Box Score
Post Game Notes
Post Game Quotes

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The University of Hawai'i Warrior football team got back on the winning track with a convincing 42-30 win over New Mexico State Saturday afternoon at Aggie Memorial Stadium. The Warriors improved to 5-5 overall and 4-3 in the Western Athletic Conference.

 

After a lackluster performance last week at Utah State, the Warriors rebounded by exploding for a season-high in points (49) and yards (447). UH also got its second defensive touchdown of the season. With the win the Warriors moved a win closer to the seven needed for an automatic bowl bid.

 

Greg Alexander led the Warrior offense by completing 26-of-32 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. The junior quarterback also ran for a score, the second straight week that has happened. After sitting out last week, Kealoha Pilares returned with 99 yards of total offense on 10 catches and two runs.

 

UH meanwhile got its second defensive touchdown of the season when Ryan Mouton returned an interception 91 yards for a score in the second quarter. It tied for the longest play of the year for the Warriors and tied  the third longest interception return in school history.

 

The Warrior effort was enough to hold off the explosive duo of Chase Holbrook and Chris Williams who hooked up for three touchdowns. Holbrook finished with 394 yards passing with Williams accounting for 221 of those yards on seven catches.

 

UH fell behind early as Holbrook connected with Williams on an 84-yard bomb just 44 seconds into the game. In a sign of things to come, Hawai`i responded with a touchdown in its opening drive. Alexander hit all five of his pass attempts on the drive, including a 17-yard scoring strike to Aaron Bain.

 

After Holbrook hooked up with Williams on their second touchdown, UH would take over, scoring three straight touchdowns. Daniel Libre rumbled in from four yards out, followed by  a 1-yard quarterback sneak from Alexander on the first play of the second quarter to give UH a 21-14 lead.

 

The Warriors capped its game-changing run when Mouton snatched a tipped pass midair on the Warrior 9-yard line and returned the interception 91 yards to extended the UH lead to 27-14. The Warriors led 35-17 at the break and never looked back with the Aggies getting no closer than the final margin.

 

UH enjoys a bye next week and returns home for its final three games at Aloha Stadim, needing two wins to become bowl eligible. The quest begins with its WAC finale versus Idaho on Saturday, Nov. 22. Kickoff is set for 6:05 p.m.