RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Hawaii and Cincinnati players went at it just after last night's game, which the Warriors won 20-19, at Aloha Stadium. The 25th-ranked Warriors had to come from behind for the victory.

Warriors get costly win

Chang is hurt as Hawaii comes
from behind for a 20-19 win

Scoring drives
Sidelines
Chang overcame injury to lead UH
Scuffle mars end of tough game
Funds raised for Jackson

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By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com

Tim Chang didn't play his best game, but this one might have been his gutsiest -- and it might be his last for a while, depending on how quickly his sprained left knee heals.

Hawaii's sophomore quarterback left the game twice, but was in long enough to complete a 33-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Cockheran with 5 minutes, 10 seconds left, leading UH to a 20-19 comeback victory over Cincinnati last night.

A crowd of 36,851 at Aloha Stadium saw the No. 25 and Hawaii Bowl-bound Warriors improve to 9-2 with their sixth win in a row. The Bearcats fell to 5-6 and must win their remaining two games to become eligible for postseason play.

The Warriors, trailing 19-14, seemed to lose a golden opportunity after Chris Brown intercepted a Gino Guidugli pass and ran it 26 yards to the Cincinnati 12 with 8:18 left. On the next play, Ivan Fields intercepted Chang's pass and UC got the ball back at its own 11.

But Hawaii's defense stuffed the Bearcats' next two plays for losses as Travis LaBoy and Chad Kalilimoku got behind the UC line. After an incomplete pass, UC punted and the Warriors took over at their own 49.

"Our defense played fantastic," UH coach June Jones said. "Isaac Sopoaga (four tackles, one for loss) was everywhere. Travis (six tackles) played great. We had a combined effort."

It also included a team-high nine tackles by linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa and six tackles by Brown.

Chang, who did not play the third quarter because of a sprained knee, then completed three of his next four passes for the winning drive.

He threw the TD pass before Cockheran broke to his right in the end zone, but the pass and pattern were timed perfectly.

Chang's attempt at a 2-point conversion pass failed.

Hawaii's defense then forced another UC punt without a first down, and UH got the ball back with 4:07 left on its own 45.

Chang left the game a second time when he was hit late on an incomplete pass with 2:39 left. A 15-yard roughing penalty against Tyjuan Hagler, who appeared to fall onto Chang's leg, moved the ball to the UC 26.

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Cincinnati stopped Hawaii's Thero Mitchell at the goal line during the first half last night.

X-rays taken after the game were negative, and Chang was to undergo an MRI today to determine the extent of the damage to his left knee.

Chang, on crutches and with a knee brace, declined to talk to reporters after the game.

He completed 23 of 42 passes for 219 yards, with the one touchdown and one interception.

Another personal foul on the Bearcats moved the ball to their 7 with 1:15 left.

Hawaii then ran out the clock, but a melee involving many players from both teams ensued. It took several minutes for coaches and security personnel to restore order and get the teams to their locker rooms.

About a half-hour after the game, UC's Antwan Peek and UH's Chad Owens met and discussed the incidents for several minutes before shaking hands and embracing.

"I've been in those games before. It's frustrating," Jones said. "They have a nice team and they lost a tough game."

UC was penalized 14 times for 117 yards compared to two for 15 yards for Hawaii.

Cincinnati coach Rick Minter declined comment.

It was definitely a tough loss for the Bearcats, who came in having won three in a row. Running back DeMarco McCleskey carried 31 times for 121 yards and kicker Jonathan Ruffin kicked four field goals.

UC opened the game's scoring on a 4-yard pass from Guidugli to Booker Vann with 5:52 left in the first quarter.

The nine-play, 82-yard drive was sustained by a 17-yard third-down completion to Jon Olinger and a 34-yard quick screen to Tye Keith.

UH then went 78 yards on 15 plays, but came up empty as former Hawaii resident Matt Tupuola helped stuff Chang on a fourth-and-goal sneak from the UC 1.

Then, on third down from his own 3, Guidugli dropped the ball while pulling back from center. But the Bearcats recovered.

Owens returned the ensuing punt 21 yards to the Cincinnati 26.

Owens, who hadn't played in six weeks with a knee sprain, returned six punts for 81 yards, five kickoffs for 134 yards and caught one pass for 23 yards.

"I was just really excited to get out there and prove that I haven't lost anything," Owens said.

Nate Ilaoa's 17-yard catch-and-run gave UH a first down at the 1. This time Thero Mitchell's second-effort run to the right ended with a touchdown, his first of two for the night. Justin Ayat's extra point tied it at 7 with 12:17 left in the half.

RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Cincinnati's Thaddeus Lewis went after an unidentified Hawaii player last night.

