PROVO, Utah » University of Hawaii wide receiver Billy Ray Stutzmann winced when he hit the ground so hard Friday night that he said it sent "a shock up my arm."

But more painful later on was being pulled out of the 47-0 loss to Brigham Young in the fourth quarter.

"I understand why Coach (Norm Chow) did it," Stutzmann said. "I know he was thinking about keeping me healthy, but I really wanted to be in there for my team."

This game was proof of that as Stutzmann, who was expected to be out six weeks with a fracture in his left hand, not only made it back in 21⁄2 weeks but led the Warriors in receptions with four for 65 yards.

"He’s a big-time player and it was great to have him back," quarterback Sean Schroeder said.

Stutzmann and punter Alex Dunnachie, who both returned to the lineup after missing games for different reasons were two of the highlights for Hawaii on a night when the Warriors had few bright spots.

Dunnachie, who returned after missing three games due to an offseason DUI arrest, punted eight times for an average of 48.8 yards.

"It was good to have them both back out there," Chow said. ‘We needed both of them."

When Stutzmann underwent surgery, doctors gave him the six-week timetable. His retort: "’Nah, I can’t be out that long.’ I wanted to be with my team and I wanted to do it within three weeks," Stutzmann said.

He said doctors told him, "’we’ll see.’"

Well Friday night was seeing and believing.

"He’s one of our fighters," Chow said. "He’s a tough guy. He got back, practiced well and got in there."

Stutzmann wore a knuckles-to-wrist rubberized pad encased in plastic to protect the hand.

"When I landed on it, it hurt, but that was about it," Stutzmann. "It was worth it to be back out there again."

Stutzmann said, "I had good doctors and a great training staff that helped me make it back."

Still, as the game got way beyond the Warriors’ means, Chow decided to practice caution.

"We took him out when it was obvious what the outcome was gonna be," Chow said.

Stutzmann said, "I was a little disappointed. I wanted to be out there, bad. I was kinda down. But when he took me out before that (penultimate) drive, I knew he was trying to help me keep it (the hand) healthy."

For Dunnachie the return to the field was about trying to control his pent-up emotions and stay within himself.

"It was an emotional game for me and I was afraid I’d try too hard in the game, so I just let everything out in pregame warm-ups instead," Dunnachie said. "I really put my foot into it. I kicked one ball that almost went the length of the field. If I had done that in the game it would have probably been blocked because it was so low."

Dunnachie’s first punt in the game went for 50 yards.The second for 60.

"It felt good to be back out there. I missed it," Dunnachie said."I had never played a game for these coaches before, so I was basically starting from the beginning and I wanted to prove myself."

"He did," Chow said, "He’s a good one, an NFL punter."