Houston scored first with a 34-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kevin Kolb to wide receiver Chad McCullar.
In the second quarter, Timmy Chang found wide receiver Clifton Herbert for a 49-yard touchdown pass to make the score 10–10.
Timmy Chang then threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jason Rivers, and Hawaii claimed its first lead of the game at 27–20.
In the fourth quarter, wide receiver Vincent Marshall caught an 81-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 34.
The two-point conversion attempt failed leaving the score 54–48 Hawaii, and giving Houston a chance to win.