RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Hawaii's Michael Brewster held up the trophy for the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl yesterday as he walked off the field at Aloha Stadium. The Warriors beat the University of Alabama-Birmingham Blazers, 59-40.

Victory!

UH wins the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl,
beating UAB, 59-40

THIS morning, as you skeptically examine that tiny gift-wrapped box prior to opening it, cynically dismissing the old saying about good things and small packages, remember these two words:

Chad Owens.

Stars of the Game Tim Chang, Hawaii The QB went 31-for-46 for 405 yards and four TDs, and also ran for a score. Chad Owens, Hawaii The slotback had eight catches for 114 yards and two TDs, and also returned a punt 59 yards for a touchdown. Darrell Hackney, UAB The QB was 31-for-54 for 417 yards and two touchdowns, and also rushed for a touchdown. Key Matchup UAB receiver Roddy White vs. UH cornerback Abraham Elimimian White, the Blazers' all-conference receiver, caught six passes for 113 yards and a touchdown. But after a 51-yard TD to open the scoring, he was neutralized for the most part by Elimimian, with help from fellow cornerback Kenny Patton and other UH defensive backs who aided with double-team coverage.

The 5-foot-9, 177-pound slotback did it again in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl yesterday, completing an incredible dash to the finish line of his Hawaii football career at Aloha Stadium as nearly all of the 38,322 in the crowd cheered him on.

The second-team All-America all-purpose player caught two more touchdown passes and returned another punt for a score as UH produced its largest scoring output of the year to beat UAB 59-40. He finished the season with 22 touchdowns, second in the nation to the 23 by DeAngelo Williams of Memphis.

"I love playing in front of this crowd," Owens said. "I was ready to play three weeks ago."

Owens leads the nation in touchdown receptions (17) and punt-return TDs (five) for the season.

"It's unbelievable," senior linebacker Watson Ho'ohuli said. "We can always count on Chad."

Especially lately. Owens scored 12 touchdowns in his last three games.

The ESPN-televised victory is UH's fourth in a row, and completes an improbable journey that reached its lowest depth with losses at Boise State and Fresno State by the ridiculous scores of 69-3 and 70-14. Some will remember that UH was last in the nation in rushing defense most of the season, but more will remember the deeds of Owens, quarterback Tim Chang, a resilient defense, and the fact that the Warriors finish at 8-5.

Chang finished his career as the all-time NCAA passing-yardage leader with 17,072. He got 405 of them yesterday, as the Warriors won their second Hawaii Bowl in a row and third bowl win in four tries under Jones.

"He was really plugged in all week," Hawaii coach June Jones said. "I knew he'd be pretty good. He was really focused."

Chang saved one of his best games for the finale, completing 31 of 46 passes with four touchdowns and no interceptions.

"The first two or three series we saw their whole (defensive) package. We prepared for them well and the line blocked unbelievable," Chang said. "Not too many coverages can play against a four-receiver set. I think I've seen them all in my five years."

RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Chad Owens delivered once again for the Warriors, scoring three touchdowns, including this one on a 13-yard second-quarter reception from quarterback Tim Chang.

UAB coach Watson Brown said he knew what was coming, but couldn't find a way to stop it.

"We tried to pressure him, tried to play different coverages. The weakest part of our team has been our pass defense."

Chang spread it around, hitting Jason Rivers 11 times for 148 yards and a TD, Owens eight for 114, and Gerald Welch six times for 85 yards and a touchdown.

Chang and Owens were named UH's MVPs, while quarterback Darrell Hackney (31 of 54 completions for 417 yards and two touchdowns, and one rushing score) got the honor for UAB.

The only starting receiver who didn't get a scoring pass, Britton Komine, got a TD from fate -- he ran 42 yards with UAB's onside kick with 1:55 left for the game's final score.

It was a fitting end to a raucous game that began with 34 points in the first quarter.

"It was fun," Rivers said. "Like kids in the park."

UAB receiver Roddy White started the scoring with a 51-yard pass from Hackney, but the extra-point try was a misadventure for the Blazers that nearly cost them two points -- the kick was blocked and run back by Abraham Elimimian, but he fumbled into the end zone; Chad Kapanui recovered, but was ruled out of bounds.

The Warriors scored a play later as Rivers sprinted away from the UAB defense for a 74-yard touchdown pass from Chang.

The Blazers rushed for 142 yards in the first quarter, and Dan Burks scored on a 4-yard run, Norris Drinkard on a 10-yarder, and Nick Hayes with two field goals.

Meanwhile, West Keli'ikipi's 4-yard rush, Welch's 29-yard pass from Chang and Chang's 13-yarder to Owens added up to a 28-26 halftime lead for the Warriors.

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Hawaii's Abraham Elimimian carried the ball after Hawaii blocked a point-after attempt yesterday.

As it has several other times this season, the third quarter spelled doom for UH's opponent.

Hawaii's defense stiffened, allowing just two first downs during UAB's first three possessions. They ended badly for the Blazers.

After the first punt, UH set up at the UAB 36, and Chang hit Owens with a 15-yard touchdown pass.

The Blazers' next series started promisingly, with Hackney passing for 15 and 10 yards. But then Kila Kamakawiwo'ole made the defensive play of the game, batting down an option toss by Hackney, picking it up and running it to the UAB 47.

The Warriors didn't score this time, but another Blazers three-and-out forced them to punt from their own 12. Owens took the ball at his own 41 and -- with two key blocks by former Roosevelt High School teammate Kapanui -- returned his eighth career kick for a score.

"He's always made key blocks. He's had my back from Day One," Owens said of Kapanui. "Everyone else did a great job, too."

Said Jones: "Chad turned the stadium into a home-field advantage."

Brown said the Blazers didn't kick away from Owens because, "We had him under control. But we missed three tackles. We were trying to kick very high and cover it. You can't just kick away and give them position."

Turmarian Moreland picked off a fourth-quarter pass to help ice the win, and cornerback Elimimian did a decent job on White after the early lapse.

"I didn't sleep too much this week," Elimimian said. "I wanted that matchup."

Said White: "They mixed things up and confused us with their coverages."

Jones said the victory was all the sweeter because of the low points the Warriors experienced this year -- which turned out to be UH's fourth winning season in a row.

"It's not so much how you react when things are going good. It's how you get up when you're knocked down," Jones said.