SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors look nice on the wall and the statistics are noteworthy on paper, but it is with the game on the line in the fourth quarter where the real measure of a quarterback is taken.

Over 80 yards of much-traversed Spartan Stadium real estate yesterday, Colt Brennan had his most defining moment yet in a Raider, err Warrior, uniform as he drove the black, white and silver-clad University of Hawai'i football team to the go-ahead score in a 45-38 victory over San Jose State

For all his numbers — Brennan completed 36 of 48 passes for 457 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions — the drive that broke a 38-all tie with 5 minutes, 26 seconds remaining said all you need to know at this point about the redshirt sophomore.

It said, for instance, that the now 3-4 (3-2 WAC) Warriors are coming of age behind a quarterback growing into his role with more confidence each week.

It would be left to Dane Porlas, a walk-on safety who was inserted into the game in the second half, to put the seal on the victory with an interception at the UH 26 with 55 seconds left.

It made for an altogether fitting fourth-quarter flourish that decided the issue against Dick Tomey, a coach who preached and practiced those kind of endings for a decade at UH in the late 1970s to mid-1980s.

"I knew it was going to be that way," UH coach June Jones said. "I told the team that before the game and I told the kids that again at halftime."

What Jones didn't know, for sure, was how his quarterback would answer such a challenge. Or, when. Everything Brennan has done in his five previous starts has suggested he could eventually be the kind of finisher the Warriors need.

Still, you never know. It wasn't until well into the third of his five UH seasons that Tim Chang rallied UH to a fourth-quarter victory on the road.

To be sure, Brennan got off to an inauspicious start in the final quarter. He failed to complete his first four passes, including one that was intercepted at the Spartan 48 and helped set up San Jose's tying score.

But Brennan, with help from his receivers and inspiration from a veteran offensive line, completed 8 of the next 10 throws for 97 yards in taking UH to the San Jose 7, from where running back Nate Ilaoa found the end zone.

"He (Brennan) did a great job making some big throws in situations where great players make great plays," Jones said.

While Brennan was proving his mettle for the Warriors, he was also "closing the door" as he would put it, on any speculation about the wisdom of his decision to walk on at UH rather than accept a scholarship at San Jose State, where his cousin, Brent, is an assistant coach.

With some 50 relatives in the stands divided between two sides of the family, Brennan said he knew he would get some grief if he wasn't able to pull out a win.

Instead, there would be only praise for a job well done.

"I think he's done a really good job for a first-year guy," Tomey said. "He's managed the game well and grown a lot."

"You know, there were some times out there today when I was reminded about it (the decision)," Brennan said. "It was hard to turn down (San Jose) in April but, in my heart, I knew I was doing the right thing. Hawai'i was the best situation for me."

Maybe UH didn't win this game when it got Brennan's commitment in April, but, in retrospect, you could say it sure took a step toward victory back then.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.