Ninety-nine yards for bliss. One yard for blunder.

The Hawaii offense experienced both after staring down the longest of long fields twice in the fourth quarter on Saturday night at Aloha Stadium. The first drive from the Rainbow Warriors’ 1 didn’t go so well, but the second yielded the night’s signature play in UH’s 43-29 win over Rice.

UH first took over there at the outset of the final period, thanks to an excellent goal-line stand by the UH defense, which snuffed burly Emmanuel Esukpa for no gain at the half-yard line.

But on the next play, disaster struck, as the Warriors miscommunicated the play and running back Fred Holly received a delayed handoff and was brought down for a safety. That brought Rice to within 28-15, and it was a six-point game when the Owls scored on their ensuing possession.

“You know, it’s one of those things where you play a little timid and just make a little mental mistake,” quarterbacks coach Craig Stutzmann. “When you’re on your own 1-yard line. It’s not a good thing. A lot of bad things can happen down there.”

Said quarterback Cole McDonald: “We called the play, I thought it was a different play and they said, ‘Oh, we shouldn’t have called that play.’ It was just miscommunication. Stuff happens in the game that you can’t control, and that was one of the opportunities that we didn’t take advantage of but we should have.”

It was the first safety by a UH opponent since Oregon State on Sept. 7, 2013.

Wideout JoJo Ward worked to restore order on the sideline — first with his teammates out of bounds, then once he stepped back in.

“I tell everybody to have short memories coming back on the field so they can get rid of the bad thoughts and stuff,” Ward said. “Just come in together and see the big play happen. And that’s where that led us to.”

UH found itself in another 1-yard crucible due to a spectacular 64-yard punt by the Owls’ Jack Fox. This time, UH went back to its buttered bread.

“We threw the ball, and that’s what we do,” Stutzmann said.

After one incomplete pass by McDonald to John Ursua, McDonald found Ward on the right with defenders closing fast.

But Ward spun loose from a tackle along the right sideline and sprinted upfield 63 yards before being brought down. He could’ve high-fived teammates along the Hawaii sideline had he wanted.

“I caught it and turned it outside, and they kind of slung me outside, so I kind of stood up and was seeing a bunch of green turf,” Ward said. “I was surprised how open I was.

“I thought I did (have a chance to take it all the way). I should’ve just come out faster. I was surprised how wide open I was. I was, ‘Oh gosh, I gotta put on the jets.’ ”

Just like that, the run-and-shoot had its mojo back.

UH, energized, completed the drive with a Cedric Byrd 26-yard touchdown reception and rode that energy to the win — and its first 3-0 start since the Sugar Bowl season of 2007.

“I always tell him, big-time players make big-time plays, and I needed one this game,” McDonald said. “And that’s what he gave us.”