Timmy Chang’s first year as Hawaii football head coach ended with a road defeat to a friend-turned-foe.

UH lost its 2022 season finale 27-14 at San Jose State’s CEFCU Stadium on Saturday afternoon as former Rainbow Warriors quarterback Chevan Cordeiro tossed two touchdowns to receiver Elijah Cooks for a lead the Spartans would not relinquish.

UH finished at 3-10 and 2-6 in the Mountain West Conference. San Jose State, led by Cordeiro, a candidate for Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, improved to 7-4 and 5-3. The Spartans could appear in the EasyPost Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve.

SJSU beat UH for the third straight time and kept possession of the Dick Tomey Legacy Trophy that is contested between the teams.

Cordeiro was the most notable of several UH players to leave the program following the 2021 season amid a storm of controversy and criticism around former coach Todd Graham, who later resigned. The Saint Louis School graduate’s decision to enter the transfer portal kicked off a wave of player defections.

Chang, another former UH quarterback from Saint Louis, took the job knowing he’d be in for an extensive rebuild. While UH scratched its way to the occasional win at its Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, Chang’s first road win will have to come later; UH finished 0-6 on the continent in 2022.

Though Saturday’s defeat meant UH had its most losses in a season since 2015, Cordeiro’s former UH teammates did not seem to take it out on him. The Warriors pursued him doggedly during the game — only lineman John Tuitupou was able to sack him — but afterward players approached him for hugs and playful punches.

Cordeiro was 17-for-26 for 208 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also ran 10 times for 19 yards, far from the most explosive outing of the season for the MWC leader in touchdowns (20) and total passing yardage (2,885).

Rainbow Warriors quarterback Brayden Schager, a former understudy of Cordeiro, got off to a slow start but finished 25-for-45 for 230 yards, one touchdown and no picks. However, UH could not establish a ground game — a mere 43 yards — as dynamic freshman back Tylan Hines was knocked out of the game with a blow to the head.

Cooks, a graduate transfer from Nevada, caught 10 balls for 121 yards, including the scoring grabs of 5 and 7 yards in the first half.

UH managed Matthew Shipley field goals of 46 and 27 yards before halftime, but Cooks’ second score gave the Spartans a 14-6 lead at intermission. They added to it early in the third with running back Kairee Robinson’s 1-yard score.

After SJSU tacked on a field goal for a 24-6 lead, UH gave itself a chance down the stretch as Schager strung together one of the best passing sequences of his two-year career in the fourth quarter. He completed 13 of 15 balls during one stretch, including a 22-yard touchdown pass to Steven Fiso. Zion Bowens’ 2-point conversion catch made it a 10-point game with 12:41 left.

UH gave up another field goal but still had a shot. Schager moved UH down the field again, but the drive stalled in the red zone and he was sacked on fourth down. SJSU ran out the remaining 2:16.

Linebacker Logan Taylor again led the UH defense in tackles with 13, including seven solo.

Cordeiro, a fifth-year junior, has one season of eligibility remaining and would conceivably appear at the Ching Complex in his final season next year.

The Hawaii Bowl will be Dec. 24 at the Ching Complex between teams to be determined.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com