HALAWA — Making his first start of the season, University of Hawaii redshirt-freshman quarterback Chevan Cordeiro tallied up five total touchdowns as the Rainbow Warriors edged out the Spartans of San Jose State, 42-40, Saturday night at Hawaiian Financial FCU Field at Aloha Stadium in a Mountain West Conference division matchup.

The Spartans took a 23-21 lead into halftime, but Hawaii received the opening kickoff of the third quarter and Cordeiro capped a nine-play, 87-yard drive with a keeper around the right side from three yards out to give the Rainbow Warriors the final lead of the game.

San Jose State responded with Matt Mercurio's fourth field goal of the game and then both teams traded a pair of touchdowns in the final quarter with Cordeiro and Jared Smart hooking up for a five-yard score and later again as the Hawaii QB barreled his way to the end zone on a two-yard keeper to the left. Spartans quarterback Josh Love hit Bailey Gaither and Isaiah Hamilton for TD tosses of 40 and 19 yards, respectively.

Cordeiro (Saint Louis '17) made his second career start, replacing redshirt-junior Cole McDonald who ranks No. 4 in the nation with 2,796 passing yards and No. 6 with 25 touchdown throws.

Last week saw Cordeiro enter late in the fourth quarter to rally the Rainbow Warriors for two scoring drives to tie the game before falling on a walk-off field goal to Fresno State.

Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich did not name a starter prior to tonight's kickoff and said in his postgame confrence that he didn't make the final decision until last night.

"Probably the toughest decision in my head coaching career. By numbers, you could be taking the offensive plyer of the conference off the field. I respect Cole McDonald so much for the way he handled it," Rolovich said. "The decision wasn't easy, but in the end, when I signed my name on that paper to come work this job for this school and this state, I have to put the player on the field which I think gives us the best chance to win tonight."

The Rainbow Warriors — as well as the Spartans — did not punt once Saturday night as Cordeiro finished 23 for 31 for 309 yards with three touchdowns. He did lose one fumble early in the game, but totaled 56 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

"It's hard for me to even find a mistake he made," Rolovich continued. "I thought he was accurate deep and I thought he threw the ball really well all week. I felt like this week, the way Chevan was playing: it was time to start him."

Rolovich did not name Cordeiro as next week's starter and said he's unsure of how the QB situation will go moving forward.

The win brings Hawaii's record to 6-4 overall and 3-3 in the Mountain West Conference. With West Division leaders San Diego State (4-2 MWC) and Fresno State (2-3 MWC) taking losses this week, the Rainbow Warriors are back in contention for the conference championship, but still need some help.

Hawaii must win its two remaining conference games against UNLV and SDSU, while Fresno State would need to lose to either San Diego State, Nevada or San Jose State or else the Bulldogs would hold the tiebreaker over the Rainbow Warriors should both teams finish at 5-3.