Warriors defeat San Jose State, 17-10, in overtime
Associated Press
| |||
 |
|
||
| |||
|
|
||
| |||
|
|
||
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Backup quarterback Shane Austin threw for a career-high 299 yards and Leon Wright-Jackson scored on a 5-yard touchdown run in overtime to lift Hawai‘i to a 17-10 win over San Jose State tonight.
The Warriors (5-6, 3-5 Western Athletic), who won their third straight after a six-game losing streak, had several chances to put the Spartans away but couldn't until Wright-Jackson took a pitch from Austin and scampered around the left end untouched into the end zone.
Kyle Reed came off the bench to throw for 131 yards for San Jose State (1-9, 0-6) and scored the Spartans' lone touchdown but threw three straight incompletions in overtime.
Both teams had opportunities to win in regulation. Hawai‘i kicker Scott Enos missed a 31-yard field goal with 3:48 left while San Jose's Lamon Muldrow fumbled in Warriors territory with less than a minute remaining.
Austin, who began the season buried on Hawai‘i's depth chart, made his first career start because of a rib injury that prevented Bryant Moniz from practicing all week. He looked remarkably poised while more than doubling his season passing yardage.
He was 28 of 46, including a critical 10-yard completion to wide receiver Kealoha Pilares on third down in overtime. Two plays later Wright-Jackson scored the game-winner.
Jon Medeiros caught 10 passes for a career-high 149 yards for the Warriors, who have not lost in San Jose since 1997. Wright-Jackson finished with 65 yards on 10 carries while Alex Green ran for 81 yards as Hawaii piled up 405 yards of offense.
The Warriors also improved to 13-1 in November since 2006 and 4-1 against Spartans coach Dick Tomey, who earlier this month announced he'll retire at the end of the season.
The Spartans fell behind early on Austin's 3-yard touchdown run in the first quarter but tied the score just before halftime when Reed scored on a 2-yard quarterback keeper.
Reed, San Jose State's starter at the beginning of the season, was on the bench for the start of the game but was called on when Jordan La Secla threw interceptions on the Spartans' first two possessions. Reed completed 14 of 22 passes and was intercepted once.
Enos kicked a field goal early in the fourth quarter to give Hawai‘i a 10-7 lead but Tyler Cope answered with one of his own with 8:40 left to tie the game.
Muldrow finished with 78 yards on 13 carries.
SCORING SUMMARY
FIRST QUARTER
UH—Shane Austin 3 run (Scott Enos kick), 2:46. Score: Hawai‘i 7, San Jose State
SECOND QUARTER
SJS—Kyle Reed 2 run (Tyler Cope kick), :15. Score: Hawai'i 7, San Jose State 7
FOURTH QUARTER
UH—Enos FG 27, 13:26. Score: Hawai‘i 10, San Jose State 7
SJS—Cope FG 33, 8:40. Score: Hawai‘i 10, San Jose State 10
OVERTIME
UH—Leon Wright-Jackson 5 run (Enos kick). Score: Hawai‘i 17, San Jose State 10
GAME NOTES
• Inoke Funaki replaces Shane Austin at quarterback with 8:23 remaining in fourth quarter. Austin returned two plays later.
• Mana Silva gets interception in second quarter, WAC-leading sixth of the season
• Lametrius Davis had two interceptions in the first quarter
• Shane Austin started at quarterback for the Warriors in place of injured Bryant Moniz (ribs)
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
