Box Score
Post Game Notes
Post Game Quotes

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai`i Warrior football team notched its second straight win with a 24-6 victory over New Mexico State Saturday night at Aloha Stadium. UH got a stout defensive effort and a record-breaking performance by wide receiver Greg Salas to improve to 4-6 overall and 2-5 in the Western Athletic Conference.

 

UH scored on their first three possessions to take a 17-0 lead in just a little more than a quarter of action and never looked back in the win. The Warrior defense allowed a season-low 244 yards and shutout an opponent's offense for the first time since 2005. New Mexico State's lone score came on a Davon House 58-yard interception return with 1:13 left in the third quarter.

 

Meanwhile the Aggies' defense had no answer for Salas. The junior from Chino, Calif., set a new school record with 16 receptions, while racking up a career-high 196 yards and one touchdown. Salas tied Davone Bess' record of 15 receptions (versus Boise State, 2007) with a 12-yard touchdown reception from Shane Austin with 11:08 left in the game, then surpassed Bess' mark with a 6-yard catch midway through the fourth quarter.

 

UH opened the game with a methodical, 11-play, 83-yard drive capped by a Leon Wright-Jackson 3-yard touchdown run. Wright-Jackson would find the end zone again on UH's next possession when his 11-yard scamper made it a 14-0 first-quarter lead. It was the fifth time in the last two games that the senior found the end zone.

 

The Warriors compiled 310 of its 485 yards of total offense in the first half alone as they took a 17-0 lead at the half. Meanwhile, the Warrior defense shut the Aggies out in the first half, marking the first time that UH shutout an opponent in the first half since UH's 2007 season opener vs. Northern Colorado.

 

New Mexico State cut the lead to 17-7 on House's interception return, but the Warriors responded on their next possession with Salas' touchdown reception from Austin early in the fourth quarter. UH quarterback Bryant Moniz threw for 294 yards on 20-of-38 attempts before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter.

 

The Warriors next take their final road trip of the year, facing San Jose State in their WAC finale on Saturday, Sept. 21. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m. PT (3:00 HT) at Spartan Stadium.