FRESNO, Calif. » Just as it did two years earlier, Hawaii exited Bulldog Stadium in celebration amid the silence of the home crowd.

But last night's 32-29 overtime upset of No. 22 Fresno State brought a different sense of satisfaction for the Warriors.

“;This is a lot sweeter,”; senior linebacker Solomon Elimimian said, comparing last night's drama to UH's 68-37 win in Fresno in 2006. “;We really needed to win as a team today and that's what we did. Everybody had each other's backs.”;

After struggling over the season's first four games, the Warriors (2-3,1-1 Western Athletic Conference)—22-point underdogs entering the game—gave coach Greg McMackin his first league victory by beating a ranked team on the road for the first time in the program's history.

Dan Kelly's 33-yard field goal in overtime provided the decisive points as Hawaii saw a 17-point lead disappear in the second half, forced overtime with a blocked kick, and celebrated the program's third straight victory over Fresno State (3-2, 0-1 WAC).

“;Every (WAC) game is going to be a fight,”; McMackin said. “;So we're right back in the thick of things.”;

Fresno State outgained Hawaii 522 yards to 342, but Hawaii reversed the turnover woes that plagued it in a loss to San Jose State the previous week and delivered on special teams to pull out the win.

The Warriors also overcame the tough running of Fresno State backs Lonyae Miller (161 yards) and Anthony Harding (158) and a penalty disparity in which UH was pushed back 10 times for 82 yards while Fresno State wasn't flagged in the game.

“;It was like all odds were against us and we felt we were on our own,”; Inoke Funaki said after becoming the first UH quarterback to start and finish a game this season. “;We've been struggling up to this point, but everyone in this locker room believed in each other.”;

Hawaii, which entered the game with only two takeaways in its first four games, came away with three interceptions of Fresno State quarterback Tom Brandstater and recovered three fumbles, with the offense turning the takeaways into 20 points.

“;We've been in a dry spell and like Coach Mack said, when turnovers come, they start coming in bundles,”; defensive end David Veikune said.

Funaki managed a Hawaii offense that gave away one fumble after committing six turnovers the previous week. He finished 15-for-25 with two touchdowns and ran for a team-high 79 yards.

His key stat, though—zero interceptions.

“;I took a lot of responsibility for that San Jose game,”; said Funaki, who had three picks in that loss. “;The big thing in my mind was don't turn the ball over. It's better to punt the ball because we believe in our defense.

“;Better to punt it and make them drive.”;

After giving up a field goal on Fresno State's first possession, the Warriors stunned the red-clad crowd with Ryan Mouton's 90-yard sprint to the end zone on the ensuing kickoff.

Last in the nation in turnover margin entering the week, Hawaii got four takeaways in the first half on its way to taking a 19-9 lead into the locker room.

Fresno State's turnover spree began with two fumbles, which led to two Kelly field goals and the Warriors converted the first of Keao Monteilh's two interceptions into a 28-yard touchdown pass from Funaki to Malcolm Lane to put UH up 19-3. The connection ended a string of nine quarters without a passing touchdown.

The turnover trend continued into the third quarter when Brashton Satele intercepted Brandstater's attempted screen pass and returned it to the Bulldogs 11. Funaki then lofted a 2-yard touchdown pass to Mike Washington to give UH a 26-9 advantage.