Brennan sets mark for Hawaii

Colt Brennan broke the NCAA single-season record for touchdown passes, throwing five in the second half to lead Hawaii to a 41-24 victory over Arizona State on Sunday in the Hawaii Bowl.

Brennan, who completed 33 of 42 passes for 559 yards, threw a seven-yard scoring pass to Ryan Grice-Mullen on the Warriors’ second series of the second half to break the mark of 54 set by Houston’s David Klingler in 1990, also against the Sun Devils.

Grice-Mullen grabbed the ball with one hand, made a move and leaped across the goal line for the touchdown that gave Hawaii a 17-10 lead. After throwing the pass, Brennan hugged Coach June Jones and waved No. 1 as teammates lifted the junior into the air and the crowd of 40,623 cheered wildly. Brennan had tied the record with his 54th touchdown pass on the previous series with a 38-yard completion to a wide-open Jason Rivers.

Rivers also caught a 79-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth and finished the game with 308 yards on 14 catches.

Hawaii (11-3) matched the school record for most wins in a season, set in 1992 when the team went 11-2. The Sun Devils (7-6) concluded their disappointing season, unable to send Coach Dirk Koetter out with a win. He coached his final game after being fired last month. Dennis Erickson has been hired to take over the team.

Brennan finished the season with 5,549 yards passing to become the third quarterback in college history with 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in a season, joining Klingler and Texas Tech’s B.J. Symons.