Nov. 27, 2004

NU-Hawaii Box Score

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Northwestern Post-Game Notes
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HONOLULU -- After sprinting to a 13-0 first-quarter lead, Northwestern could not halt a second- and third-quarter blitz by the Hawaii Warriors Saturday night at Aloha Stadium.

The result was a 49-41 loss, which ended the Wildcats' bowl aspirations. Northwestern (6-6) surrendered all 49 Hawaii points in the second and third quarters.

Hawaii's Chad Owens caught four touchdown passes and scored on a punt return as Hawaii kept its bowl hopes alive.

Owens finished with nine receptions for 155 yards for the Warriors (6-5).

The Warriors need to beat another Big Ten opponent, Michigan State, next weekend in Aloha Stadium to qualify for the Hawaii Bowl.

Down 13-0, Hawaii erupted for four touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 28-20 lead at halftime.

The fourth TD, a 35-yard dart from Timmy Chang to Owens, was scored with six seconds left in the half. The pass capped a three-play, 68-yard drive that took 19 seconds.

On Hawaii's previous series, West Keliikipi powered six yards into the end zone to give the Warriors their first lead, 21-20.

Keliikipi, who led Hawaii with 43 yards rushing, added a 2-yard score in the third quarter.

Chang was 31-of-56 for 405 yards. In the game, the fifth-year senior broke the 16,000-yard career passing mark. The NCAA career leading passer now has 16,251 yards.

Northwestern racked up 216 rushing yards, led by Noah Herron's 90, on the nation's worst rushing defense.

Wildcats quarterback Brett Basanez was 19-of-41 for 319 yards and a touchdown.

T.J. Jones blocked Kurt Milne's punt and walked into the end zone uncontested to cut Hawaii's lead to 49-41 with 6:55 left in the game.

The Wildcats took their final possession on their 20 with 2:12 left. Northwestern threatened to score, but a Basanez pass was ruled an interception, although replays showed that that ball appeared to hit the turf first.

Hawaii took a 35-20 lead on Owens' 76-yard punt return. Owens shed a couple of tacklers and broke free from a defender's bear hug to find the open field.

It was Owens' fourth score of the day and his fourth punt return for a touchdown this season.

Northwestern responded by scoring on a fake field goal attempt. The holder, Eric Batis, took the snap and sprinted 21 yards for the score.

Chang had a horrible start, throwing two interceptions and six incompletions in his first 10 pass attempts.

The second pick gave Northwestern possession deep in Hawaii territory and led the Wildcats' first score, a 24-yard touchdown pass from Basanez to freshman Kim Thompson.

Chang regained his composure in the second quarter after being knocked into a metal bench on a late hit by linebacker John Pickens. The hit also awoke the crowd.

After sitting out a play, Chang threw a 45-yard pass to Britton Komine that set up an 11-yard touchdown pass to Owens, cutting Northwestern's lead to 13-7.

The Wildcats went up 20-7 and got a big break on the Warriors' 1 when Basanez fumbled the handoff attempt to Herron, picked up the ball and ran it into the end zone.

The score capped a six-play, 82-yard drive that included a 62-yard pass from Basanez to Shaun Herbert.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)