Box Score

HONOLULU - Warrior running back Nate Ilaoa gained 219 all-purpose yards (151 rushing, 68 receiving) and the Warrior defense forced two turnovers and made key stops, including a goal line stand at the end, to help Hawai'i win its first Western Athletic Conference game, 31-34, against Nevada Saturday night at Aloha Stadium.

The game featured a little bit of everything. There were back-to-back fumbles, instant replay reviews and reversals, personal fouls, a blocked punt, a blocked field goal, you name it. Hawai'i (3-2, 1-1) racked up 579 yards of total offense, quarterback Colt Brennan threw for 419 yards and four touchdowns (36 of 47) and also ran for a score, while Davone Bess (10-139) and Ian Sample (5-107) combined for 15 catches for 246 yards and three touchdowns.

But it was the Warrior defense that saved the offense for a change. The Warriors, ahead 41-21 with 11:45 left to play, allowed the Wolf Pack back in the game. After Nevada back up quarterback Travis Moore rallied the Wolf Pack, orchestrating a 86-yard drive capped by a 5-yard touchdown strike to tight end Anthony Pudewell, the Warriors had the ball deep in their own territory. And then disaster struck as Brennan fumbled at his own 3-yard line.

But a goal line stand by the Warrior defense kept the Wolf Pack from stealing the win. Warrior safety Leonard Peters stuffed Nevada running back Luke Lippencott on first-and-goal. Moore then threw three incompletions, the last one fourth-and-goal, which was broken up by Peters, allowing Hawai'i to run out the 1:47 remaining on the clock to preserve the win.

A key stop also came when Nevada, trailing 34-21 early in the fourth quarter, drove the ball to midfield and decided to go for it on 4th-and-5. Warrior middle linebacker Adam Leonard, who had already forced and recovered a fumble earlier in the game, stuffed Lippencott at the line of scrimmage. Leonard finished with a game-high nine tackles (8 solo).

The first half was all Hawai'i as Brennan completed 81 percent (22-of-27) of his passes for 252 yards and four touchdowns. Sample caught five passes in the first half, two for touchdowns, including a 63-yard grab to help the Warriors take a 17-7 lead early in the second quarter.

Nevada quarterback Jeff Rowe passed for 179 yards (14-of-170 and two scores to keep Nevada within striking distance. Touchdown strikes from Brennan to Bess and Ross Dickerson, along with a 97-yard first half from Ilaoa (five carries) and a forced fumble by the Warrior defense, helped Hawai'i take a 31-21 lead into the locker room.

Place kicker Dan Kelly converted field goals from 35 and 25 yards, before a 24-yard attempt to build on a 34-21 lead in the third quarter was blocked.

The Warriors travel to Fresno State to meet the Bulldogs Saturday, October 14. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Bulldogs Stadium. Fresno State suffered a 13-12 loss at Utah State earlier in the evening.

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