SAN DIEGO >> It was altogether appropriate that on his last play of Saturday night’s game that quarterback Cole McDonald found himself flat on the turf at San Diego County Credit Union Stadium.

Because after his 10-yard touchdown pass in overtime found JoJo Ward in the end zone and defenders had knocked him to the ground, it was, once again, McDonald’s University of Hawaii teammates who lent a hand in picking him up for the second time in a week.

After a week of facing a storm of social media criticism and pointed public debate about whether he should remain the Rainbow Warriors’ starting quarterback, it was his teammates this week, McDonald said, who lifted his spirits and inspired him on what became a milestone 31-30 overtime victory over San Diego State.

“They know I have their back and they had mine,” McDonald said. “We win as a team.”

McDonald’s redemption — a “statement” he called it — came in the form of a career night in which he completed 29 of 46 passes for a personal-best 452 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.

He also ran for one score and in that 1-yard second-quarter touchdown you glimpsed the determination not to be denied that he brought to the game in general.

It was a return of the McDonald we witnessed earlier in the season, the one who guided the Warriors to a 6-1 start, who directed UH to an 8-5 finish to the regular season, vanquishing any doubts about whether there would be a place in the Dec. 22 Hawaii Bowl.

In the process, UH beat the Aztecs in Mission Valley for the first time since 1988, ending an 0-for-8 streak of frustration.

“I can’t describe in words just what this game meant for me and the team,” McDonald said.

McDonald said being pulled from last week’s game against Nevada-Las Vegas in the fourth quarter after throwing two interceptions “was probably one of the most embarrassing things that has ever happened to me.” But said he was happy for the team and the success of his replacement, freshman Chevan Cordeiro.

“I was pretty down,” McDonald said. “I was just more upset with myself for letting the team down, letting Hawaii down. There was nothing more that I wanted to do than help bring back the pride (in UH football). Hawaii has given me everything that I have today. They gave me a a shot (at Division I football). So, it was my mind-set that I had something to prove out there.”

McDonald said head coach Nick Rolovich called him into his office during the week for a one-on-one talk. Rolovich who had also lost the starting job at UH and regained it, going on to set some records that still stand, talked about what McDonald needed to do to regain the job.

“He told me not to be distracted by all the noise out there,” McDonald said.

Rolovich said McDonald showed himself worthy of a start in practice this week and the decision was made Saturday at a team meal, though some players said they had an inkling on Thursday.

Ward, who caught six passes for 120 yards, said, “He handled it pretty well and came back more focused. We told him we were behind him and that he could lean on us to help pick him up.”

McDonald said, “We won this as a team, the receivers making catches, the guys blocking and the defense making stops.”

And, of course, picking up their quarterback when he needed it.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.