1. Safety
>> Situation: UMass 26, Hawaii 24, 4:31 remaining third quarter, UMass ball, third-and-6 at own 11
>> The Play: The ball is snapped wildly, and QB Andrew Ford falls on it in his own end zone a moment before DE Kaimana Padello gets to it.
>> Impact: Hawaii was awarded two points and UMass was forced to kick the ball away on the safety. On the next series, QB Dru Brown connected with SB Dylan Collie for their second touchdown pass of the game.
>> Ford: “It was a good game, but we made a few too many mistakes. … That’s a really talented defense.”
2. Fake punt
>> Situation: Hawaii 33, UMass 26, 13:33 remaining fourth quarter, Hawaii ball, fourth-and-7 at own 46
>> The Play: The ball is snapped to Ben Scruton at one of the protection back positions instead of to P Rigo Sanchez. Scruton runs 14 yards for a first down on the fake punt.
>> Impact: On the next play, RB Diocemy Saint Juste ran 40 yards for a Hawaii touchdown.
>> Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich: “I would have started swearing if he didn’t make it. … He made a helluva play. Good for him.”
3. Battling Back
>> Situation: Hawaii 40, UMass 33, 5:29 remaining fourth quarter, UMass ball, second-and-5 at Hawaii 18
>> The Play: RB Marquis Young scores on an 18-yard run.
>> Impact: UMass tied the score, making up a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit and producing the most points in one game this season.
>> UMass tight end Adam Breneman: “We know we can score points at any time. … We know we can score at the blink of an eye. … We scored 40 points, but not enough to win the game.”
4. Ewaliko
>> Situation: Hawaii 40, UMass 40, 3:52 remaining fourth quarter, Hawaii ball, second-and-1 at own 44
>> The Play: QB Dru Brown completes pass to WR Keenan Ewaliko, who then uses his speed down the sideline to outrun the UMass defenders for a 56-yard touchdown.
>> Impact: The 15th and final scoring play of the game turns out to be the decisive one. It was the first receiving touchdown of Ewaliko’s college career.
>> Ewaliko: “This last drive, very rewarding. I didn’t let the team down, and when we needed it most I was able to come through for us.”
5. End Game
>> Situation: Hawaii 46, UMass 40, 1:05 remaining fourth quarter, UMass ball, fourth-and-11 at Hawaii 21
>> The Play: CB Rojesterman Farris II tightly covers WR Bernard Davis as QB Andrew Ford throws a pass toward them in the end zone. It falls incomplete.
>> Impact: Hawaii’s defensive stand — which also included a 4-yard tackle-for-loss by DE David Manoa on third down — allowed it to run out the clock on its sixth win of the season, most since 2010.
>> Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai: “The message that Coach gave us before the game was to fight to the very end. He wanted us to know that we had to earn the win. And that’s what we did with that defensive stand.”
