Box Score
Post Game Notes
Post Game Quotes

RENO, Nev. – The University of Hawai'i Warrior football team gave Nevada all it could handle before eventually falling, 31-21, Saturday afternoon at Mackay Stadum. The Warriors dropped to 2-6 overall and 0-5 in the Western Athletic Conference with their sixth straight loss.

 

UH jumped all over the Wolf Pack, scoring the game's first 14 points. But Nevada responded with 28 unanswered points over the next three quarters and never relinquished its lead. The Wolf Pack won their fifth straight game to improve to 5-3 overall and a perfect 4-0 in the WAC.

 

Both teams put up plenty of offense, combining for nearly 1000 yards (UH - 492, Nevada 496). The UH defense did hold the top-rated rushing offense (320.1) in the country under its average with 312 yards. However, the Warrior got stung by big play as Nevada scored three touchdowns of 30-yards or longer. Meanwhile, the UH offense suffered two costly interceptions.

 

Warrior quarterback Bryant Moniz showed no ill effects after being sidelined early in last week's loss to Boise State. The sophomore finished 29 of 49 for a career-high 374 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those touchdown passes went to Jovonte Taylor, who enjoyed a career day with six catches for 109 yards.

 

UH couldn't get off to a better start scoring on its opening drive, then holding the explosive Wolf Pack offense to a three-and-out on the first possession.  Moniz directed an opening scoring drive, capped by a 18-yard touchdown pass to Kealoha Pilares. After holding Nevada on its first possession, UH jumped out to a 14-0 lead after Moniz connected with  Taylor on a 71-yard pass play.

 

Nevada got on the board late in the first quarter when Colin Kaepernick rushed in from two yards out to make it 14-7. UH continued to be in front for nearly the entire second quarter until Nevada seized the lead with a pair of touchdowns in the final two minutes of the half. Vai Taua scored on a 30-yard screen pass from Kaepernick with 1:48 left to tie the score. After a UH interception, the Wolf Pack went 56 yards in three plays for their second touchdown in a little more than one minute. Kaepernick dashed in from 38 yards out to give the Wolf Pack its first lead of the day, 21-14, heading into the locker room.

 

UH looked to tie the game in the third quarter but saw two drives stall deep in Nevada territory, including an interception in the endzone. Nevada took advantage of the turnover, scoring on it next possession when Kaepernick found Session in the endzone for a 40-yard bomb and its largest lead of the day, 28-14.

 

The Warriors battled back and Taylor's second touchdown catch of the day, a 4-yarder with 6:18 left, had UH within a touchdown.  Nevada, however, shut the door on a UH comeback, wit a methodical five-minute drive ending with a Ricky Drake field goal to extend the Wolf Pack lead to 10 points with just 1:18 remaining. 

 

The Warriors next return home for Homecoming Week as they host Utah State on Saturday, Nov. 7. Kickoff is set for 5:05 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.