RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hawaii's Justin Colbert fought off Tulane's Joey Dawson in the first quarter of yesterday's Hawaii Bowl. Colbert had nine catches for 158 yards and two scores.
Few Hawaii players have been as dependable as Justin Colbert. Steady Colbert
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jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comThe senior receiver started 38 straight games for the Warriors and caught a pass in 26 consecutive outings. He ranks at or near the top of most of the school's receiving charts, and when Hawaii needed a spark in yesterday's Hawaii Bowl, Colbert delivered again.
Even in a 36-28 loss to Tulane, Colbert shined, with nine catches for 158 yards and two touchdowns. Both scores came in a frantic fourth-quarter rally that fell short in the end.
"We always feel like we're in the game," Colbert said. "Just with the group of guys we have on this team, we're never going to quit and we're never going to give up. That's what I'm happy for, just to go into battle with some guys who are going to fight it out to the end. I know they're going to fight for me just like I'm going to do for them."Colbert was named Hawaii's most valuable player for the game and finished the season with 92 catches for 1,302 yards.
The reception total is a school record, breaking the mark set by Ashley Lelie last year. His career yardage mark of 2,905 is second to Lelie's 3,341. (Due to a rule change prior to this season, bowl game statistics now count in season and career records).
Colbert had a hand in Hawaii's first score, as a 39-yard connection from quarterback Tim Chang set up a touchdown on the Warriors' first drive of the game.
Colbert snagged a screen pass, found a hole in the defense and outran the Tulane pursuit to the Green Wave's 15 for a 39-yard gain. Hawaii took a 7-0 lead two plays later.
But the Warriors' offense sputtered after Chang went out with a thumb injury in the second quarter. Tulane took advantage by storming back to score 26 unanswered points and take the lead going into the fourth quarter.
Trailing by two touchdowns early in the period, Hawaii coach June Jones elected to go for it on fourth-and-one at the Warriors' 43. Backup quarterback Shawn Withy-Allen dropped back and fired a pass to Colbert down the left sideline.
"It was one of those where you say, 'I'm going to put it in the air and let God do the rest,' " Withy-Allen said.
Colbert helped answer his prayer by catching the ball behind a diving Tulane defensive back and racing to the end zone to bring the Warriors back into contention.
"The safety gambled on it and missed and when you gamble you win some you lose some," Colbert said.
Said Jones: "Shawn made a nice read and showed discipline on the long touchdown pass. He went through his progressions, they hadn't run that coverage all day, and he read what he's supposed to read, made a nice throw and Justin made a nice catch and run."
Tulane responded with a touchdown, but Colbert struck again, this time cutting across the middle of the field to grab a Withy-Allen throw. He broke into open field and scored again to bring Hawaii closer at 34-28 with 3:42 left in the game.
The play was meant to go to the other side of the field, but when Tulane came on an all-out blitz, Withy-Allen and Colbert made the necessary adjustment.
"Shawn saw the coverage, I saw it, we were on the same page and we hooked up," Colbert said. "From there, once I get the ball in my hands I know what to do with it. Just turn on the jets."
Despite Colbert's big night, the Warriors could get no closer to Tulane and could only watch as the Green Wave celebrated at midfield after the game, leaving Colbert to take his last stroll to the locker room in a Warrior uniform.
"It hasn't set in yet," Colbert said. "I'm pretty sure it's going to set in tomorrow or the next day. Hopefully I'll have more opportunities to go on and continue to play football because that's my passion and that's what I love to do."
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