FRESNO, Calif. >> Wide receiver Marcus Kemp had it — and then he didn’t.

He had a game-tying touchdown and the distinction of joining the 1,000-yard single-season-receiving club in his hands momentarily Saturday night at Bulldog Stadium.

Kemp hauled in an apparent 18-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dru Brown in the end zone with 1 minute, 11 seconds left that would have allowed Hawaii to tie Fresno State at 13 points apiece.

But Bulldog cornerback Tyquan Glass punched the ball loose.

“As I was falling down he got a hand in there and hit it out,” Kemp said. “It was a great play by him, a heads-up play and me just not securing the ball.”

UH eventually prevailed, 14-13, and Kemp had game-high eight receptions for 65 yards, including two key catches on the eventual touchdown drive, but came up 7 yards short of the 1,000 total.

Only 18 receivers in UH history have hit or surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in a season. None since Royce Pollard in 2011.

After the game there was some apparent confusion when somebody told Kemp he had hit the milestone, but the error was corrected.

“I’m just glad we got the win, the (milestone) can come later,” Kemp said.

Steven Lakalaka scored the touchdown three plays later.

Kemp made a key sprawling catch for 4 yards and another for 17 on the final drive. “Dru knows where to put the ball so only I can get it,” Kemp said. “I really wanted to make some plays this week after what happened last week.”

He had an uncharacteristic wide-open drop against Boise State.

Plenty penalties

Through all the euphoria and celebration Saturday night, coach Nick Rolovich kept coming back to the penalties that have bedeviled the Rainbow Warriors this season.

On his way off the field, Rolovich asked reporters, “How many was that tonight? How many penalties?”

Told that it was 11 penalties for 89 yards, the second-highest number of infractions for UH this season, Rolovich shook his head. “That’s about par for us.”

UH entered the game 107th among 128 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision teams in penalties per game at 7.45 and 103rd in penalty yards per game at 63.55.

“We’re not gonna win any (more) games that way,” Rolovich said. “I don’t know who we think we are.”

Then, showing his frustration, Rolovich said, “I’m not sure what to do next.”

Big night for Tavai

Linebacker Jahlani Tavai contributed a game-high 12 tackles, reaching 111 for the season.

Tavai is the first ’Bow to reach 100 tackles in a season since Corey Paredes (107) and Aaron Brown (103) in 2011.

Tavai also had a sack and three tackles for loss, a career high.