RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Tim Chang, who eluded Ronald Stanley in the fourth quarter, accounted for five TDs -- four passing and one rushing.

Seniors light up
scoreboard

"One more game."

Over and over, the 25 members of the Hawaii football team's senior class shared those words along with smiles and hugs as they celebrated the Warriors' 41-38 comeback victory over Michigan State last night at Aloha Stadium.

UH Senior Class Justin Ayat, K Ikaika Blackburn, LB Michael Brewster, RB Tim Chang, QB Jonathan Ekno, OL Abraham Elimimian, CB Matt Faga, DL Thomas Frazier, DL Lui Fuga, DL Watson Ho'ohuli, LB Chad Kahale, OL Chad Kapanui, LB Phil Kauffman, OL West Keli'ikipi, RB Britton Komine, WR Paul Lutu-Carroll, LB Matt Manuma, DB Lincoln Manutai, LB Uriah Moenoa, OL Daniel Murray, LB Kilinahe Noa, LB Chad Owens, WR Se'e Poumele, WR Darrell Tautofi, DL Gerald Welch, WR *WR Rene Melson is petitioning the NCAA for another year of eligibility and did not participate in last night's senior walk.

After being all but buried following a 70-14 thrashing at Fresno State on Nov. 12, the Warriors completed an improbable three-game winning streak that earned them a berth in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve. It also ensured that last night's game wouldn't be the seniors' last appearance in Aloha Stadium.

"I thank the doubters out there," UH senior receiver Chad Owens said. "Nothing against you, but what it did is it stirred something in us to go above and beyond what was expected of us."

After UH fell behind 21-0 in the first half, Owens and fellow senior quarterback Tim Chang sparked the rally by hooking up 13 times for 283 yards and four TDs.

Seniors accounted for all of UH's scoring last night. Along with Owens' UH-record-tying four receiving touchdowns, running back West Keli'ikipi ran for one TD and Chang scored on a quarterback sneak for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. Kicker Justin Ayat made five of six point-after attempts.

The seniors who started their playing careers in 2001 completed the regular season with a record of 35-17.

Chang began his march to the NCAA passing-yardage record the previous season, throwing for 3,041 yards as a true freshman in 2000. He completed the regular season with 16,667 yards.

After passing for 416 yards last night, he'll enter the Hawaii Bowl date against Alabama-Birmingham with a career-best 34 touchdown passes this season to just 13 interceptions, a career low not counting his injury-shortened 2001 season.

"We never gave up," Chang said as he prepared to make his senior walk. "That's pretty much how this whole season was. We've been down, we got whupped on a couple times, and we just don't give up.

"That's the character of this team, that's the character of this state. When things go wrong you don't just fold up, you fight harder. My teammates taught me something and I'm going to value these lessons."

Owens, the school's record-holder in all-purpose yards, finished 2 yards short of the school record for receiving yards in a game and one catch short of his mark for receptions in a game.

Owens also passed Jeff Sydner as the UH career leader in punt returns with a 12-yard scamper in the third quarter.

In wins over Northwestern and Michigan State the last two weeks, Owens amassed 22 catches for 438 yards and eight touchdowns.

"I just thanked (Chang) for giving me the opportunity," Owens said.

After Michigan State built its three-touchdown lead, Keli'ikipi got UH on the scoreboard with a 1-yard plunge in the second quarter and Chang hooked up with Owens on TD passes of 36 and 51 yards to bring the Warriors to within 28-27 in the third quarter.