air Force in 2OT”
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UH needs to get out of the wasteful and boring football biz. and get to work to improve academic facilities and performance.
You mean looking tough and stick out your tongue is ‘t enough to win?
Four out of five dentists recommend sugarless gum.
ha,ha.
Allie you make me sick with your negative crap
So why does Harvard and Stanford have football teams?
Harvard and Stanford have football teams? They really should concentrate on academics. Someday allie will get it. Win and everyone gets happy and will lead to money coming back to the university
So does Yale, Princeton and MIT.
As does Wassamatta U
don’t forget Kamanawanalei U
You do understand this would require UH to clear out about 50% of the management deadwood, out of date policies, inefficient management bureaucrats.
Wow that was super exciting people will go out happy and spend money today, economic boost. Allie wrong again!
Sorry Allie, as an alumnus of the University of Hawaii, Go Bows. Outstanding job against Air Force.
Allie, do you ever read responses to your posts? I’ll try one more time. Without football, UH would be out of the sports business without football. It is not a matter of diverting funds, because you wouldn’t have funds to divert. Without sports, UH would suffer from the lack of recognition and tourism would be hurt. It would be the worst business decision for the state (except maybe for rail)ever.
Talk to someone from the business department at UH, although they do seem to be missing from discussion. If you don’t like football, don’t watch.
My guess is allie is a paid troll. She/he is hired to stir up conversation. Either that or she/he gets their rocks ff by irritating people.
allie’s a Trump supporter always negative.
Amela I’m a Trump supporter and we’re not negative. Hillary is a liar and look what the Clinton’s have done in Haiti. Haitian have no love for the Clintons.
Someone needs to stop making all these negative comments and get to studying and graduate so that we all can be free of someone. Guess Harvey Mudd did not want someone, they don’t have a football program.
Harvey Mudd DOES play football. It’s a joint team with Claremont and Scripps. CMS Athletics.
Allie should attend a football practice and tell the offensive line that they are wasteful and boring. That’s assuming Allie has Major Medical Insurance.
TOOBN: I had the same thought.
Athletics is a bargain if they are almost breaking even. Our deficit is the lifetime accumulated deficit. Imagine a team like Wisconsin coming to play Hawaii and they bring 7,000 fans. 7,000 TOURISTS!
http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/12/2/9835108/hawaii-warriors-football-program-coach-money
Say 3,500 hotel rooms at $250 per night and that amounts to $875,000 in room rates alone–per nite! Then they spend $50 per day per person $350,000 per day spent on food, entertainment. Say they stay just 3 nights. Wow, $3,000,000 in tourism. And that is just one team bringing in tourists. We play 8 home games per year, sometimes 9. Oooh, that’s some coin. But some people just don’t look at the big picture but rather through just the pinhole.
I think Allie went to East Mississippi Community College.
Allie doesn’t have a life without the Hon Star Advertiser online edition. This person he or she is almost always negative and this person’s “MO” has been going on for years. On blogs, these comment forums same old “crapieola”. This “Allie” usually shows up on every article I take a look at to view comments. Who has that kind of time to waste forever???
Scary 2.
The football team should quit doing their Haka…the only people they are motivating are the opposition and besides, they look like a bunch of crazed idiots doing it…..they can’t even back it up in their spiritual toughness and mental disposition……nothing more and nothing less.
Sorry Hossana UH wins at a tough place so quit knocking the Haka if you don’t understand the significance of doing it.
Take a history class about the origins of Polynesians Buttski.
Good pt. od
Maoris are not aborigines just as Hawaiians are not aborigines. Maoris and Hawaiians are very connected culturally. Tired of bigots out there that say crap.
I understand the significance of it, but such a routine is no longer relevant. Nor is human sacrifice on stone alters to pagan gods. Grow up and move on!
Hossana we should pray to Allah.
Quit belly-aching. They won. Nothing more, nothing less.
Hossana.has no clue what he is saying. The Bows dont do the haka before every game. Also, what facts do you have that it ALWAYS motivates ONLY the opposition players?
They are not doing the haka. They are doing the ha’a, which is Hawaiian and they had sought consultation prior to attempting it, Rolo gets it, and he will bring it forward.
It’s not the Haka. Look it up.
Go Bows, you can do it!…and no negative comments here.
Since they won in an upset, negative comments before the end of the game appear to be really foolish.
Great job by the warriors and great job by the coaching staff!
Didn’t know they danced the Haka at mainland games. Thought they only did it at Aloha Stadium.
omg, missed FG.
how lucky can you get.
Like the UH sports announcers said, “UH fan’s from afar willed the missed fg.”
I was praying and the universe heard us.
Amen.
About time they caught a break. Time for some payback, don’t you think?
Way to go Warriors! Nice way to rebound after a tough loss.
Looks like somebody here needs to back to North Dakota. Congrats Bows!
Lol… Allie…that “old” forever student that is scared to go anywhere beyond Manoa because of “locals.” For those oldtimers in comments, Allie, is still like an undergrad if you believe her timeline from like 8-9 years ago. Bonus if you remember when “she” claimed she was invited to walk on to the Wahine Volleyball team.
