Monteilh had two of the picks. The first came when defensive tackle Josh Leonard deflected a Tom Brandstater pass.

"We were running (the) kamikaze (scheme)," Leonard said. "My job is, if the center comes to me, I'm supposed to drop into (pass) coverage. I dropped, and I saw the ball coming. I knocked it up and let somebody make the play."

Monteilh said: "You know I get my interceptions when somebody tips it to me. I was in the right place at the right time."

Monteilh also was there when defensive end David Veikune pressured Brandstater, forcing a who-wants-it pass.

Mouton's touchdown was a result of a change in strategy. Instead of using two deep returners, UH used only Mouton. Spencer Smith, who was aligned 10 yards in front of Mouton, was assigned specifically to block Desia Dunn, the Bulldogs' top attacker on kickoffs.

The blockers "opened it up, and all I had to do was hit (the hole)," Mouton said.

"In this game, he really became the quarterback we thought he could be," quarterback coach Nick Rolovich said. "He created some big plays in some big situations."

And, yes, there was the self-styled Iceman, who refused to melt despite kicking into a block with about five minutes to play in regulation.

The Bulldogs, who rallied from deficits of 19-3 and 26-9 to tie it at 29 in the fourth quarter, moved into position for the victory.

With 43 seconds to play, Kevin Goessling was summoned for a field-goal attempt from 36 yards. Earlier, he converted from 24, 32 and 33 yards.

But this time, the Warriors' front line gave a strong push, and the 6-foot-4 Mahaley, who was in the back row, soared with his arms raised. The football struck Mahaley's right forearm, leaving a bruise.

"I made sure I jumped in the right spot," Mahaley said. "I think Christ lifted me up and gave me the wings. I thought I took a Red Bull, but I took a Jesus Christ pill this morning, and He lifted me up, and pushed me in the air. The ball came to me."

In the break between the end of regulation and the start of overtime, the Warriors won the coin toss. They opted to play defense first in overtime.

On first down, linebacker Solomon Elimimian sacked Brandstater for a 9-yard loss. That forced the Bulldogs to consider a field goal as their best option.

On fourth down, Goessling attempted a kick from 40 yards. The ball sailed wide left. But an official ruled that Calvin Roberts had struck Goessling after the kick. The runner-into-the-kicker penalty — which replays showed was very questionable — was the Warriors' 10th penalty of the game; the Bulldogs were not assessed any penalties the entire night.

But Goessling's second attempt was no better. It was wide right.

With little pressure, the Warriors called three consecutive running plays.

Asked if he considered a field-goal attempt on second or third down, head coach Greg McMackin said: "I thought we might make the first down and take it all the way in. We were setting up for the field goal because I have faith in (Kelly)."

So, too, did long-snapper Jake Ingram and holder Tim Grasso.

"When we got that shot, I didn't want to say it, but I knew in my heart it was going through the uprights," Ingram said. "I knew we were going to win."

The Bulldogs called a timeout to try to, well, ice the Iceman.

Kelly walked toward the UH sideline, then stopped on the numbers. Nobody approached him.

"I was thinking about normal stuff, every-day stuff," Kelly said. "My girlfriend was here this weekend. I had a fantastic weekend with her."

After the timeout, he recalled, "I did my business."

The outcome triggered a UH celebration at midfield.

The Bulldogs, meanwhile, were disheartened with a loss that likely would oust them from the national rankings.

"This is as tough as loss as I've had since I've been here," said Pat Hill, in his 12th season as Fresno State head coach. "I've never been around a game with that many turnovers."

In the UH locker room, Funaki absorbed the emotions of his first victory as a starter since the 2001 state high school championship game.

"Happy can't explain how I feel," Funaki said. "I'm so proud of these guys. It was like us against the world when we came to Fresno. All of Fresno was against us."

Last week, the Warriors committed six turnovers and squandered a 10-point lead in a 20-17 loss to San Jose State. Some UH fans booed during the game.

"I felt I had a big part in that loss," Funaki said. "I think a lot of people stopped believing in us. But not the guys in this locker room. We all believed in each other. I feel so honored and humbled that they believe in me. ... I don't have the greatest arm, but I wanted to do well for the team. And for the state. That's who we play for. That's who we represent."

Kelly said: "We will always have the bandwagon (open) to anyone who wants to join us. But extra kudos to the fans who never left. We have thousands of fans who are busting their guts yelling for us, and we appreciate them."

Under June Jones, McMackin's predecessor, the Warriors did not practice in an opponent's stadium. But McMackin wanted his players to have a walk-through practice in Bulldog Stadium the past Friday.

In the empty stadium that day, McMackin told his players: "Listen to this stadium. It's quiet. This is what we want to do tomorrow. The way to control stadium noise and (the Bulldog fans') enthusiasm is to make plays."

McMackin was partially correct. After the game, there was noise — this time created by his players and the UH fans.

Overtime chiller