College football: Hawaii doesn’t fold, loses to Fresno in finale

FRESNO, Calif. — Hawaii finished its season with a flurry before falling short. It remains to be seen whether or not the effort was enough to save Norm Chow’s job.

Marteze Waller rushed for 137 yards with two touchdowns and Fresno State held on to defeat the Rainbow Wariors 28-21 on Saturday night and clinch a spot in the Mountain West championship game.

Trailing 28-0 at halftime, Hawaii (4-9, 3-5) stormed back in the fourth quarter as Ikaika Woolsey threw three touchdown passes — all on fourth down. His 2-yard scoring pass to Quinton Pedroza pulled the Warriors within seven with 45 seconds left. Fresno State recovered the ensuing onside kick to hang on.

Chow is 8-29 after three seasons at the helm of the Rainbow Warriors.

The Bulldogs (6-6, 5-3) built an early lead as Waller and Josh Quezada each ran for scores and Brian Burrell threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Justin Johnson in between. Waller’s second touchdown capped a 15-play, 96-yard drive to take a 28-0 halftime lead.

Josh Harper had 83 yards on eight receptions for Fresno State.

Woolsey threw for 247 yards with two interceptions, including one in the end zone on Hawaii’s opening drive of the third quarter.

Harold Moleni and Donnie King also caught scoring strikes.

UH, which shut out an opponent in the second half for the fourth time this season, outgained Fresno Stare 353-333.

Sophomore receiver Marcus Kemp caught seven passes for a career-high 117 yards, while Joey Iosefa rushed for 69 yards, concluding his career fifth on the school’s all-time rushing list.