Pac-10 Can’t Find Paradise in Hawaii

The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors capped their remarkable turnaround under June Jones at the expense of Dennis Erickson and the resurgent Oregon State Beavers.

Dan Robinson threw two touchdown passes to Channon Harris and Hawaii sacked Oregon State’s Jonathan Smith six times in a 23-17 victory Saturday in the Oahu Bowl.

A year after an 0-12 season, the Rainbow Warriors finished 9-4, and won a share of the Western Athletic Conference title.

“Just like all year we were underdogs in this game and we just bonded together,” Jones said. “It shows what you can do when you just come together as one.”

The loss brought an unwanted end to a historic season for Oregon State (7-5), which posted its first winning season in 29 years and made its first bowl appearance since 1965, when it won the Pacific 10 Conference title and went to the Rose Bowl.

“They deserved to win. They executed on both sides of the ball,” Erickson said. “We are happy with our season, we were 7-5, but we are disappointed with what happened in the bowl game. It was not how we wanted to finish.”

The victory was Hawaii’s first in three tries against a Pac-10 team, and the Rainbow Warriors say the victory squelches doubters and proves the program is on the rise.

“I think we woke up a lot of people,” defensive lineman Tony Tuioti said. “A lot of people know we’re for real now. We’re not a fluke.”

On Hawaii’s first possession of the second half, Robinson picked apart the Beaver defense, connecting with Harris on passes of nine and 20 yards before finding him open for a 30-yard touchdown play. Harris caught the ball around the Oregon State 15, and scrambled to the end zone after Terrance Carroll missed a tackle.

Hawaii took a 20-10 lead with 3:46 left in the third quarter on Eric Hannum’s 22-yard field goal. The Rainbow Warriors had to settle for a field goal after Dwight Carter was ruled out of bounds on a pass to the back of the end zone.

Hannum kicked a 35-yarder with 2:58 to play to close out the scoring for Hawaii. Ken Simonton’s 13-yard run with 1:27 to play made the score 23-17. Oregon State recovered the onside kick, but was called for a false start and its second onside attempt rolled out of bounds, allowing Hawaii to run out the clock.

Avion Weaver rushed 18 times for 84 yards for Hawaii, and had five catches for 65 yards, and was voted the game’s outstanding player.

After scoring on its first series of the game, Oregon State couldn’t generate much offense, as Hawaii’s defensive line pressured Smith all game. The Rainbow Warriors also were helped by three missed Oregon State field goals.

Oregon State grabbed a 7-0 lead when Simonton capped an 80-yard drive with a one-yard run. Simonton started the drive with a 30-yard run and had 58 yards in seven carries in the quarter. He finished with 157 yards in 18 carries.

Hawaii got on the board in the second quarter after Tuioti sacked Smith, forced a fumble and recovered it at the Beaver 24. The Rainbow Warriors couldn’t advance and Hannum’s 26-yard field goal made the score 7-3.

Robinson’s first touchdown to Harris, a nine-yarder in the second quarter, gave Hawaii a 10-7 lead with 6:05 left in the second quarter.

The Beavers tied the score on their final drive of the half, with Ryan Cesca kicking a 37-yard field goal with no time left. He earlier missed from 42 and 31 yards and had a 40-yard attempt blocked.