Harding does it all for ‘Bows

University of Hawaii receiver/punter/punt returner Scott Harding’s availability was in question early in the week after he suffered a bruised thigh early in UH’s loss to Navy.

After participating in Thursday’s practice he felt strong enough to resume his punting and punt return duties and set up a touchdown with a fourth-quarter appearance at slot receiver.

On his third punt of the game from the SDSU 46, he initially headed upfield before pulling up just short of the line of scrimmage, kicking a low liner. The ball hit SDSU’s David Lamar on the leg and was recovered by Jerrol Garcia-Williams at the 23.

"I was trying to keep it, the guy saw it and flew up the gap I wanted to run into. I didn’t really think from that point on and just kicked it," Harding said.

Joey Iosefa followed with two runs and gave UH its first lead with a 5-yard blast.

Harding had a career-high 10 punts and shifted field position with kicks covering 54 and 61 yards. He also stopped shorter kicks at SDSU’s 5, 4 and 1.

He entered the game at slotback in the fourth quarter and his first reception was a 28-yard catch on third-and-10 to extend a drive that ended with an Iosefa touchdown that gave UH its last lead.

OT history on UH’s side

UH’s overtime defeat was the first in its last five extra-frame games. The Rainbow Warriors had won their last four, all on the road — two in 2007, one in 2008 and one in 2009.

Their previous home overtime loss was 35-28 to Florida Atlantic to open the 2004 season.

The Rainbow Warriors are now 7-3 all-time in overtime.

San Diego State got the ball first and only needed three running plays by Adam Muema to score and take the 28-21 lead. Hawaii went four-and-out, leaving the UH fans sitting in stunned silence after the team’s 10th loss in a row.

Third-quarter woes continue

UH has been bad after halftime in this winless season, especially in the third quarter.

Hawaii has scored 28 points compared to 104 for opponents overall in the third. UH has been held scoreless in the third period in seven of its 10 games this season.

The Rainbow Warriors went into intermission leading 14-7, but San Diego State came out of the break inspired, and scored on the opening possession when a roughing-the-punter penalty on Kennedy Tulimasealii extended the drive.

The Aztecs posted the only points of the period on Donnel Pumphrey’s 30-yard touchdown run and Seamus McMorrow’s extra point to tie it at 14-14.

Clarke keeps streak alive

UH center Ben Clarke injured his knee early in the week, but extended his streak of consecutive starts to 22, the longest on the Warriors offense.

The offensive line did take a hit later in the game when right guard Ben Dew was helped from the field in the second quarter and didn’t return. Sean Shigematsu replaced Dew, but he was also injured in the third quarter and was replaced by Dave Lefotu.

At one point, three of UH’s starting five O-linemen were out of the game.

A rarity: UH leads at half

First-half leads have been pretty rare for UH this season. The Rainbows led after the first quarter and at halftime for only the second time this season.

Hawaii led 7-0 after the first quarter and 14-7 at halftime. The only other time UH took a lead into the second quarter was against San Jose State (14-10 on Oct. 5).

Their only previous halftime lead was 17-13 against UNLV on Oct. 12. They’d been tied at the half twice (at Oregon State and Navy).