LOUISIANA TECH | SEPT. 8

RUSTON, La. — With all of its wildest football dreams at stake — an unbeaten season, a conference title and a Bowl Championship Series berth — Hawai'i overcame a game-long series of deficits and self-inflicted problems to will a 45-44 overtime victory over Louisiana Tech last night.

Dan Kelly tied it with a 49-yard field goal with 1:34 left in regulation, and the 20th-ranked Warriors sealed it in extra play on Jason Rivers' 6-yard scoring pass from Colt Brennan and, later, cornerback Gerard Lewis' deflection to deny the Bulldogs' go-for-broke, two-point conversion attempt.

"We had so much to lose," said Brennan, who completed 43 of 61 passes for 548 yards and five touchdowns, "but we refused to lose. That's what I love about this team. Every guy in this locker room thought we were going to win."

A half-hour after the game, with the celebration still strong, head coach June Jones was fighting his emotions.

"These guys have so much character," Jones said. "I wouldn't want to win it any other way. We won it on the road and by coming from behind. It's a big statement, and it says a lot about each of the players. I am so proud of them. They had that attitude they were not going to lose the game."

Circle the calendar. Last night, defensive coordinator Greg McMackin declared, "We were born under fire."

"Hat's off to Louisiana Tech," Brennan said. "I can't take anything away from them. They had a great game plan. They executed really well. They took advantage of both the offense and defense. The offense made some real stupid mistakes, and put the defense in a bad position a couple of times."

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