Game Day Blog: Hawaii rallies over BYU to win Hawaii Bowl
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Hawaii wide receiver Jared Smart breaks downfield after a reception against the Brigham Young Cougars during the first half.
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Hawaii wide receiver Jason-Matthew Sharsh hauls in a pass for a touchdown ahead of Brigham Young linebacker Max Tooley during the first half.
7:05 p.m.
Cole McDonald throws four scoring passes and rushes for another touchdown to boost Hawaii to a 38-34 victory over BYU in the SoFi Hawaii Bowl.
The Warriors finish the season 10-5.
Here’s the GAME-SEALING INTERCEPTION by Khoury Bethley, his second of the game.#HawaiiFB takes a knee to beat BYU 38-34 and claim the @HawaiiBowl.
UH with its first win over the rival Cougars since 2001. pic.twitter.com/heBz9n9q9D
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) December 25, 2019
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7 p.m.
Cole McDonald fires a 24-yard scoring pass to Nick Mardner to give the Warriors a 38-34 lead with 1:17 to play.
TOUCHDOWN McDonald to Nick Mardner for 24 yards.#HawaiiFB 38, BYU 34, 1:17 left pic.twitter.com/flnN36VdFG
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) December 25, 2019
6:10 p.m.
After Jake Oldroyd connects on a 20-yard field goal to give BYU its first lead, at 34-31, the Warriors march down the field. But Ryan Meskell is wide right on a 40-yard, field-goal attempt.
BYU lead, 34-31, with 12:19 to play.
BYU takes a 34-31 lead at the start of the fourth on a field goal. #HawaiiFB pic.twitter.com/GQxvMVHDMz
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) December 25, 2019
>> Click here for photos of the Hawaii Bowl
5:30 p.m.
BYU ties it at 31-all on quarterback Zach Wilson’s 2-yard keeper with 11:58 left in the third quarter.
The drive was set up on Aleva Hifo’s 52-yard punt return to the UH 6.
4:55 p.m.
The Cougars close to 31-24 on Jake Oldroyd’s 37-yard field with 18 seconds left.
That came after Cole McDonald’s 11-yard scoring pass to Jason-Matthew Sharsh.
Hawaii leads 31-24 at the intermission.
(For amusement purposes only, the over/under is 63 points.
4:35 p.m.
On the double reverse, Micah Simon goes around left end for an 11-yard TD as BYU closes to 24-21 with 3:16 to play in the first half.
4:20 p.m.
Ryan Meskell hits a 46-yard field goal after it was ruled that Cole McDonald did not have the ball wrested away on a sack.
UH now leads 24-14 with 5:50 to play in the first half.
4:05 p.m.
Zach Wilson — BYU’s version — scores on a 1-yard keeper to close BYU to 21-14 with 9:42 to play in the first half.
3:55 p.m.
The longest yard.
Cole McDonald, taking the snap from under center, goes over the top for a 1-yard TD as the Warriors go up 21-7 with 13:33 left in the first half.
3:45 p.m.
Running back Lapini Katoa goes a yard for a touchdown to close BYU to 14-7 with 54 seconds left in the first quarter.
3:35 p.m.
Quarterback Cole McDonald and wideout Jared Smart collaborate on another scoring, this one covering 40 yards.
McDonald is nine of 10 for 124 yards.
UH leads 14-0 with 4:55 left in the first quarter.
3:25 p.m.
Out of the empty set, Cole McDonald fires a pass over two BYU defenders to Jared Smart for a 7-yard scoring pass with 7:32 to play in the first quarter.
3:05 p.m.
It appears cornerback Rojesterman Farris II won’t be playing today.
It could be the battles of Zach Wilsons — UH cornerback Zach Wilson vs. BYU quarterback Zach Wilson.
Pregame
It’s a bright and sunny (and apparently redundantly balmy) day as UH and BYU meet for the 33rd time (but first in a bowl game).
It will be a quarterback’s dual between Cole McDonald (and Chevan Cordeiro) and BYU’s Zach Wilson. In last year’s bowl game, Wilson, a one-time UH recruit, was 18 of 18. His first collegiate start was against … yep, UH.
There are all sorts of ties. Kickoff is under 30 minutes.
