Box Score
Post Game Quotes
Post Game Notes

HONOLULU – Greg Alexander connected with  Malcolm Lane for a 24-yard touchdown with 20 seconds remaining to lift the University of Hawai`i Warrior football team to a 38-31 win over Nevada Saturday night at Aloha Stadium. UH evened its record to 4-4 overall and moved to 3-2 in the Western Athletic Conference with the win.

UH never trailed in the game, but needed performances from all three phases—offense, defense and special teams—to hold off the Wolf Pack (4-4, 2-2 WAC).

 

Perhaps no one was bigger than Alexander, who directed three scoring drives in the second half, including the game-winner. The junior quarterback finished 17-of-22 from 205 yards and two touchdowns in one half's work.

 

On UH's final possession of the game, Alexander eluded a sack for a 16-pass play to start the drive and later scrambled 10 yards for a key third-down conversion. With UH facing a third-and-one from the 24-yard line and less than 30 seconds remaining, the Warriors opted for the end zone instead of a field goal with Alexander hitting Lane streaking down the sideline.

 

Hawai`i won despite being out-gained 481-331. UH had just 42 yards of offense in the first half but the Warrior defense and special teams helped the team stake a 14-10 lead at the half. The UH defense scored its first touchdown of the season on a fumble recovery in the first quarter when David Veikune sacked Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick for a 15-yard loss and forced a fumble. John Fonoti scooped the ball up and ran in seven yards for UH's first defensive touchdown of the year and an early 7-0 lead

 

Meanwhile, the UH special teams gave one of its best performances of the year, as UH won the battle of field position. Lane posted 115 yards in kick returns and UH punter Tim Grasso pinned three punts deep in Wolf Pack territory, including a career-long 55 yarder.  

 

Solomon Elimimian led the Warrior defense with 10 tackles and in the process became UH's all-time leader in tackles with 373, surpassing Levi Stanley (366). Elimimian set the recrord early in the first quarter.

 

The Warriors pulled off the win after a fourth-quarter rally by the Wolf Pack. Nevada erased a 14-point deficit and tied the game with 1:31 left after Kaepernick found Chris Wellington from 34 yards out to tie the score, 31-31. Kaepernick finished with 173 yards passing, 139 yards rushing and three touchdowns. 

 

The Warriors will play its next two contests on the road. First up for UH will be Utah State on Saturday, Nov. 1. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. MT (9:00 a.m. HT).