Hawaii receivers add to legend

SAN JOSE, Calif. » The Hawaii passing game is so explosive, it's causing a shift in how people look at the statistics.

After Friday's 42-35 overtime victory at San Jose State, UH media relations director Derek Inouchi "made up a record."

This was the first game in school history where three receivers caught 10 or more passes, Inouchi said.

Ryan Grice-Mullins (14), Davone Bess (12) and Jason Rivers (12) set the mark. (Grice-Mullins tied the catches-per-game record shared by Chad Owens, Bess twice and Rivers.)

Quarterback Colt Brennan threw touchdown passes to all four starting receivers -- the three above and C.J. Hawthorne.

Just as remarkable was Grice-Mullins (175), Bess (140) and Rivers (138) breaking the century mark in receiving yards. And every time you look at the record book, Rivers seems to be at the top of another list.

He became UH's all-time receiving-yardage leader, passing Ashley Lelie in the fourth quarter. Rivers is at 3,370 yards to Lelie's 3,341. The fifth-year senior also passed Owens for the top spot in career receptions with 246 to Owens' 239. All four starters have a chance to break 1,000 yards in receiving this season, especially with the Warriors qualifying for a bowl game.

They're much more than statistical marvels, though. Brennan completed 42 passes to the wideouts and slots (running back Kealoha Pilares caught the other two) in conditions better suited for an old-fashioned running game.

"We had everything going against us," receivers coach Ron Lee said. "The weather was bad, the ball was wet. I can't remember playing in these kind of conditions, maybe ever. We dropped some early on and made some mistakes. The guys hung in there, battled."

Grice-Mullins said the weather, though a challenge, made the game enjoyable -- as did having to come from two touchdowns behind with less than 4 minutes left.

"That makes football fun. We were like little kids running around the yard. Twenty seconds left ... 10 seconds left .... gotta make a big play. We're little kids running around and having fun," Grice-Mullins said. "The ball was like a beachball the whole night. I think I got one drop -- I didn't get my hands right."

Coach June Jones agrees with Brennan's assessment that the Warriors have the best collection of receivers in the nation.

"Davone Bess made one of the most unbelievable catches I've ever seen," Jones said, of Bess' one-handed grab in the end zone that got UH back in the game with 3:53 left. "Those guys, Jason Rivers, all of them, they made some unbelievable efforts. It's a team game and those receivers can play."

Bess is now two touchdowns off the UH career mark of 38 shared by Chad Owens and Michael Carter.

Early Friday, the Spartans had a measure of success with a talented secondary, including All-America cornerback Dwight Lowery, and mixing man and zone coverages. Brennan was intercepted four times. But eventually the Warriors' four-pronged air attack wore down the Spartans.

"What can they do? You've got four receivers who can all make big plays," Grice-Mullins said. "We all made 'em, all throughout the game. Every one of us had a big play, a big moment, everyone had a touchdown. Everyone had that little catch that might have seemed little, but it was on third down. No matter who they try to move around on us it's not going to work. We proved that once again.

"All in all, we fought back and refused to lose. Refuse to lose and win all, that's our motto," Grice-Mullins added. "Make a mistake? Let it go. One snap and clear. Like Coach Jones preaches. Once you get guys believing, confidence is a beauty."

Lee said they're more than just flash.

"The thing is the guys are confident.," he said. "They just execute under extreme conditions."

Short yardage

The Warriors will have conditioning practice tomorrow to start the bye week. ... Inouchi is reviewing the forced fumble in the fourth quarter that was originally credited to David Veikune and now to Blaze Soares. Some TV replays indicated Mike Lafaele may have knocked the ball out of J.T. Callier's hands. ... UH nominated Brennan for WAC offensive player of the week and Adam Leonard for defensive player of the week. ... Ron Lee said Friday's thriller ranks right up with the most exciting games he's been associated with in more than 50 years of playing and coaching football.

Warrior Replay Five big plays from Hawaii's 42-35 win over San Jose State Chosen* and described by the Star-Bulletin's Dave Reardon 1. Lowery steps up The Setup: Hawaii 14, San Jose State 7, 14:55 remaining, third quarter, Hawaii ball, first and 10 at own 18. The Play: QB Colt Brennan looks for WR Jason Rivers on the left sideline. But CB Dwight Lowery times it perfectly and cuts in front of Rivers to intercept and run the ball back 24 yards for a game-tying touchdown. The Impact: Lowery's second TD of the game (he also scored on a second-quarter punt return) is followed by two scoring passes from Adam Tafralis to Kevin Jurovich and San Jose State leads by two touchdowns much of the second half Lowery: "We were able to make a big defensive play and continue the turnaround. It gave us a lot of momentum. But we couldn't stop them in the end." 2. Blaze of glory The Setup: San Jose State 35, Hawaii 28, 3:45 remaining, fourth quarter, San Jose State ball, second and 4 at own 46. The Play: LB Blaze Soares goes helmet to ball, knocking it out of the grasp of RB James T. Callier. Replays indicate DT Mike Lafaele may have had a hand in the forced fumble. LB Adam Leonard, who interepted a pass earlier, falls on the ball, giving it to Hawaii. The Impact: Hawaii -- which elected not to try an onside kick after Davone Bess' spectacular one-handed TD catch put it within a touchdown with less than 4 minutes left -- recovers San Jose State's first lost fumble of the season, and takes over at the San Jose State 45. Soares: "The coaches finally let me loose this game and it felt real great, to be out there and be with my boys. ... I went crush him." 3. Colt takes over The Setup: San Jose State 35, Hawaii 28, 50 seconds remaining, fourth quarter, Hawaii ball, first and goal at San Jose State 2. The Play: Brennan rolls right and runs into the end zone for the game-tying touchdown, capping an 8-play, 45-yard drive. He completes three passes to three different receivers on the drive. Brennan also finishes with four touchdown passes and four interceptions to go with 545 yards on a school-record 44 completions. The Impact: After Dan Kelly's extra-point ties it, San Jose State gets to midfield with 19 seconds left, but a holding penalty kills its chances to close in for a game-winning field goal. Brennan: "We knew we just had to get to overtime." 4. Old Man Rivers The Setup: Hawaii 35, San Jose State 35, overtime, Hawaii ball, second and 7 at San Jose State 9. The Play: Jason Rivers -- the only Hawaii starting receiver without a touchdown in the game yet -- is open in the front-left corner of the end zone. Brennan's school-record 75th throw of the night is a fastball with enough zip on it to get to Rivers before a closing defender can make a play. The Impact: Brennan and Rivers give Hawaii its first lead since the first play from scrimmage of the second half. Rivers, a five-year starter who also caught landmark passes from Tim Chang, ends the game as Hawaii's all-time receiving-yardage leader. Rivers: "In my book, that was one of the biggest (catches). Our season could've been done." 5. Myron again The Setup: Hawaii 42, San Jose State 35, overtime, San Jose State ball, second and 15 on Hawaii 30. The Play: Following a first-down, 5-yard sack by Fale Laeli, Tafralis throws into the end zone for David Richmond. But Myron Newberry is right there with him and makes a leaping catch for his second interception of the game. The Impact: Newberry's fourth pick of the season ends the game and extends Hawaii's record to 7-0 and 4-0 in the WAC with a comeback victory that will rank among the school's greatest ever. Newberry: "We believe in ourselves. We just kept believing, believing and we pulled it out." * -- Play No. 2 is this week's bloggers' choice. Readers of UH Sports Extra, the Star-Bulletin's Warrior football blog, vote for the biggest play of each game. UH football beat writer Dave Reardon selects the other four.