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“Bows rebounded from 13th place to win in the final seconds at Fresno.”

“Bows rebounded from 13th place to win in the final seconds at Fresno.”

CRAIG KOHLRUSS / SPECIAL TO THE STAR ADVERTISER Hawaii quarterback Brayden Schager avoids being tripped by Fresno State's Sione Noa during the first half of their game at Valley Children's Stadium in Fresno today. UH won the game 21-20 on a last-minute touchdown pass from Schager to wide receiver Nick Cenacle.

CRAIG KOHLRUSS / SPECIAL FOR THE STAR ADVERTISER

Hawaii quarterback Brayden Schager avoids being tripped by Fresno State's Sione Noa during the first half of the game today at Valley Children's Stadium in Fresno. UH won the game 21-20 on a last-minute touchdown pass from Schager to wide receiver Nick Cenacle.

FRESNO, CALIFORNIA >> Rallying in the Valley, Hawaii rallied from a 13-point deficit to win 21-20 over Fresno Sate today at Valley Children's Stadium.

On fourth-and-10 play from the Fresno State 18, Brayden Schager and Tylan Hines were unable to get a pass into the end zone with 28 seconds left. But linebacker Tuasivi Nomura was called for pass interference, giving UH the ball — and extending its life — on the 3rd.

Two plays later, Schager threw to Nick Cenacle in the right flat for a touchdown, tying the score at 20 with 15 seconds to play.

Kansei Matsuzawa's point from the free kick gave UH its second win in 16 road games under coach Timmy Chang.

The Rainbow Warriors improved to 4-6 overall and 2-3 in the Mountain West.

The Warriors closed to 20-14 on a 9-yard pass from Brayden Schager to Cenacle, who was wide open in the left corner of the end zone, with 9:04 left to play.

Trailing 13-7, the Warriors entered the red zone in the third quarter. But on third-and-9 from the Fresno State 20, the Warriors were penalized for a false start. On the next play, Schager fled to the left and then tried to shoot a pass across the middle. Nomura faked the ball into the air. Backup linebacker Phoenix Jackson caught the popup and then raced the pick-6 89 yards the other way to extend the Bulldogs' lead to 20-7 with 3:57 left in the third quarter.

A series of unfortunate events for Hawaii resulted in Fresno State taking a 13-7 lead at the break.

The Warriors struck first, with a methodical opening drive that covered 75 yards in 14 plays. Schager's 5-yard scoring pass to slotback Pofele Ashl0ck made it 7-0 with 7:12 left in the first quarter.

But two UH miscues set up two first-half touchdowns for the Bulldogs. On the Warriors' second-and-8, defensive tackle Malachi Finau forced a fumble, which defensive end Elijah Robinson recovered. But officials ruled that UH linebacker Noah Kema hit a “defenseless” receiver running a crossing route. The fumble was recovered, a 10-yard personal foul was called, and on the ensuing play, Fresno State running back Elijah Gilliam ran 10 yards to make it 7-0.

The Warriors, having successfully converted a fourth-down play, tried again, this time on a four-and-1 from their 45. Under pressure, Schager was hit by linebacker Malachi Langley. The football was hit free. Left guard Zhen Sotelo recovered but was stopped short of the first-down marker.

The Bulldogs took the lead, then drove 28 yards in eight plays and took a 13-7 lead on a 5-yard pass from Mikey Keene to Raylen Sharpe. UH's Cam Stone blocked the point-after attempt on a game-winning play.


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