An improbable miss in regulation by Air Force place-kicker Luke Strebel gave the University of Hawaii new life it wouldn’t waste.

UH starting quarterback Dru Brown got up off the deck to lead the Rainbow Warriors to a 34-27 double-overtime victory that UH rookie head coach Nick Rolovich won’t ever forget.

After last week’s difficult loss at home to Nevada-Las Vegas, this one was particularly sweet. A late eight-minute option march by the Falcons’ offense set up a 32-yard field-goal attempt for Strebel that he missed wide right, giving the Warriors a huge second chance. Prior to the miss, he had been a perfect 13-for-13.

Hawaii won the toss and went on defense first after surviving the brutal fourth-quarter drive. The Falcons scored a touchdown in the first overtime on a 5-yard run by quarterback Nate Romine that gave them a 27-20 lead when Strebel added the extra point.

Hawaii came back to tie it after managing a big third-down conversion at the 15, and then completed a scoring pass from Brown to Marcus Kemp. Sanchez added the PAT to make it 27-27.

That combination gave UH a 34-27 lead in the second overtime on a 25-yard scoring pass from Brown to Kemp. Back came Air Force with its plodding, but very efficient offense. The Falcons converted one first down, but couldn’t get another as the defense came up big. A third-and-7 pass play fell incomplete, setting up a fourth-and-7 that was intercepted by Jalen Rogers in the end zone to seal the deal.

The win lifted Hawaii to 4-4 for the season and 3-1 in league play. Air Force dropped to 4-3 overall and 1-3 in the conference.

With the score tied at 20, the teams traded punts, with Air Force starting its final drive from the 13 with 8:18 left. From there, the option grind began for the Falcons against a defense that had been on the field a lot during a hot afternoon in Colorado.

Under the guidance of Romine and the wide body of Shayne Davern, the Falcons methodically marched down the field against a defense that couldn’t stop what it knew was coming. The march set up a 32-yard field goal by Strebel that went wide right.

With the score tied at 13 to start the fourth quarter, Air Force completed a drive it began in the third with a 2-yard scoring run by Davern. Strebel added the PAT to make it 20-13 Air Force with 13:33 remaining in the game. The drive was 12 plays, 75 yards, and had the feel of the first-quarter scoring drive of 13 snaps from center by Air Force that resulted in its first touchdown.

With the UH defense tiring, the offense put together a good drive of its own to give the unit some much-needed rest. On a first-and-10 call, Brown threw a perfect 40-yard touchdown pass to John Ursua as Sanchez added the PAT to make it 20-20 with 11:51 remaining. The drive went 75 yards on five plays and had the Falcon Stadium crowd of 29,132 a little nervous coming down the stretch.

Air Force struck quickly on the opening series of the second half, as Romine broke off a 41-yard scamper to the UH 34. It set up a 47-yard field goal by Strebel that tied the game 10-10 with 12:40 left in the period. It was Strebel’s 12th consecutive 3-pointer to start the season.

Genta Ito had a nice return of 39 yards to give UH decent field position to start the second half. But Brown was picked off for the second time, this one by Jes Washington, who returned it to the UH 42. The throw was into double coverage and woefully underthrown.

A big hit by Diocemy Saint Juste on Washington knocked him out. It was reviewed by the officials for targeting, but it was ruled not to be a violation, allowing Saint Juste to remain in the game. After a lengthy delay, Washington was removed from the game on a cart, strapped to a board.

The Falcons offense went right back to work, quickly picking up a first down before the UH defense held, forcing a 42-yard field goal by Strebel that went through to give Air Force a 13-10 advantage with 9:17 left in the third.

The Falcons forced Hawaii to punt on the next series, taking over at their own 20 after a 52-yard boot by Rigo Sanchez. Air Force picked up a first down, but then was called for a personal foul that backed them up to their own 18. Facing third-and-22, Romine was forced out of the pocket by Jahlani Tavai and fumbled. It was recovered by Hawaii’s Leo Koloamatangi at the Air Force 11. But Hawaii had to settle for a 35-yard field goal by Sanchez that tied the game 13-13 with 2:02 left in the quarter.

On the next series, Romine opted to go through the air, completing his first pass of the day for 20 yards to Ryan Reffitt, setting up an eventual fourth-and-1 by the Falcons at the Hawaii 46. Earlier in the game, the Falcons went for it on fourth down and failed. This time, D.J. Johnson left no doubt with a 3-yard gain to keep the drive alive with 43 seconds left in the quarter.

The Hawaii defense came up with a big play to open the second quarter, stopping Air Force on a fourth-and-1 at the UH 46. It set the tone for the Rainbow Warriors.

The Hawaii offense completed a 29-yard pass from Brown to favorite target Marcus Kemp on the first play after the big stop. The nice catch was near the sideline and was reviewed, but the completion stood as called. Two plays later, the Warriors converted a third-and-6 on a 9-yard pass from Brown to Ursua to the Air Force 11.

Two snaps later, UH had a third-and 7 from the Falcons 8, but this time the Air Force defense held, leading to a 25-yard field goal by Sanchez to cut the deficit to 7-3 with 11:29 left in the half.

The Hawaii defense held on the ensuing series, but the punt exchange left the Warriors at their own 1-yard line. No problem, Brown hit a 41-yard pass to Kemp to escape the shadow of their own goal line. Two plays later, Brown found Kemp near the sidelines once more. It was called incomplete and after a long review, the play stood as called. UH eventually was forced to punt, giving the Falcons the ball at their own 17 midway through the quarter.

On the ensuing offensive series, the Hawaii defense made two nice plays against the run, but was called for pass interference on third-and 15. No matter. Two plays later, the Warriors’ Kory Rasmussen forced a Johnson fumble that was recovered at the Air Force 32 by Tavai.

The Hawaii offense took over from there. Facing a third-and-7, Brown completed a 16-yard pass to Metuisela Unga and then a 12-yarder to Ursua setting up a first-and-goal at the 4. From there, UH scored just before the half on a hard 1-yard run by Steven Lakalaka that stood up after review.

Sanchez added the PAT to give UH its first lead of the game at 10-7 with seven seconds remaining.

Both teams moved the football well enough in the opening quarter, but it was Air Force that struck first to take a 7-0 lead.

After holding Hawaii on its opening offensive series, Air Force’s option attack put together a methodical drive against the struggling Rainbow Warriors run defense.

Falcons running back Tim McVey mercifully ended it with a 6-yard run straight up the heart of a defensive unit that has proved time and again it has trouble defending the run.

Air Force overcame a third-and-12 and a first-and 20 during the 13-play, 79-yard drive as Strebel added the PAT to make it 7-0 Falcons with 7:27 left in the quarter.

Hawaii moved the ball well enough on the next drive, but it all ended in Air Force territory with an interception by Falcons safety Brodie Hicks of starting UH quarterback Brown. It was the first pick since the Michigan game for Brown, who has shown a penchant for turning over the football this season.

The defense tightened up on the ensuing offensive series, forcing a three-and-out, but Hawaii lost significant field position on the punt, starting its third drive at its own 16. Neither team did much the rest of the period.