Dec 8, 2002
HONOLULU - Timmy Chang passed for 437 yards and led a 93-yard game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter to give Hawaii a wild 41-40 victory over San Diego State on Saturday night.
It was the season finale for both high-powered offenses and they put on a spectacular aerial show.
In addition to Chang's performance, San Diego State's Lon Sheriff completed 31-of-47 passes for 420 yards and three TDs. The Aztecs' record-setting wide receiver, J.R. Tolver, put on an amazing performance, pulling in 18 passes for 283 yards and two TDs. In addition, he completed one pass for 87 yards.
For Hawaii, Chang was 33-of-54 with three scores.
The game saw five lead changes with Hawaii (10-3) getting the go-ahead score on a 2-yard inside handoff to Nate Ilaoa with 4:45 left.
The Aztecs (4-9) appeared to be in control in the fourth quarter with a 40-29 lead. But the Warriors narrowed the margin on a 2-yard plunge by Thero Mitchell, which made it 40-35 and set the stage for Chang's heroics.
Hawaii held the upper hand early, building a 22-3 lead early in the second quarter with Chang hitting Jeremiah Cockheran and Britton Komine with scoring passes and Shawn Withy-Allen adding a 3-yard run.
The first three touchdowns were set up by a pair of blocked punts and an interception.
But the Aztecs vaulted back into the lead, 26-22, with the help of Tommy Kirovski, who kicked four field goals. The last one made it 26-22.
A 3-yard pass from Chang to Komine put Hawaii ahead, but the Aztecs bounced back with a 69-yard scoring pass from Sheriff to Tolver and that was followed by a 6-yard pass from Sheriff to Kassim Osgood, which made it 40-29 and set the stage for the Hawaii comeback.
For the game, Hawaii finished with 610 yards to the Aztecs' 632.
Osgood caught five passes for 126 yards. He and Tolver hold the NCAA record for passes caught and total yards by two players on the same team, finishing the season with a combined 236 receptions and 3,337 yards
The victory snapped Hawaii's nine game losing streak to San Diego State, dating back to 1990.
The loss closed another tough year for the Aztecs, which finishes with a losing record for the fourth straight season. Hawaii goes on to face Tulane in the inaugural Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Day.
By JAYMES SONG
AP Sports Writer