I did correctly predict that Hawaii would beat San Jose State last weekend, but I was wrong about how the Rainbow Warriors would do it.
Hawaii needed five overtimes to beat my alma mater SJSU, 44-41. Kicker Ryan Meskell booted a 35-yard field goal to finally put the game away.
As I was leaving Lihue to get to an assignment, Hawaii had evened the score in the fourth quarter.
I was excited when my Spartan got an early 17-3 lead, but then was in disbelief when the Rainbow Warriors caught up. (Even though I shouldn’t have been. As we have seen, UH can put up points.)
Last Saturday during the Waimea-Island School girls volleyball match out in Waimea, I came across Waimea High School assistant boys basketball coach Brandon Moises.
I found out from him that UH completed the comeback to beat SJSU. (Urgh …)
After I was told the final score, he then said both team should probably be looking at their schools’ soccer teams for kickers. (Jokingly, of course.)
UH’s Meskell and SJSU’s Bryce Crawford each missed two field goal attempts in overtime.
But it was Meskell that got the game-winner through the uprights. In SJSU’s final possession, Crawford missed from 47 yards out to end the game.
Forty-seven yards is a tough distance, but one of Crawford’s misses in OT was from 30 yards. One of Meskell’s misses was from 36 yards.
I believed, as much as I was pulling for my school, that Hawaii would win. But I also said that UH would cover the 10-point spread. I was wrong there.
I was correct in saying UH’s offense, particularly quarterback Cole McDonald, would put up numbers. McDonald was 34-57 for 341 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
UH receiver John Ursua hauled in 13 receptions for 148 yards and three touchdowns. Those are some big numbers.
I was also wrong saying SJSU would play two quarterbacks against Hawaii.
Spartans QB Josh Love, after a gutsy performance against Oregon in the week prior, went point-for-point against McDonald. Love was 28-49 for 451 yards and three TDs.
So as much as I’m bummed my school couldn’t get the home win, I can’t feel too bad when the game itself was that close and that good.
So, congrats UH fans. Once again, you got one over SJSU.
And once again, I lost betting on my team. That’s the breaks.
UH hosts Wyoming this weekend. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. This time, though, UH is just a three-point favorite against the Cowboys in this Mountain West Conference matchup.
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
