Graunke gives UH hope in home opener

He replaces Funaki in the second half to lead UH past scrappy Weber State

It was a night of redemption in Halawa.

A week after a blowout loss to open the season, Hawaii turned to a late-arriving quarterback to spark the Warriors to the first win of the Greg McMackin era.

AT A GLANCE »   What a relief! Warriors defeat Weber State »   Graunke gives UH hope in home opener »   Graunke rejuvenates UH with leadership »   Weber State's Higgins shines in first half »   Further Review: Graunke's time came »   Notebook: Warriors vs. Weber State

Reinstated less than two weeks ago after resolving academic issues that kept him out of fall camp, Graunke found his way back into the Warriors huddle to start the third quarter with UH trailing Weber State by 10.

By the time the period ended, the Warriors had overcome the deficit, and a 36-17 win over the Wildcats followed.

"I think he gained the respect of his team, I think he gained the respect of the coaching staff and I think he has respect for himself," McMackin said of Graunke.

"He did it the hard way and our football team did it the hard way today. ... We sort of became a team in the second half. We were down and out and sucked it up in a tough situation and I'm really proud of our football team and coaching staff."

For the first 30 minutes, it looked as if Hawaii's home opener would become a triumphant homecoming for Weber State's group of local products led by quarterback Cameron Higgins, a Saint Louis graduate.

Higgins completed 14 of 18 throws for 145 yards and a touchdown in the first half as Weber State controlled the flow of the game and troubled the Aloha Stadium crowd by taking a 17-7 lead.

Graunke was called on to relieve starter Inoke Funaki -- who was diagnosed with a concussion at halftime -- as the Warriors came out of the locker room. The senior promptly led Hawaii to three third-quarter touchdowns to turn the game in UH's favor.

Graunke finished 13-for-20 for 218 yards and three scores, tying a career high, with two going to slotback Aaron Bain.

"It was an awesome feeling just hearing the crowd roar when I stepped onto the field," said Graunke, who got his first extensive work in practice last Wednesday.

"I think I've really matured as a person, not just as a football player. I've learned a lot of valuable life lessons and I credit a lot of that to Coach Mack. He's made me a better person and I thank him for that. I've been waiting for that opportunity for a long time."

After the game, McMackin wasted little time in declaring Graunke the starter for Saturday's game at Oregon State.

"It's a no-brainer, right?," McMackin said. "I'd have to be a dumb, stupid coach not to play him next week, because he looked pretty good to me."

Bain and fellow slotback Mike Washington struggled in last week's 56-10 loss at Florida and rebounded with solid performances last night. Washington led the Warriors with five catches for 109 yards to complement Bain's two scores.

"The difference was that Funaki doesn't have all the reads down in the offense," Weber State coach Ron McBride said. "The other guy has a lot of experience and he gave them a lift.

"They outphysicaled us in the second half. They controlled the line of scrimmage and they controlled the tempo. Sooner or later with their offense, if you don't move the ball they're going to score points on you."

The Warriors defense, which gave up 141 yards in the first half, surrendered only 72 yards and four first downs in the second in keeping the Wildcats off the scoreboard after the break.

"We made a lot of mistakes the first half," linebacker Solomon Elimimian said. "The second half Coach made adjustments ... like we're not going to try to out-scheme them or try to do anything fancy. It's going to be a man vs. man game and that's what we did the second half."

The night started promisingly for Hawaii again as a botched punt attempt led to the Warriors' first score. After Funaki's 29-yard completion to Washington, Leon Wright-Jackson took a pitch around the right side for a 4-yard touchdown.

But Hawaii's subsequent possessions yielded two punts, two missed field goals and a fumble that led to a 3-yard touchdown pass from Higgins to running back Trevyn Smith that gave Weber State a 17-7 lead with 9 minutes left in the half.

Graunke entered the game to open the second half, and promptly led UH on a five-play, 88-yard drive, ending with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Malcolm Lane down the right sideline.

McMackin said he didn't want to take any chances with Funaki, who went 7-for-14 for 87 yards in his first collegiate start, and sent Graunke into the game ahead of the original schedule.

"It was totally a halftime decision," Graunke said. "When I first got reinstated I was told I wasn't going to get a look until the bye week, and after Oregon State I could get back in there. I guess I showed them enough."