Great win today…continued success…BELIEVE
Go ‘Bows… Congrats!!!
I thought UH would get run out of the stadium, and when it came down to what?, 10 all at the half I said, “heck” if they can come out just losing by 3 or 7 points that would be a victory as far as I’m concerned. And even if Brown was on the losing end of this game it’s still a learning curve for him and he would come back stronger for the next game and into the next year.
I listened from begining to end and all I can say is that tears swelled to my eyes to see a whole team effort and win in this game and I could not be happier for the team because it was an away game to boot. Thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.
A true Warrior fan you are. To the team, mahalo for making my day. Congrats!
In my mind, I was disappointed that UH wasn’t able to score 30+ points like in most of their games.
And what do you know, them boy’s did sure achieve them 30+ point’s in dbl OT. Aieesos this one? ha,ha, tuvm.
YAY…Geeve um Hawaii Rainbow Warriors!
Turning point in the program.
Legalized Kemp!
Legalized in all 50 states.
I recall our announcers were saying in the last four minutes how methodical AF was in driving down the field unabated and how they thought that without a turnover, etc., AF would come out the winner as predicted.
Well, the missed FG by their sure footed fg kicker was an unpredictable miss from very close range which sent the game into overtime and the rest is history as UH came out on top. And I can say now, “I do believe in miracles.”
To top that off, our coaching staff who decided in OT to go one the defense was nothing but genius because in the 2nd OT our defense was well rested and ready to make the stops necessary to win the game.
Aieesoos this one!, ha,ha.
Uh, the coaches (and players) deserve a heck of lot of credit, but 99.9% of the time you win the OT coin toss, you go on defense. The reasoning: Once the opposition has its possession, you’ll know whether you need a FG or TD to either tie or win. Simple logic; let the opposition show its hand first.
Wonder why there was a discussion between our two call by play announcers as to which way they would have gone?, if it was “simple logic” as you say?
And the game was won in the 2nd OT, not the 1st.
mctruck: Actually, I heard that discussion, too. I believe Veneri brought it up, and Curran said no, you always play defense first. Veneri was trying to make a point that in this situation it might be best to take the ball to allow the beleaguered defense a chance to rest, but he eventually conceded to Curran. At least that’s what I heard.
I think it’s a no-brainer, but respect your right to disagree. Main thing, UH won.
After a disappointing loss to UNLV this win is huge. Good luck against UNM.
consistency, consistency. tuvm.
Not many people gave the Warriors a chance. As they say every dog has his day. Good win men, good win.
Ridiculous point spread despite the fact that UH should have beat UNLV the week before. Glad the Warriors proved the sportsbooks dead wrong. Go Warriors!!!
This made my weekend extra special. Go warriors!
Yup, now I can breathe easier. Good win!
Fantastic win with the best part being that the defense and offense took turns picking each other up and each side did enough good things to win. Also great is that there’s still so much room for the team to get better – winning at one of the toughest venues in spite of not being at their best only portends more good things to come. The players now believe that if they put out their best effort, good things will happen, under a coach who gives them a reason to be optimistic. They may still struggle to win more games but there’s no denying anymore about the level of effort and playmaking will be so much better than what we’ve seen the last four years. Please, SA, let’s not talk or highlight players who went away, they don’t matter, what matters are the UH Warriors.
Well said.
I am really, really, really happy for the win. I think the defense really, really, really has to improve for a winning season.
What a welcome sight the headline and story were. Good job Warriors!
Wooo! Hand me the box of kleenex.
Great win, but I have to say that this story is written in a most confusing fashion, going back and forth out of sequence. This is the most oddly written football summary I’ve ever read.
I agree and I’ve noticed this style every time an article is written right after the game. It’s like someone is taking notes and then just writes them up instead of going in chronological order. It is really weird and hard to follow.
Thanks for the reassurance. At first, I thought it was me. SMH
Last year sat behind the UH bench at the UH/Air Force game. Players looking at the ground , no one talking to each other and no one interacting with Norm Chow. AF running up the score and several days after the game Coach Chow gets fired. Today UH beats AF at home and something never done since 1992. Congrats to the players , coaches and all the Warrior Ohana. Great turn around since last year.
Winning is contagious. Just take it one game at a time. Go Warriors !!!
Congratulation!
WE’RE BAAACK!
Nice gritty win at altitude and on the road. This is still a young team and I like the first year foundation they are building. Considering that 90% of this team was recruited by the previous coaching staff I’m satisfied today.
I hope they take U of New Mexico seriously. Unlike UNLV which was taken lightly as a gareens win at Aloha Stadium.
The “KNOCKOUT PUNCH” & the “CLOSEOUT INTERCEPTION” are miraculous!
One-at-a-time just like that?
Unreal WIN WARRIORS!!! What a great turnaround from the Homecoming disappointment. Shows everyone what kind of true strength and character you have, to be able to win on the road at extremely high altitude against a tough opponent!!!! That”s just A TREMENDOUS FEAT!!! Great accomplishment by both players and coaches. You’re making the Islands proud again!!!