RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Hawaii quarterback Tim Chang ran in a 4-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of yesterday's game.

Warriors show off
running game

In a season where little went according to plan, it's only fitting that Hawaii sealed its second consecutive Hawaii Bowl victory with a time-consuming drive highlighted by, of all things, a running game.

With the Warriors holding a 45-33 lead with 21 seconds left in the third quarter, quarterback Tim Chang captained a 15-play, 85-yard drive, which not only put Hawaii up by three touchdowns, but took nearly 6 minutes off the clock as well.

"Six minutes, no wonder I was tired," offensive lineman Uriah Moenoa said. "That was the biggest drive of the game."

After starting the drive in typical Warrior fashion with five consecutive throws, the Warriors turned to Michael Brewster to carry the load, and the senior running back responded, combining with West Keli'ikipi to carry the ball six times for 45 yards, setting up the clinching score, a Chang 4-yard touchdown run.

"Everybody just went out there and did what they had to do," Brewster said of the drive.

Eight of the Warriors' 16 rushing attempts occurred on the drive, which took longer than four earlier touchdown-scoring drives combined.

Welch's big day: In addition to Gerald Welch's six-catch, 85-yard, one-touchdown performance, the senior slotback scored in a much bigger way off the field.

Welch's wife, Dominique, who was already three weeks overdue, gave birth to a daughter, their second child, during the second half, after rushing to the hospital at halftime.

After the game, Welch got word that everything went well and told his teammates of the birth before rushing to the hospital to see her.

Mr. Christmas: Hawaii sophomore receiver Jason Rivers seems to like these bowl games. Once again, Rivers was big in postseason play.

Rivers, who had seven catches for 143 yards and three touchdowns in the 2003 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, was at it again last night. He was a go-to guy from the opening minutes, and scored Hawaii's first touchdown on a dramatic 74-yard first quarter play. He caught four passes in a decisive third quarter that saw UH score 17 points.

He would finish with 11 catches for 148 yards and that one score.

He had no problem identifying why he seems to shine during bowl play.

"Just the fact that there's so much (riding) on it," he said. "And you always want to send the seniors away with something."

Finishing kick: With the outcome secure and 2 minutes left in the game, it looked as if Britton Komine would be the only member of UH's starting receiver corps not to score a touchdown yesterday.

But the senior found the ball in his hands one more time and made the most of the opportunity as he punctuated the Warriors' win by picking up an onside kick and returning it 42 yards for the final score of the season.

It was the first kick return of Komine's UH career and he finished with 20 touchdowns as a Warrior.

"It was just unreal the way it happened," Komine said. "It didn't go past the 10 yards and I was thinking whether or not I should get it, then I was in the wide open.

"It was unexpected, but it was awesome. What a way to finish off the season."

Welcome back: UH safety Lono Manners had seemingly closed the book on his season back in October when he suffered a broken bone in his foot against Texas-El Paso.

But Manners returned to action yesterday, entering the game in the first quarter. Manners said he was cleared to play on Monday. He finished the game with two tackles.

"I was nervous in the beginning, so I'm just glad Coach gave me the opportunity to get in and showed trust in me," Manners said. "It felt good to just to get in and just to feel that adrenaline again."

Rhode sees action: Backup quarterback Jeff Rhode entered the game with 6 minutes left and managed to let fly his one and only pass of the season, albeit an incomplete one to Komine.

"All I wanted was a second chance to get in there," said Rhode, who struggled at times while playing more significant minutes last season. "Just to make it back out there after everything is a huge step for me."