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ALBUQUERQUE – There was no shortage of game drama in Saturday night's Mountain West contest on Branch Field at University Stadium. Despite having a 100-yard rusher, 100-yard receiver and nearly a 200-yard passer, the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior football team fell victim to a fourth quarter comeback by the New Mexico Lobos in the closing moments of a 28-27 conference loss on Saturday.

Looking like they would lead wire-to-wire, the Hawai'i offense went to work quickly after receiving the opening kickoff, grinding out a 13-play drive under the direction of Ikaika Woolsey. Making his first start of the season, Woolsey engineered a UH scoring drive that consumed 4:40 on the clock for the first road score of the season and first opening-drive touchdown since the Colorado, as Paul Harris barreled into the endzone from the 1-yard line.

The celebration for the Rainbow Warriors was short-lived, as UNM kick returner Carlos Wiggins carved through the right side of the coverage, going 100 yards for the touchdown, tying the score on the first return TD since the opening game of head coach Norm Chow's inaugural season in 2012.

On their next drive, the Lobos drove the field 88 yards where they were stopped twice inside the 3-yard line, but Kennedy Tulimasealii made the ultimate stop on third down, stripping the handoff exchange from quarterback Lamar Jordan, jumping on the fumble to send the ball the other way. The offense was able to capitalize, as Rigoberto Sanchez split the uprights for a 10-7 lead on a career-long 49-yarder—the longest since Tyler Hadden hit one from 49 in 2012.

Making the most of their power-rushing triple option attack, the Lobos reclaimed the lead on a 17-play, 82-yard drive, culminating in a 2-yard run by Jhurell Pressley.

The UNM lead evaporated quickly, as Woolsey made the play of the drive, scrambling just shy of the line of scrimmage before spotting Dylan Collie downfield, throwing a strike on the run for 46 yards and a first down at the Lobos' 3-yard line—setting up a second 1-yard touchdown for Harris behind the Rainbow Warriors' jumbo package.

Defense again catapulted the Rainbow Warriors into the lead, as first-time starter Dany Mulanga stripped receiver Chris Davis at the Hawaii 46, setting up a 54-yard drive for the UH, capped by an over-the-top pass from Woolsey to push Collie over the century mark on the 27-yard touchdown, granting UH the 24-14 advantage.

The Lobos trimmed the deficit just over eight minutes into the second half after getting the ball via a Lee Crosby interception, as L. Jordan surmounted an impending UH stop  on third down, finding running back David Anaya open in the endzone and making the Rainbow Warrior lead only three points.

Held scoreless in the third quarter, the Rainbow Warriors reached the scoreboard again early in the fourth, as Sanchez bested his previous long for the second time in Saturday's game, kicking a 47-yard field goal from the right hash mark to push UH ahead 27-21.

Getting the ball back with a six-point lead and 8:27 remaining, UH ran the clock and the football, working down to the UNM 5-yard line, with rushes on 11-of-12 plays. However, a UNM stop on third down set up a missed 22-yard field goal by Sanchez—a play that saw a flag thrown for leaping over the center, which was later withdrawn after a field conference.

Although the Hawai'i defense stood tall the majority of the fourth quarter, stopping New Mexico on three consecutive drives, a personnel and offensive set change did not work in their favor. The Lobos called up Austin Apodoca from the bench to change offensive gears from the triple option to an aerial spread attack with only 2:14 to go, and a six-point UH lead.

Apodoca was able to complete 4-of-5 passes with receivers stepping out of bounds en route to the drive's final play, finding Dameon Gamblin in the endzone for a touchdown, while taking a big hit on the throw. After Zack Rogers' successful extra point, the Rainbow Warriors trailed 28-27, with 55 seconds on the clock.
UH attempted six plays and earned one first down, but hopes of a last-minute comeback ended when Crosby picked off his second pass of the night on third down, downing himself and ending the game.

The Rainbow Warriors trailed for only 10:28 of the total game time.

Taking the opening snap at quarterback for the first time since last season, Woolsey quickly proved a leader on offense, completing 13-of-25 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown, finding his most popular target, Dylan Collie, for a career-high seven (7) receptions, 113 yards and a touchdown.

The ground game opened up for UH against the Lobos, with Paul Harris contributing 127 yards on 24 carries, registering 5.2 yards per carry and his second 100-yard rushing game. The Rainbow Warriors rushed for a season-high 220 yards, outgaining UNM's 11th-ranked rushing unit.

UH outpaced its opponent in total offense for only the second time this season and time of possession was decided in the Lobos' favor by 19 seconds.

Defensively, end Kennedy Tulimasealii was a disruptive force to the UNM triple option, coming off the edge for seven (7) tackles, including 2.0 for loss, chipping in a fumble and recovery. Linebacker Lance Williams led all tacklers, registering nine (9) stops, including six (6) unassisted. Jerrol-Garcia Williams and Jahlani Tavai each recorded eight (8) stops. In total, the UH defensive unit collected 7.0 tackles for loss and made 3.0 sacks.

The Rainbow Warriors open with a 2-5 in consecutive seasons, facing an 0-3 MW record with Nevada as their second straight road opponent next Saturday in Reno. The Wolf Pack (3-4) are 1-2 in MW play after falling to Wyoming (1-6, 1-2 MW) in Laramie on Saturday, 28-21.


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