One play doesn’t decide a 35-14 loss. But one play Saturday that played a big part in it encapsulated the University of Hawaii football team’s dismal existence.

A touchdown disappeared while it was happening, before Scott Harding had even caught the punt that he returned 40 yards and across the Utah State goal line.

It was emblematic of the game, the season, the Norm Chow era in one play.

The effort was there.

The ability was there.

But the crucial mistake was there, too … and instead of making a game of it, the Rainbow Warriors made a mess of it. Instead of closing to 28-21 in the third quarter, they let the Aggies have the ball back and gave them the game.

Chow and special teams coach Chris Demarest were caught on TV going jaw-to-jaw shortly after that one. Let’s just say it’s obvious they were not discussing where the postgame celebration would be. Well, if there’d been reason for one … those have only been in order six times in Chow’s three seasons as coach.

Roughing the kicker on a punt from the Utah State end zone deflated not only the entire team, but what’s left of the fan base.

One guy I crossed paths with on the way down gave me a simple and direct order: "Rip ‘em!"

I’d never met this man, but in that very brief encounter I know exactly who he is. He’s obviously and rightfully tired of what he’s been seeing for way too long now. He’s loyal to his team: You have to be to have made it this far, and to have stayed that long to watch a game where huge cracks appeared in previously solid parts of this sinking ship that is now 2-7.

Offensive line, defense, special teams … they all looked broken in this game, and time is running out to fix anything.

We all know the fans deserve better. It’s depressing that in most games the Rainbow Warriors have at least looked like they were ready to play, or if they weren’t they caught up and hung in there to the end.

We can’t say that after this game.

For a few minutes early on, it was like the good old days, at least on offense.

And after the week the UH athletic department endured, with all the basketball drama, trading offensive blows drive-for-drive in the first quarter provided some respite, some enjoyment.

But it didn’t last long.

And the defense — usually much more reliable until the last two games — didn’t do its part. Maybe the Warriors thought the opening kickoff was at the usual 6 p.m. instead of 5 this time.

Linebacker Lance Williams even admitted it.

"To be honest, we weren’t ready from the start," he said. "They executed us."

Maybe he meant "out-executed," but what Williams actually said fits the occasion.

UH was licking its chops because it had a true freshman quarterback on the menu.

But on the night after Halloween, Kent Myers carved up the Rainbow Warriors defense like Michael Myers did his victims on "Friday the 13th."

The last time a frosh laid waste to UH was last year at Utah State, when now-injured Darell Garretson did the honors. The last time at Aloha Stadium it was Ben Roethlisberger, in 2001. But UH had the kind of offense that could keep pace an entire game then, and won.

Since Utah State won with a true freshman, you know the phones and message boards will light up with suggestions for UH to take the red shirt off of Beau Reilly.

Of course, there will be more talk of a coaching change.

And after Saturday’s performance, whatever ground there is remaining to support another year for Chow became very, very shaky.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.