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BYU avenges loss, holds off Hawaii rally

PROVO, Utah -- For Levi Madrieta and BYU teammates, a modest three-point victory made up for a blowout defeat.

Bret Engemann completed 21-of-47 for 226 yards, and Marcus Whalen ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns as Brigham Young beat Hawaii 35-32 on Friday night, avenging a stinging defeat last year in Honolulu.

"We obviously would have liked to put more points on the board, but a win's a win," Madrieta said. "Last year, they were all over the field -- left and right, up and down."

Hawaii won 72-45 last season, a loss that spoiled BYU's 12-0 start, knocked it from the Top 10 and eroded the team's claim to a possible Fiesta Bowl appearance.

Both played hot and cold in the rematch, but the Cougars (2-0) pulled away in the third when Hawaii (1-1) stalled offensively.

Hawaii's Timmy Chang was 20-for-52 for 275 yards but two of his four interceptions came in the third quarter, when BYU got energized after a sluggish first half and outscored the Warriors 14-0.

But Hawaii made the closing minutes interesting.

Thero Mitchell's 2-yard TD run, followed by a two-point conversion pass from Chang to Clifton Herbert pulled the Warriors to 35-32 with 31 seconds left. Receiver Reno Mahe recovered the ensuing onside kick for BYU.

Chang, nursing a broken pinkie on his throwing hand, shared the snaps with reserve Jason Whieldon, who threw a 6-yard touchdown to Neal Gossett and had a 1-yard TD completion to Britton Komine.

But BYU held on, thanks in part to two interceptions, one by Madrieta with 4:46 left that led to a 2-yard scoring run and extended BYU's lead to 35-24.

CLEMSON: Coach Tommy Bowden said starting running back Bernard Rambert will not play today against Louisiana Tech because of tendinitis in his foot. Rambert had 10 carries for 35 yards against Georgia, but has not practiced this week. Keith Kelly will start. Starting cornerback Toure Francis (torn ACL) will miss the rest of the season. Starting wide receiver Derrick Hamilton (leg strain) was upgraded from doubtful to questionable, and starting guard Cedric Johnson (sprained ankle) is questionable.

FLORIDA: Receiver Dallas Baker was cleared academically by the NCAA. Coach Ron Zook said he did not know if Baker was a full or partial qualifier but he will practice with the Gators on Monday. Baker, a freshman from New Smyrna Beach, initially failed to qualify for the second year in a row. He attended a prep school in 2001.

MISSISSIPPI: Linebacker Eddie Strong (sprained ankle) is not expected to play today against Memphis. Wide receiver/kick returner Jason Armstead, who aggravated an ankle sprain in last week's win over Louisiana-Monroe, is expected to play, as is defensive end Cory Robinson, who was held out of last week's game for disciplinary reasons.

-- Times correspondent Jill Martin contributed to this report.

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