It was University of Hawai'i football coach Greg McMackin as we've never seen him — at least in public — before:

Screaming, steaming, gesturing wildly, stomping the sidelines a man possessed. His face turned the purple of the orchid lei around his bulging neck.

With 4 minutes, 38 seconds left in a second quarter of a must-have game tied at 7-7, McMackin and the Warriors were confronted by what was, at first appearance, a blown pass interference call for the second consecutive week, this time a "no call" after UH receiver Malcolm Lane was hit by cornerback Stevon Howze.

Instead of first down deep in Louisiana Tech territory, it was second-and-10 at midfield.

Opportunity lost? An emotion-sapping setback?

Hardly. A possibly debilitating episode that could have taken the wind out of the Warriors had they let it instead ignited a stirring turnaround moment in a 24-14 homecoming victory over the Bulldogs.

From that potentially deflating setback sprung a sudden impact rally such as we had not seen this season as the Warriors roared back with two touchdowns in the space of 54 seconds for a 21-7 halftime command and a lead they never relinquished.

Suddenly, the 3-3 (2-1 WAC) Warriors have their first winning streak of the season and are showing a gritty side. They are fast burnishing a reputation for resilience and tenacity under adversity.

"That was a time to play with heart and this team has heart," Kealoha Pilares said. "When Coach Mac gets angry like that, you know something is wrong and we want to play for him."

The play after the controversy, quarterback Inoke Funaki and Pilares hooked up on a 23-yard shovel pass for a first down and then, splitting three defenders, hit Greg Salas, who made a leaping 25-yard touchdown catch in the end zone.

R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Desmond Thomas recovered and two plays later, Funaki fired a 20-yard touchdown pass to Pilares.

At 21-7 with 3 minutes, 7 seconds left in the first half, "you don't like to think it is over, down two (scores)," Tech coach Derek Dooley said afterward. But, with the UH defense digging in, not allowing another score until the final 19 seconds of the game, this one was over. And it is on to Boise State for Friday's nationally televised Western Athletic Conference showdown with the Broncos.

"We had to step up and make plays because nobody was going to help us," said defensive tackle Keala Watson. "We've got to do it for ourselves. We're finding that identity."

Indeed, we saw it emerging in the overtime victory over then-nationally ranked Fresno State last week. And, encouragingly, we saw further evidence it wasn't a one-shot deal with last night's turnaround.

An Aloha Stadium crowd of 36,765 glimpsed — and felt — what the coaches saw, too. Dare we use the word "believe" so soon after last year?

"They are responding with their backs to the wall," said associate head coach Rich Miano. "They are starting to believe like last year. Not on the level of last year's belief, but, I think, to the point where we can become a pretty good football team."

As McMackin put it: "This team is coming together and they are playing for each other."

The signature second quarter last night was proof positive of that.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.