It was almost a huge upset.

The Fresno State Bulldogs held off the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors 42-37, but not before Hawaii ended the game on a 33-0 run.

And one person served as the turning point: Hawaii quarterback Sean Schroeder.

“You have to give other teams credit,” said Fresno State coach Tim DeRuyter. “We’re playing teams that are fighting, and they practice, too. I don’t assume that we’re going to blow anybody out. It’s going to be a fight, especially on the road.

“And when you turn the ball over like we did, you’re going to give the team momentum especially on the road.”

Warrior freshman quarterback Ikaika Woolsey started the game and completed 7 of 19 passes for 56 yards. After a costly interception in the third quarter, Hawaii head coach Norm Chow replaced Woolsey with Schroeder.

Schroeder immediately made an impact. He completed his first five passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns. His total was 17 of 27 for 321 yards and three touchdowns.

“Schroeder deserves a ton of credit,” Chow said. “He’s a young man who hung in there. He thought he was going to be the starter, but we went with Ikaika instead. He’s young, mature and that’s what you expect from him.”

Bulldogs mount early lead

Fresno State’s early offensive production cushioned its last-minute freefall.

Quarterback Derek Carr threw 33 of 47 for 324 yards and two scores. The Bulldogs led the game 21-3 at halftime. Marteze Waller led the rushing game with 95 yards and two touchdowns.

After wide receiver Isaiah Burse was ejected from the game on a targeting call, Josh Harper became Carr’s go-to guy. Carr connected with Harper nine times for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

“When you lose a guy like Burse, it’s tough,” Carr said. “He’s such a leader and a captain. But [football] is the ultimate team sport. Our calls didn’t change.”

In the second half, the Bulldogs had trouble keeping the football. They lost four straight possessions, three of which ended in Hawaii touchdowns. It was the first time in 180 pass attempts that Carr threw an interception.

The very last play of the game made up for the Bulldogs’ defensive struggle. Cornerback L.J. Jones intercepted Schroeder’s Hail Mary pass attempt in the end zone to seal Fresno State’s victory. It was Jones’ second pick of the contest.

It was a close call for the Bulldogs, but the mantra remains the same: a win is a win. They moved up in both the AP (23) and Coaches’ (21) poll standings. The 4-0 start is their first since 2001.

“To win a game having five turnovers, it doesn’t happen very often. And we found a way to get it done,” DeRuyter said.

“I’ve been a part of a 4-9 season, so I know how a lot of losing feels,” Carr said. “Anytime you win, you celebrate it … a win is a win, and that’s all that matters.”