Nov. 27, 1999

Box Score

By BEN DiPIETRO
Associated Press Writer

HONOLULU (AP) - Adam Hawkins rushed for two touchdowns and Rian Lindell kicked three field goals Saturday to lead Washington State past Hawaii 22-14 to snap the Cougars' five-game losing streak and keep Hawaii from sole possession of an NCAA record.

Trailing 14-12, Washington State quarterback Jason Gesser - a Honolulu native and former island prep star recruited by Hawaii - led the Cougars (3-9) on their game-winning drive, taking them to the Hawaii 7 before Lindell booted a 24-yard field goal with 2:53 left to make it 15-14.

Hawaii failed to convert a fourth-and-10 from its 20 on the next series, and Hawkins, who finished with 13 carries for 103 yards, scored from 6 yards to seal the victory.

The loss kept Hawaii (8-4) from setting an NCAA record for best win-loss improvement from the previous season, when the Rainbow Warriors went 0-12. Hawaii remains tied with the 1940 Stanford and 1943 Purdue teams for the greatest turnaround.

The Rainbow Warriors scored all their points in the third quarter, taking a 7-6 lead when quarterback Dan Robinson connected with Dwight Carter for a 75-yard touchdown with 7:32 left.

The Cougars regained the lead 12-7 with 3:08 left in the quarter when Hawkins rumbled for a 31-yard touchdown run that followed an interception by Marcus Trufant and a 15-yard personal foul penalty.

Robinson's third interception of the game gave the Cougars the ball on their 38. Gesser hit Paul Mencke with a short pass, but cornerback Shawndel Tucker popped the ball loose and Anthony Smith ran 38 yards untouched for the score with 32 seconds left in the quarter to put Hawaii back ahead 14-12.

Lindell also kicked a 41-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 36-yarder in the third.

The win ends Washington State's season. Hawaii will play Oregon State in the Oahu Bowl.