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Football

Warriors Roll Over Aztecs, 49-38, To Win Season Finale

Box Score

HONOLULU - Running back Nate Ilaoa rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown and caught for 60 yards and a score to lead Hawai'i over San Diego State, 49-38, in the final game of the 2005 season Saturday night at Aloha Stadium. Ilaoa is Hawai'i's first 100-yard rusher since Oct. 9, 2004, a span of 20 games. The Warriors gained 262 rushing yards an all-time high in the June Jones era.

Hawai'i (5-7) scored 21 straight points in the last three minutes of the first half, erasing a 21-7 San Diego State (5-7) lead, to take a 28-21 lead into the locker room. After quarterback Colt Brennan hit Ross Dickerson for a 17-yard touchdown, the Warrior defense forced two turnovers, an interception by cornerback Ryan Keomaka, and a fumble forced by defensive end Melila Purcell to allow the scores.

Brennan tossed four touchdown passes in the first half, three to receiver Ryan Grice-Mullen, and finished 25-of-37 for 326 yards and five touchdowns. Grice-Mullen hauled in 10 catches for 167 yards and three scores.

Brennan orchestrated a 10-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a 10-yard touchdown run by defensive tackle turned running back Reagan Mauia, his first career touchdown. SDSU's Garrett Palmer kicked a 28-yard field goal, but there was no stopping the Hawai'i offense. Brennan and the Warriors drove 66-yards on eight plays. Ilaoa caught a strike from Brennan for an 11-yard score, to put Hawai'i ahead 42-24 with 3:51 left in the third quarter.

Ilaoa scored on a 25-yard run to put the Warriors ahead, 49-24, early in the fourth quarter. The Aztecs scored two touchdowns in the next six minutes to get to within 11, and drove to the Warrior 31-yard line, but the Warrior defense stopped a 4th-and-13 attempt to seal the win.

The Warriors bid aloha to 13 seniors in the traditional "senior walk" after the game. Senior linebacker Kila Kamakawiwo'ole c-led the Warriors with 10 tackles. Linebacker Solomon Elimimian also finished with 10 tackles, while cornerback Ryan Keomaka recorded a career-high nine tackles, and snagged his first career interception.

Hawai'i opens the 2006 season at Alabama Sept. 2.

- UH -

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