SAN DIEGO >> It has been almost five months since receiver JoJo Ward left his hometown of Waco, Texas, to take an 11th-hour offer to attend the University of Hawaii.
“I haven’t had a chance to go back and talk about what I’ve been doing,” Ward said.
So Saturday night’s nationally televised game on ESPNU gave him yet another opportunity to demonstrate the home — and success — he’s found playing football at the University of Hawaii.
Ward caught UH’s final touchdown, a 10-yard pass from quarterback Cole McDonald in overtime, in the Rainbow Warriors’ 31-30 overtime victory over San Diego State.
It was his sixth catch of the game and it gave him 120 yards and the Rainbow Warriors an 8-5 record (5-3 Mountain West).
His career bests are nine receptions at San Jose State and 161 yards against Navy.
“It was an opportunity to make sure we got in the (Hawaii Bowl) and a chance to win another one for our seniors,” Ward said. “It was (also) an opportunity to show them back home that I’m doing my best.”
The touchdown, Ward said, “was pretty smooth. It was just pitch and catch. He (McDonald) threw a good ball and all I had to do was catch it. Nobody was going to stop me. It was money.”
The touchdown came a week after Ward had caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in the 35-28 victory over Nevada-Las Vegas and followed up on his game-winning touchdown catch against Wyoming.
“That was probably my favorite game,” Ward said. “Just the drama of the game, the comeback and the whole atmosphere at Aloha Stadium was special. It was nice to win here (in San Diego), too, since it hadn’t happened in a long time (1988 was the last). Both had a great feeling.”
Ward said, “I came to Hawaii hoping to do good things. I came expecting to do good things. The coaches, when they were recruiting me, told me I could really help this team. So, that’s what I’ve been trying to do. I wanted to show some of my family and friends how we’re doing. This was a chance to do it. And, now, we’ve got the bowl game coming up, too.”
Ward tied for second in receptions and was second in yards. Marcus Armstrong-Brown led the way with seven catches for 86 yards, while Cedric Byrd pulled down six passes for 140 yards and one score. In all, McDonald completed passes to nine different receivers en route to going 29-for-46 for 452 yards and three scores.
Ward came to the defense of McDonald when it appeared he might lose his starting job. He told the sophomore quarterback that the team had his back and he demonstrated that time and again during Saturday night’s league game.