The Warriors' defense stopped the Bearcats without a first down, and another exciting return by Owens, this one for 40 yards, gave UH the ball at the Cincinnati 46.

Mitchell then carried for 9 and 30 yards, and two personal fouls on UC put the ball on the visitors' 1 yet again. On third down, Mitchell got the call and plowed through the left to score. UH led 14-7 at 8:35 before the break.

Cincinnati closed the score to 14-10 on Ruffin's 47-yard field goal with 1:54 left in the second quarter, as the Bearcats got two of their five first-half first downs on a 34-yard drive.

Facing third-and-four at the Hawaii 30, Guidugli threw long for Keith. But UH safety Leonard Peters broke up the pass and UC settled for the three points.

Ruffin, the Lou Groza Award winner as the nation's best kicker two years ago, struck again on the opening drive of the first half. He hit from 35 yards after UC took the kickoff and drove steadily before stalling at the Hawaii 19.

Guidugli completed five passes in a row for short gains on the drive, and UH's lead was cut to 14-13.

For the game, Guidugli competed 19 of 41 passes for 231 yards and one touchdown.

Shawn Withy-Allen, who relieved Chang on the last series of the first half, fumbled when he was hit on his blind side by Hagler, and Hagler recovered the ball at the Hawaii 37. It was UC's 13th forced turnover in the last four games.

Again, UH stopped the Bearcats in the red zone and Ruffin converted from 26 yards to give UC the lead at 16-14.

Following a trade of punts, UH drove into Cincinnati territory. But Blue Adams intercepted a Withy-Allen pass for his fifth pick of the season.

Ruffin made his 10th field goal in a row, a 25-yarder with 10:53 left in the game, making it 19-14, as UC was stopped again deep within the Warriors side of the field. The Bearcats had first-and-goal from the 8, but got no further. Ruffin matched his own school record with four field goals in a game.

Chang returned at the start of the fourth quarter. He completed one of his first nine passes after coming back into the game.

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BACK TO TOP
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[ SCORING DRIVES ]

FIRST QUARTER

CINCINNATI
1-10-C-18: DeMarco McCleskey 5 run.
2-5-C-23: DeMarco McCleskey 17 run.
1-10-C-40: DeMarco McCleskey 2 run.
2-8-C-42: Incomplete pass.
3-8-C-42: Jon Olinger 17 pass from Gino Guidugli.
1-10-H-41: DeMarco McCleskey 0 run.
2-10-H-41: Tye Keith 34 pass from Gino Guidugli.
1-G-H-7: DeMarco McCleskey 2 run.
2-G-H-5: Booker Vann 5 pass from Gino Guidugli -- TOUCHDOWN.
PAT: Jonthan Ruffin kick -- GOOD.
9 plays, 82 yards, 3:42.
5:52 left in the first quarter.
Cincinnati 7, Hawaii 0.

Notes: Vann's second reception and first touchdown of the season. He entered the game with one catch for 1 yard. ... Guidugli's 15th TD pass and the 16th touchdown pass allowed by the Hawaii defense. ... Guidugli was 3-for-4 for 56 yards during the drive.

SECOND QUARTER

HAWAII
1-10-C-26: Nate Ilaoa 8 pass from Tim Chang.
2-2-C-18: Incomplete pass.
3-2-C-18: Nate Ilaoa 17 pass from Tim Chang.
1-G-C-1: Incomplete pass.
2-G-C-1: Incomplete pass.
3-G-C-1: Thero Mitchell 1 run -- TOUCHDOWN.
PAT: Justin Ayat kick -- GOOD.
6 plays, 26 yards, 1:31.
12:17 left in the second quarter.
Hawaii 7, Cincinnati 7

Notes: Drive set up by Chad Owens' 20-yard punt return to the Cincinnati 26. ... Hawaii was stopped on three plays from the UC 1 on its previous possession. ... Mitchell's team-high seventh rushing touchdown.

HAWAII
1-10-C-46: Thero Mitchell 9 run.
2-1-C-37: Thero Mitchell 30 run. Penalties -- personal foul facemask, deadball personal foul, UC.
1-G-C-1: Incomplete pass.
2-G-C-1: Clifton Herbert 0 pass from Tim Chang.
3-G-C-1: Thero Mitchell 1 run -- TOUCHDOWN.
PAT: Justin Ayat kick -- GOOD.
5 plays, 46 yards, 1:47.
8:35 left in the second quarter.
Hawaii 14, Cincinnati 7.

Notes: Mitchell's second TD run of the game. ... Drive set up by Chad Owens' 38-yard punt return to the Cincinnati 46. Hawaii's longest punt return of the season. The previous long was 33 by Clifton Herbert.

