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Max Wittek pass vs. Nevada
Russ Cannon

Football

Second Half Comeback Pushes Nevada Past Rainbow Warriors, 30-20

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| VIDEO: Post-Game Interviews | VIDEO: Game Highlights (courtesy OC Sports)

RENO – In spite of a career-high passing performance for Max Wittek and four timely and crucial defensive stands, the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior football team fell in its fifth consecutive loss, dropping the Mountain West Conference game 30-20 to the Nevada Wolfpack on Saturday at Mackay Stadium.

For the second consecutive week, the Rainbow Warriors look sharp coming out of the gate and reached the scoreboard first, as Rigoberto Sanchez centered a 50-yard field goal in the first quarter, hitting from the longest distance since 2007 to give UH the early lead for the third game this season. UH was quick to follow up, with safety Dany Mulanga making his first career interception on the ensuing Nevada drive, setting the stage for a two-play scoring drive, capped by a 29-yard touchdown reception by Devan Stubblefield from Max Wittek.

After stopping the Wolf Pack on fourth down in Hawai'i territory, the Rainbow Warriors marched 73 yards downfield on 10 plays, grabbing the 17-point lead as Wittek again found Stubblefield, on the crossing under-route for a 9-yard touchdown reception.

The Wolf Pack answered after capitalizing on a 46-yard kick return by Elijah Mitchell, taking to the ground on 7-of-9 plays and putting seven points on the board, as James Butler jumped the pile for the 1-yard review-confirmed score on third down. Penalties following the extra point pushed the Nevada kickoff into UH territory, leading to a successful onside kick. The 'Bows stood tall on defense, holding Nevada to only a 40-yard field goal by Brent Zuzo.

At the mid-point of the third quarter, the Wolf Pack again trimmed the Rainbow Warriors' lead again, this time via a 29-yard field goal by Zuzo, after the UH defense forced the stop in the red zone.

Sanchez countered for UH with another hit from long range, logging a 47-yarder in the third quarter to keep the UH advantage at seven to close out the frame.

Chewing up over five minutes on the clock, the Wolf Pack continued their second half rise, knotting up the score at 20-all on a 5-yard pass from Tyler Stewart to Jarred Gipson, using a play-action for the score just 58 seconds into the final frame.

The UH defense made yet another red zone stop after Nevada started their drive via interception at the UH 38-yard line, holding the Wolf Pack to a 30-yard field goal by Zuzo, but granting Nevada its first lead of the afternoon at 23-20.

A third interception provided Nevada with the ball at the UH 21-yard line and again Butler scored from the 1-yard line, extending the Wolf Pack lead to 10 points and capping off a 30-3 scoring rally that began in the second quarter.

With just over two minutes remaining, UH marched the field on the strength of three completed passes and Wittek took a shot for Marcus Kemp at the edge of the endzone. After a quick review, it was ruled that Kemp did not drag a toe, leaving UH with second and 10 from the 17-yard line. On the ensuing play, as Wittek scanned for an open receiver, Ian Seau stripped and recovered the ball on his fourth sack of the afternoon, ending the game in a 30-20 Nevada win.

Wittek went for career highs of 291 yards on 27-of-40 passing, throwing for two (2) touchdowns. On the ground, Paul Harris rushed for 61 yards on 16 carries. Matching a two-touchdown mark from last season for UH, Stubblefield reeled in a pair of scored, collecting 91 yards receiving on a career-high eight (8) receptions.

Mulanga led the defensive effort with 10 tackles and a 36-yard interception return, while linebacker Julian Gener tallied nine (9) stops with two (2) tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a pass breakup. Cornerback Nick Nelson also broke up three (3) passes for the third time this season.

The Rainbow Warriors' record falls to 2-6 (0-4 MW) for the second consecutive season.

The Rainbow Warriors get a brief reprieve from the road next week, returning to Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium for a Saturday (Oct. 31) meeting with Air Force. The Falcons (4-3, 3-1 MW) defeated Fresno State 42-14 in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Saturday.
 
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Players Mentioned

Julian Gener

#8 Julian Gener

LB
5' 11"
Senior
Marcus Kemp

#14 Marcus Kemp

WR
6' 4"
Junior
Dany  Mulanga

#40 Dany Mulanga

DB
6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
Nick  Nelson

#11 Nick Nelson

DB
6' 0"
Sophomore
Devan  Stubblefield

#9 Devan Stubblefield

WR
6' 0"
Redshirt Freshman
Max Wittek

#13 Max Wittek

QB
6' 4"
Senior
Paul Harris

#29 Paul Harris

RB
5' 11"
Junior
Rigoberto Sanchez

#43 Rigoberto Sanchez

PK/P
6' 1"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Julian Gener

#8 Julian Gener

5' 11"
Senior
LB
Marcus Kemp

#14 Marcus Kemp

6' 4"
Junior
WR
Dany  Mulanga

#40 Dany Mulanga

6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
DB
Nick  Nelson

#11 Nick Nelson

6' 0"
Sophomore
DB
Devan  Stubblefield

#9 Devan Stubblefield

6' 0"
Redshirt Freshman
WR
Max Wittek

#13 Max Wittek

6' 4"
Senior
QB
Paul Harris

#29 Paul Harris

5' 11"
Junior
RB
Rigoberto Sanchez

#43 Rigoberto Sanchez

6' 1"
Junior
PK/P