FRESNO, Calif. >> Jeremy Moussa became the second freshman and third backup quarterback to debut at the position for UH this season.

Moussa made his first appearance on UH’s first possession of the fourth quarter with 13 minutes, 36 seconds remaining in the game.

He completed three of six passes for 61 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown pass to Devan Stubblefield with 1 minute, 43 seconds remaining for the Rainbow Warriors’ only second-half score.

“I thought Moussa did a nice job in the pocket,” UH coach Nick Rolovich said. “He kept his eyes on the field, moved in the pocket and made some nice throws.”

Rolovich said, “He has been patiently waiting his turn. People got to see a lot of his arm talent. He had a good idea of the offense (and) I thought he played well.”

Chevan Cordeiro, who started in Cole McDonald’s absence against Wyoming, did not see action as UH has sought to preserve the eligibility of their freshman quarterbacks. Under a new NCAA rule, players may participate in as many as four games in the season without losing their redshirt year.

Rolovich said, “We’ve talked about both of them getting some (repetitions) through the year and still being able to redshirt them.”

It is UH’s policy not to make freshman football players available for interviews.

Fifth-year senior Kolney Cassel has also made an appearance at quarterback this season.

Mixed results for Meskell

While a failed 53-yard field-goal attempt and the 100-yard touchdown it set up was a key point in the University of Hawaii’s 50-20 loss to Fresno State on Saturday, Rainbow Warriors kicker Ryan Meskell still had something to show for the night’s appearance.

Meskell, a second-year place-kicker from Australia, kicked two field goals before that, including a career-best 43-yarder in the first quarter.

That one gave UH a 3-0 lead, only the second time this season an opponent has scored first on the Bulldogs.

Meskell, who won the San Jose State game with a 35-yarder in the fifth overtime, also kicked a 28-yarder Saturday.

He has made good on 11 of 14 field-goal attempts this season.

Ironically, Meskell said “I made a kick from that same spot, left hash, 53 yards, in pregame.”

“When I went to kick the one in the game, I told Stan Gaudion (the holder), this is the same spot where we kicked that one. But the second time I didn’t put enough into it and it was short. I felt like if I hit it right on the sweet spot, I would have made it.”

Instead, Jamire Jordan returned it from deep in the end zone 100 yards for a touchdown.

Meskell said “I looked up and he had four or five guys blocking for him, so there wasn’t much of a chance for me to stop him.”

Stadium lights cause delay

For the second year in a row, a UH-Fresno State game was interrupted, this time forcing a 29-minute break in the first quarter.

“It was strange, but I don’t think it had much to do with why we lost by 30 (points),” Rolovich said afterward.

Last year it was lightning around Aloha Stadium that forced the teams to return to their locker rooms and fans to take cover in what became a 31-21 Bulldogs victory.

Saturday night’s game was halted when a bank of stadium lights went out with UH leading 3-0 at the 5:34 mark of the first quarter.

Both teams returned to their locker rooms until full power was restored.