JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Hawaii receiver Ian Sample leaped into the arms of Vili the Warrior after scoring what proved to be the game-winning touchdown last night against Purdue.

Hawaii hangs on

Purdue pushes back, but the Warriors fight through to get the victory

June Jones, like most coaches, talks about the goal being to just get one point more than the other guys. But when you haven't been truly tested in more than a month, winning by one touchdown can be just as thrilling.

"We hadn't been in this situation," Jones said, after the No. 25 Warriors came back late to beat Purdue, 42-35 last night. "I told the team, 'We're two plays away from winning this game.'"

The string of blowouts was fun for Hawaii. But UH showed its resilient side last night, outlasting the Boilermakers for the Warriors' ninth win in a row -- a school record for consecutive victories in one season.

It was UH's first victory by less than 31 points since they beat Nevada 41-34 on Oct. 7.

Last week UH made it into the national rankings and hoped to make a statement by pounding the Boilermakers of the Big Ten.

But UH -- playing before 44,298 at Aloha Stadium, the largest home crowd of the season -- nearly had that proclamation muted by feisty Purdue and its own mistakes.

"The crowd won it for us," safety Leonard Peters said, citing several situations where the Boilermakers weren't on the same page because of the noise.

"I'm sure the crowd got their money's worth," Jones said. "They were a huge difference in the game."

Purdue fought back from a 17-0 halftime deficit and led 35-27 early in the fourth quarter as it took full advantage of three UH turnovers.

"It was us," Jones said. "Fumbles and turnovers."

But Hawaii rallied and Ian Sample scored the winning touchdown on a 23-yard pass-and-run play from Colt Brennan with 1:27 left.

"This was only fun for about 2 seconds, I'd rather have a blowout," Sample said. "But this shows how much heart we have, offense and defense."

RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Running back Reagan Mauia and his fellow Warriors celebrated last night's win with a haka.

"Camaraderie, character," Brennan said. "And no negativity. Guys were stepping up to make plays and not worrying about the bad things. It shows what type of team we have."

The winning drive was set up by Gerard Lewis' interception with less than 3 minutes left, giving Hawaii the ball at its own 46.

"We just knew we had to make a play and get the offense the ball," Lewis said. "Our offense is unstoppable."

Adam Leonard intercepted Curtis Painter again with 53 seconds left to seal the win.

"Our goal was just don't give up a big play," Leonard said. "The ball went right to me and I had to catch it."

Said defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville: "We did very little different except try to find a way to stop their option. It was the players who made the plays."

The Warriors -- who lead the nation in scoring, total offense and passing offense -- posted a season-high 653 yards.

Brennan passed for 434 yards and threw three touchdown passes, all in the fourth quarter. He needs three more to tie the single-season national record of 54 held by David Klingler of Houston.

Hawaii (10-2) plays Oregon State this Saturday and then in the Dec. 24 Hawaii Bowl. Purdue (8-5) goes on to the Champs Sports Bowl.

It was the 63rd career victory at UH for Jones, who tied Dick Tomey for most wins at the school.

"I'm proud of the way the guys never gave up," he said. "There was a lot of confidence, even after the turnovers and we fell behind."

UH tied the game at 35 with 4:40 left when Brennan threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Grice-Mullins, and then found him again for a 2-point conversion.

The Warriors frittered away a 17-0 advantage, and Purdue took its first lead, 21-20, early in the fourth quarter when Painter threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Greg Orton.

But UH came back with a seven-play, 88-yard drive. The capper was Ross Dickerson's vault into the end zone to complete a 14-yard scoring pass play from Brennan. The Warriors led 27-21 after the extra point.

Purdue quickly reclaimed the lead, 28-27, with Painter throwing a 19-yard touchdown pass to Dustin Keller. Kory Sheets' 37-yard catch-and-run set up the score.

Nate Ilaoa lost a fumble for the second time in the game, and Purdue recovered at the Hawaii 32 with 6:55 left.

Painter immediately hit Selwyn Lymon in the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown.

RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Guyton Galdeira of Hawaii celebrated a tackle.

Ilaoa's 4-yard run capped a 10-play, 72-yard drive and put UH up 7-0.

Later, the Boilermakers botched a chance to tie. Purdue took 13 plays to drive to the Hawaii 1, but Painter lateraled the ball off the back of unaware fullback Dan McGowen, and UH cornerback Myron Newberry recovered at the Hawaii 9.

Brennan immediately hit Davone Bess -- who finished with six catches for 117 yards -- for a 49-yard gain. After two more passes for first downs to Grice-Mullins and Chad Mock, Ilaoa went left for a 16-yard TD. Right guard John Estes pulled left to make the key block at the line, and Mock sustained his near the goal line long enough for Ilaoa to score.

Dan Kelly made a 22-yard field goal with 3 seconds left in the half.

Purdue took advantage of UH turnovers to get right back in the game.

A fumble by Ilaoa forced by Anthony Spencer and recovered by Al Royal helped Purdue score its first points. Painter threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Keller, who snuck behind the middle of the Warriors defense.

"We had two busted coverages, and they took advantage of both of them," Glanville said.

Then Justin Scott intercepted Brennan's pass, and slotback Dorien Bryant threw a 25-yard touchdown pass over Lewis to tight end Kyle Adam.

Adam hung onto the ball despite a jarring hit from Peters. Hawaii's lead was cut to 17-14 at 8:20 of the third.

Kelly made a career-long 52-yard field goal to make the lead 20-14.