Box Score

HONOLULU - The 15th-ranked University of Hawai'i football team won a shootout over Utah State, 52-37, Saturday night in a Western Athletic Conference match-up at Aloha Stadium. The Warriors improve to 6-0 and 3-0 in the WAC this season.

UH quarterback Colt Brennan completed 19-of-25 for 219 yards and one touchdown before leaving the game early in the second half. The senior got dinged up on UH's final possession of the first half and succumbed to backup Tyler Graunke.

Graunke led the Warriors to a touchdown at the end of the first half and directed UH downfield on three drives in the second half. The junior from Tucson, Ariz., finished the game 9-of-11 for 246 yards and three touchdowns, including one rushing.

"I wasn't expecting to go in that early, but I was definitely mentally ready," Graunke said. "I took my fair share of reps during the week. Lately, I have not been feeling like me, it is taking me 1-2 series to get going, but tonight I got it going from the very first play. That start (Charleston Southern) gave me a lot of confidence. We executed very well and the receivers were just amazing. I knew I was over the goal line (on the his second quarter touchdown) and that play gave us a lot of momentum heading into the second half."

The game featured big plays for both teams. Each team returned a kickoff for a touchdown and UH had three drives of three plays or less while USU had a one play drive.

Utah State (0-6, 0-2) got on the scoreboard on the game's opening possession with a 20-yard field goal by Peter Caldwell. The Warriors responded with an eight-play, 81-yard drive, culminating on a Kealoha Pilares touchdown from a yard out. That lead was short-lived as USU's Kevin Robinson returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards giving the Aggies the lead back at 10-7.

UH knotted the game at 10 after Dan Kelly's 54-yard field goal, the fifth longest in school history. After Caldwell's 36-yard field goal gave the Aggies the lead temporarily at 13-10, Malcolm Lane's 87-yard return on the ensuing kickoff, put the Warriors on top for good, 17-13.

Following an Aggie punt, UH marched downfield and Brennan found Davone Bess on a 22-yard scoring strike. After UH's Josh Leonard recovered a USU fumble, Hawai'i drove the field for another touchdown. Graunke subbed in for Brennan and crossed the goal line with five seconds left giving UH a 31-13 halftime lead.

On their opening possession of the second half, the Aggies drove downfield on a 12 play drive and an eight-yard run by Derrvin Speight. Graunke connected with C.J. Hawthorne on two plays, including a 36-yarder for a 38-20 UH lead.

Graunke drove the Warriors again and found David Farmer on a 20-yard shuffle pass giving UH a 45-27 lead. On USU's next possession, Leon Jackson found Kevin Robinson on a 77-yard pass and catch but the Warriors responded just as quickly as Graunke connected with Rivers on a 72 yard reception.

Junior linebacker Soloman Elimimian led the Warrior defense with a career-high 20 tackles.

"Everyone played well," Elimimian said. "I just utilized my speed tonight and tried to go from sideline to sideline. I'd give the Defense a "C" tonight. We definitely could have played better, 37 points are just too much. Guys can't do what they want to do, it's a team concept. Teams like Utah State are much tougher to beat than a ranked team because they played with nothing to lose."

The Warriors next take their six-game road win streak to San Jose State Friday, Oct. 12. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN at 5:05 p.m. PDT (2:05 p.m. HST) at Spartan Stadium.

Game Notes
- Dan Kelly's 54-yard field goal in the first quarter was the fifth-longest in school history.
- Malcolm Lane's 87-yard kickoff return for TD was his second this season and UH's eighth defensive or special teams touchdown this year.
- Jason Rivers moved into second place all-time in UH history in receiving yards.

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