RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Hawaii safety Landon Kafentzis sacked Idaho quarterback Michael Harrington in the second quarter of last night's game at Aloha Stadium.

Warriors get well

Hawaii's troubles melt away
with quarterback Tim Chang
finding his form against
overwhelmed Idaho

Spurred by a record-breaking performance on offense, a sack-pack defense and many happy returns, Hawaii mashed visiting Idaho 52-21 last night. Too bad only a sparse gathering of football fans were at Aloha Stadium to witness it.

Stars of the game Jason Rivers, Hawaii The wide receiver caught nine passes for 167 yards and a school-record four touchdowns. Bobby Bernal-Wood, Idaho The wide receiver had nine receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns. Key Matchup Hawaii offensive line vs. Idaho defensive line The restructured Warriors offensive line had some early difficulties handling the Vandals' variety of blitzes coming out of multiple alignments. But, with starters Uriah Moenoa and Derek Fa'avi out, and backups Hercules Satele, Phil Kauffman and Dane Uperesa getting some serious playing time, UH's O-line settled down enough to help the offense produce the most points in a game this season. Say What? "It's a shame. You think sometimes that you're hurting me. But you're hurting the school, you're hurting the team, kids who love each other, who play their asses off. I never thought I would see it happen in Hawaii." June Jones, UH coach, on media coverage

With many others discouraged by wipe-out road losses at Boise State and Fresno State, it was a meager crowd announced at 24,739 (turnstile) that saw Tim Chang and Jason Rivers connect for four touchdowns in the first half, with Rivers breaking the school record of three TD catches in a game.

Chang threw for a personal-record six touchdowns. He completed 23 of 32 passes for 376 yards with two interceptions in just a little more than three quarters.

"Timmy was extremely accurate tonight," UH coach June Jones said.

Rivers caught nine passes for 167 yards, both career highs.

"He was on our left cornerback and we basically got out-skilled there," Idaho coach Nick Holt said. "He had a nice game."

The Hawaii defense was also impressive, tying the 15-year-old school record of 10 sacks set against Brigham Young.

This game won't go down in the annals as did the 56-14 thrashing of the rival Cougars in 1989 that washed away more than a decade of frustration. But, in its own way, last night's victory -- their fifth in a row at home -- was just what the beleaguered Warriors needed coming off a 70-14 loss at Fresno State that completed a miserable 0-for-4 road season and less-than-satisfying 4-4 WAC finish.

UH -- playing with only 12 of 22 starters from the season opener at the same positions -- improved to 5-5 and kept its slim Hawaii Bowl hopes alive. The Warriors must beat Northwestern this Saturday and Michigan State on Dec. 4 to qualify for the Dec. 24 bowl game.

"Obviously, we made enough plays to win and we have a long way to go if we want to win the last two," Jones said. "We just executed our stuff and obviously we're just a different team at home."

Idaho, which leaves the Sun Belt and joins Hawaii in the Western Athletic Conference next fall, finished its season at 3-9.

Hawaii took the early lead as Justin Ayat kicked a 44-yard field goal, but UH should have had a touchdown on the opening drive. Britton Komine dropped two passes: a long bomb on the first play from scrimmage and another in the end zone. Also, an apparent touchdown run of 10 yards by Michael Brewster was called back for holding on Hercules Satele, a freshman starting his first game at left guard.

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Hawaii's West Keli'ikipi took off with a handoff from Tim Chang last night.

Idaho stormed back for a 7-3 lead with an 80-yard drive. Its 10 plays included a fake field goal in which holder/quarterback Michael Harrington threw a 10-yard pass to Willie Sipoloa for a first down at the UH 9. Two plays later, Bobby Bernal-Wood made a great move after catching a short pass from Harrington and scored from 8 yards out.

It didn't take Hawaii long to regain the lead. Chang threw to Rivers for a 27-yard touchdown on the third play of the next drive, and the Warriors led 10-7 at 5:50 of the first quarter.

The Vandals used more trickery for their next score, as receiver Christian Populis threw a 26-yard TD pass to Desmond Belton after Populis took a lateral pass from Harrington. It was 14-10 at 5:08 of the first.

Idaho threatened to add to the lead late in the first, but Darrell Tautofi forced Harrington to fumble and Lui Fuga recovered at the UH 36.

The Hawaii defense came at Idaho from all angles -- of the 10 sacks, linebacker Lincoln Manutai was the only player with more than one; he led UH with two.

"They brought the blitzes and I should've been able to pick them up," Harrington said.

The Warriors took full advantage of the turnover to take a 17-14 lead. Rivers, in heavy traffic, cradled a 22-yard TD pass from Chang at 14:04 of the second quarter.

It was Chang-to-Rivers again less than 4 minutes later on a 16-yard delayed sideline pattern, giving UH a 24-14 lead. A third-down sack by Landon Kafentzis at the Idaho 9 helped the Warriors start the drive at the Vandals 36.

"Jason is a special receiver," Chang said. "He's doing his part, reading the coverages and being where he's supposed to be."

The defense gave UH good position again, as Kila Kamakawiwo'ole's crushing sack on third down translated into the next drive starting at the Idaho 39. Chang hit Komine for a 9-yard TD and a 17-point margin.

Idaho came back with a 14-yard scoring pass to Bernal-Wood from Harrington with 4:02 left in the half, capping an 80-yard drive.

Rivers' fourth scoring pass from Chang went for 15 yards, after UH benefited from great field position once again after Jason Ferguson's 39-yard kickoff return.

Idaho then got a 59-yard return from J.R. Ruffin, but couldn't capitalize because Brad Kalilimoku forced a fumble, with Leonard Peters recovering deep in UH territory and a minute left before the break.

"We started creating pressure and havoc," said Fuga, who also forced one of Idaho's five fumbles and had a sack. "Then we opened our playbook with the blitzes. It was awesome."

Chang found Gerald Welch for an 11-yard score in the third quarter, increasing the lead to 45-21.

The Warriors knocked Harrington out of the game late in the third quarter, and his replacement, Brian Nooy, didn't fare better. He was greeted with a 7-yard sack by Peters.

"They came on with their pressure and gave us a lot of trouble," Bernal-Wood said. "We should've been able to get the ball off quicker. If you have problems with your blocking you can't throw."

Third-string running back Kala Latuselu completed the scoring with a 4-yard run with 23 seconds left. Second-year-freshman quarterback Jack Rolovich played most of the fourth quarter and directed the final drive.

"They raised their game and played better (in the second half)," Jones said of UH's defense. "They were getting some confidence as the game was going and I thought they answered the bell."