The fans came laden with lei and hope, and freshman quarterback Chevan Cordeiro brought the magic on a night that, even by senior night standards, will be long remembered in University of Hawaii football annals.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it,” receiver John Ursua said after scoring the go-ahead 68-yard touchdown pass from Cordeiro with 1 minute, 25 seconds left in a 35-28 comeback victory over Nevada-Las Vegas that shook Aloha Stadium to its rusty underpinnings. “But, I’m thankful to have been a part of it,” Ursua said.
So, too, were most of the high-fivin’ 22,241 hardcore faithful who endured three beyond frustrating quarters before Cordeiro took over in the fourth, saving a game, a winning regular season and, perhaps, even a bowl bid for the now 7-5 (4-3 conference) Rainbow Warriors who ended a four-game losing streak.
Even by his own dynamic standards, played out in Halawa in headline-making form while quarterbacking Saint Louis School to a state championship and leading UH over Wyoming last month in his first college appearance, Cordeiro was beyond remarkable.
It is hard to imagine any UH quarterback has come off the bench to have a more decisive and immediate fourth-quarter impact than Cordeiro, who completed four of five passes for 153 yards, three touchdowns and a two-point conversion pass. He also ran once for 17 yards.
“It was pretty gutsy,” acknowledged UNLV head coach Tony Sanchez. “He did a really good job of staying in there and being savvy. He’s a good football player.”
Cordeiro entered the game with 11 minutes 56 seconds remaining and UH not only down 28-13 but pretty much down for the count.
UH’s two previous possessions had ended in an interception and a three-and-out punt when head coach Nick Rolovich inserted Cordeiro in place of starter Cole McDonald, who had struggled through a 14-of-30 night with two interceptions, 175 yards, no touchdowns and four sacks.
Before Cordeiro could take his first snap the Warriors were whistled for their third false start of the game and a collective groan settled over Halawa.
Not that it fazed Cordeiro a bit. He launched a 64-yard touchdown pass to JoJo Ward the first time he touched the ball and then came right back with a two-point conversion pass to Ursua to pull UH to 28-21.
After linebacker Penei Pavihi and the defense held UNLV, Cordeiro drove the ‘Bows 54 yards capped by a 20-yard touchdown pass to Ward in the back of the end zone, with Ward adroitly managing to keep his feet in-bounds to tie it at 28-all.
There was no immediate on or off-the-field official extending of a bowl bid to the Dec. 22 Hawaii Bowl.
Instead, in a statement just prior to the game, the Mountain West Conference said, “The Hawaii Bowl will announce the 2018 match up on selection Sunday, Dec. 2. Should the Hawaii Bowl, in conjunction with the participating conferences, determine that an announcement may be made earlier, the media will be alerted at that time.”
Asked if that meant UH might not play in the Hawaii Bowl even if bowl eligible, an MWC spokesman replied in an email, “All options are on the table.”
Depending on how Wyoming finishes, the MWC could have more bowl eligible teams (seven) than automatic bowl slots.
But it would be hard to imagine that the game’s owner and operator, ESPN Events, would stand for the uproar and financial suicide of a Hawaii Bowl minus the home team. Especially after Saturday night’s magic.
That may be one more thing you can credit Cordeiro with.
“Tonight was a special night,” Rolovich said. “I think (the late) Vince Manuwai is up there now singing, ‘Hakuna Matata’ … and celebrating with the seniors.”