Ferd Lewis: Hawaii burned by Fresno State’s explosive plays

FRESNO, Calif. >> As bright orange and red pyrotechnics burst loudly overhead, lighting up the autumn sky after the University of Hawaii’s 50-20 loss to Fresno State, Rainbow Warriors coach Nick Rolovich sighed, “At least they gave us fireworks.”

There was that, of course, but the explosions that most people left Bulldog Stadium talking about and will long remember took place on Jim Sweeney Field.

Specifically one that covered its 100-yard length of it, Jamire Jordan’s off-to-the-races return of UH’s attempt at a 53-yard field goal, taking it all the way back for what they were calling a “kick-6” touchdown.

The score not only gave the Bulldogs a game-sealing 37-13 lead at halftime, the Warriors’ futility in chasing Jordan also illustrated just how badly UH trails Fresno State in the race for the Mountain West supremacy.

It was the most spectacular of nine “explosive” plays in the game — that is, plays of 20 yards or more, that rendered Hawaii unable to compete against the 7-1 (4-0 MWC) Bulldogs beyond an opening field goal.

Long passes, long runs, a long interception return and, of course, the return of the missed field-goal attempt.

“It is hard to count how many they had,” Rolovich said.

The result was a third consecutive loss for UH, now 6-4 (3-2 MWC), further prolonging to Saturday the Rainbows’ pursuit of a seventh victory that would assure both eligibility and their first winning regular season in eight years.

It is a chase that continues at Aloha Stadium against a 7-1 Utah State team that plastered New Mexico 61-19 Saturday.

But it is hard to imagine anybody on UH’s schedule, the Aggies included, besting the ’Bows at every turn the way the Bulldogs did. Talent, strategy, you name it, the Bulldogs were clearly, well, top dogs.

UH was desperately trying to hang on in the waning moments of the first half, trailing 30-13. A sign of that desperation was Rolovich allowing Ryan Meskell to attempt a career-long 53-yard field goal on the final play of the half.

Meskell said he had been successful on a 53-yard attempt from the same spot at the left hashmark in pregame practice. The longest field goal in UH history is 56 yards, a mark jointly held by Jason Elam (1992) and Justin Ayat (2004).

“I thought scoring before the half might give us some juice,” Rolovich said. “Obviously that worked the other way.”

As Meskell was preparing for the real 53-yarder, Fresno State took a timeout to get enough players on the field. In the process they placed Jordan in front of the goalposts in the checkered end zone.

“When they called timeout we talked about covering down on the kick,” Rolovich said.

When the kick dropped short of the goalposts, Jordan, 8 yards deep, was off and running, escorted up the sideline by a convoy of blockers.

“They returned it better than we covered it,” Rolovich acknowledged.

With that, whatever air had remained in the ’Bows’ bid escaped, just like a good many in the announced crowd of 33,659, who made their way to the parking lots secure in the knowledge that the Bulldogs are in the thick, if not out in front, of the race for the division and conference championship.

And the ’Bows were left to admire the fireworks.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.