WARRIOR FOOTBALL
Warrior Replay
The five biggest plays of Hawaii's 11-3 football season
1. After further review
The Setup: Boise State 34, Hawaii 27, Sept. 23; less than 11:00 remaining, fourth quarter; Hawaii ball, first and 10 at Boise State 48.
The Play: Hawaii has momentum and field position following a pass-interference call, but Colt Brennan is flushed from the pocket and brought down by Colt Brooks for a 2-yard loss. While Brennan is going down, the ball comes out of his hands and Boise State's Gerald Alexander falls on it. The replay judge confirms it is a fumble and not an incomplete pass.
The Impact: Hawaii had gained control of the game, and Brennan seemed poised to lead a game-tying drive. Boise State rallied around this play to regain momentum and close out a 41-34 home win.
Hawaii safety Leonard Peters: "You never leave it up to the referees. You got to win the game on your own. We should've got a couple calls, but it should never come down to that."
2. Back to the wall
The Setup: Hawaii 41, Nevada 34, Oct. 7; 2:00 remaining, fourth quarter; Nevada ball, fourth and goal at Hawaii 3.
The Play: Nevada calls a pass, and as Travis Moore looks for receivers, Amani Purcell bears down on him from the left. Moore tries to hit Mike McCoy in the back-center of the end zone, but McCoy is covered by Peters and Moore's pass is too high to be caught.
The Impact: Hawaii allows two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and 472 yards for the game. But the defense holds for four downs at its own 3 with the game on the line to hold on for a 41-34 win.
Peters: "Any time the offense gets inside our 20 we always say we've got them right where we want them."
3. Scoop and score
The Setup: Hawaii 35, New Mexico State 24, Oct. 21; 11:30 remaining, fourth quarter; New Mexico State ball, third and 9 at New Mexico State 21.
The Play: New Mexico State QB Chase Holbrook is flushed from the pocket, and DE Mel Purcell crashes down on him, stripping the ball. LB Adam Leonard picks it up at the NMSU 20 and scores his first touchdown since he was a tight end in high school.
The Impact: This makes it a three-score difference with 11:11 left and a dazed Holbrook is knocked out of the game. He returns five plays into the next drive, but Hawaii NT Kahai LaCount recovers a bad snap and Brennan hits Dickerson for a 36-yard touchdown. Hawaii goes on to win 49-30.
Hawaii defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville: "Oh no, we don't ever practice falling on it. ... I haven't graded the film, but that may have been (Leonard's) best game. I think he's a little bit special."
4. House call
The Setup: Hawaii 0, Idaho 0, Oct. 28; 15:00 remaining, first quarter, Idaho kicking off from own 35.
The Play: Ross Dickerson, aligned at the right hashmark, fields Tino Amancio's kickoff between the Hawaii 1 and the goal line. Momentum takes him into the end zone. Following key blocks, especially one from Timo Paepule, Dickerson accelerates toward the left, then makes a sharp cut to the sideline. He beats a final defender at around the Hawaii 40 and completes the 100-yard run untouched.
The Impact: Hawaii takes a 7-0 lead before the nation's most prolific offense even gets on the field, setting the tone for a 68-10 rout. It is Dickerson's fourth TD in three games (the others were receiving), and the senior's second 100-yard kickoff return in his career.
Dickerson: "Everybody did their job. We got to the house, so everything was covered. I knew I was in when I noticed I didn't see anything but the end zone."
5. Game winner
The Setup: Hawaii 35, Purdue 35, Nov. 25; 1:34 remaining, fourth quarter, Hawaii ball, second and 6 at Purdue 23.
The Play: Brennan -- given time by a key block by right tackle Dane Uperesa -- double-pumps and throws a screen pass to right wide receiver Ian Sample, who cuts left and follows a wall of blockers into the end zone. The wall includes the other wideout, Jason Rivers, who knocks defensive back David Pender off his feet to enable the score.
The Impact: Brennan's 51st touchdown pass of the season puts him within three of David Klingler's single-season record but, more importantly, accounts for the final points in a 42-35 win over the Boilermakers -- the most exciting finish of Hawaii's season.
Sample: "Colt threw me a good ball. I followed the linemen. They blocked so far out in front and to the right (that the left) was the best route."