CINCINNATI
1-10-C-36: Penalty -- false start, UC.
1-15-C-31: George Murray 9 pass from Gino Guidugli.
2-6-C-40: George Murray 10 pass from Gino Guidugli.
1-10-50: DeMarco McCleskey 5 run.
2-5-H-45: DeMarco McCleskey 3 run.
3-2-H-42: Incomplete pass.
4-2-H-42: DeMarco McCleskey 6 run.
1-10-H-36: Gino Guidugli 4 run.
2-6-H-32: DeMarco McCleskey 2 run.
3-4-H-30: Incomplete pass.
4-4-H-30: Jonathan Ruffin FG 47 -- GOOD.
10 plays, 36 yards, 3:22.
1:54 left in the second quarter.
Hawaii 14, Cincinnati 10

Notes: Ruffin now 13-for-16 in field goals this season. ... Cincinnati gained possession on Antwan Peek's block of a 51-yard FG attempt by Justin Ayat.

THIRD QUARTER

CINCINNATI
1-10-C-20: DeMarco McCleskey 15 run.
1-10-C-35: DeMarco McCleskey 5 run.
2-5-C-40: DeMarco McCleskey (-3) run.
3-8-C-37: Tye Keith 11 pass from Gino Guidugli.
1-10-C-48: Jon Olinger 14 pass from Gino Guidugli.
1-10-H-38: Jon Olinger 5 pass from Gino Guidugli.
2-5-H-33: Tye Keith 11 pass from Gino Guidugli.
1-10-H-22: DeMarco McCleskey 2 run.
2-8-H-20: Penalty -- false start, UC.
2-13-H-25: LaDaris Vann 7 pass from Gino Guidugli.
3-6-H-18: Incomplete pass.
4-6-H-18: Jonathan Ruffin FG 35 -- GOOD.
11 plays, 62 yards, 4:51
10:09 left in the third quarter.
Hawaii 14, Cincinnati 13.

Notes: Opening drive of the third quarter. .... 11th field goal surrendered by Hawaii this season. ... Guidugli completed 5 of 6 passes for 48 yards on the drive.

CINCINNATI
1-10-H-37: DeMarco McCleskey 15 pass from Gino Guidugli.
1-10-H-22: Jon Olinger 12 pass from Gino Guidugli, fumble recovered by LaDaris Vann.
1-G-H-10: DeMarco McCleskey 1 run.
2-G-H-9: DeMarco McCleskey 0 run.
3-G-H-9: Incomplete pass.
4-G-H-9: Jonathan Ruffin FG 25 -- GOOD.
6 plays, 28 yards, 1:57.
7:48 left in the third quarter.
Cincinnati 16, Hawaii 14.

Notes: Drive set up by Tyjuan Hagler's recovery of a Shawn Withy-Allen fumble.

FOURTH QUARTER

CINCINNATI
1-10-C-20: Jon Olinger 8 pass from Gino Guidugli.
2-2-C-28: Tedric Harwell 3 run.
1-10-C-31: Richard Hall 12 pass from Gino Guidugli.
1-10-C-43: Tedric Harwell 2 run.
2-8-C-45: Incomplete pass.
3-8-C-45: Jon Olinger 14 pass from Gino Guidugli.
1-10-H-41: George Murray 5 pass from Gino Guidugli.
2-5-H-36: Tedric Harwell 6 run. Penalty -- holding, UC.
2-9-H-40: Jon Olinger 32 pass from Gino Guidugli.
1-G-H-8: Tedric Harwell 0 run.
2-G-H-8: Incomplete pass.
3-G-H-8: Incomplete pass.
4-G-H-8: Jonathan Ruffin FG 25 -- GOOD.
13 plays, 72 yards, 3:35.
10:53 left in the fourth quarter.
Cincinnati 19, Hawaii 14

Notes: Ruffin now 4-for-4 in FGs, tying a school record for field goals in a game.

HAWAII
1-10-H-49: Jeremiah Cockheran 9 pass from Tim Chang.
2-1-C-42: Incomplete pass.
3-1-C-42: Britton Komine 9 pass from Tim Chang.
1-10-C-33: Jeremiah Cockheran 33 pass from Tim Chang-TOUCHDOWN.
PAT: Tim Chang pass failed.
4 plays, 51 yards, 1:11
5:10 left in the fourth quarter.
Hawaii 20, Cincinnati 19.

Notes: Cockheran's third touchdown reception of the season and Chang's 20th TD pass. ... Chang has thrown at least one touchdown pass in nine consecutive games and in 22 of 24 career games.

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UH Athletics