Fresno State
Hawaii
Football Falls at Home to Hawai`i
10/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 25, 2002
Final Stats?|? Quotes?|? Notes
FRESNO, Calif. - Timmy Chang threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Britton Komine with 2:25 left as Hawaii scored 22 straight fourth-quarter points to beat Fresno State 31-21 Friday night.
Chang was 36-of-61 for 462 yards, cementing his place among the nation's leaders in total offense. He also taunted the Fresno State sideline after driving the Warriors (6-2, 5-1 WAC) from midfield for the go-ahead touchdown by Komine.
Earlier in the fourth, Chang hit Justin Colbert for a 58-yard TD as Hawaii closed in on its first victory in Fresno since 1973.
After Kevin Millhouse intercepted Fresno State's long pass to the end zone in the final minute, John West ran 81 yards straight up the middle for another score with 41 seconds left as Hawaii was trying to run out the clock.
Dee Meza blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown for the Bulldogs (4-5, 2-2), who lost at home for just the fifth time in 32 games under coach Pat Hill.
Actually, Fresno State stifled Chang and Hawaii's high-powered passing attack - which was ranked second in the nation - until the fourth quarter, when the Warriors amassed 283 of their 546 total yards.
After the teams traded interceptions midway through the fourth quarter, Chang drove the Warriors to the Fresno State 13 with 2? minutes left. On fourth down, he found Komine wide open across the middle for the score.
After completing the 2-point pass to Komine, Chang taunted the Fresno State sideline and the Bulldogs running off the field. He wasn't penalized for the most blatant incident in a heated rivalry game.
Paul Pinegar drove Fresno State to the Hawaii 38, but his long pass to the end zone was intercepted by Millhouse. The vocal Hawaii cheering section roared with delight, and the Warriors' bench nearly emptied onto the field.
Rodney Davis ran for 140 yards and a touchdown, and his older brother Marque Davis caught a TD pass from Pinegar as Fresno State rebounded from last Saturday's 67-21 defeat at Boise State - the worst loss in Hill's six seasons.
Justin Ayat kicked three field goals for the Warriors, who withstood a poor first half with a brilliant fourth quarter.
Fresno State took an early lead on Rodney Davis' 3-yard TD run, but the Bulldogs were penalized eight times for 68 yards in the first half, prompting at least three hat-throwing outbursts by Hill.
Ayat hit a 50-yard field goal late in the second quarter, and his 26-yarder gave Fresno State a halftime deficit at home for the first time since Sept. 26, 1998.
The Bulldogs jumped back ahead when Marque Davis dragged his feet in the end zone while falling out of bounds with an 8-yard TD catch midway through the third.
Chang, already Hawaii's career passing leader after just 20 games, had difficulty hitting open receivers until the magical fourth. He overthrew Jeremiah Cockerham on a third down midway through the third quarter - and Meza blocked the resulting punt, picked up the loose ball and sprinted 10 yards for a score, giving the Bulldogs a 21-9 lead.
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
