COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior football team gave one of its grittiest efforts in recent memory to pull out a 34-27 double-overtime road win over Air Force (4-3, 2-2 MW) Saturday at Falcon Stadium. UH improved to 4-4 overall and 3-1 in the Mountain West with just its second-ever win in Colorado Springs and first since 1992.
 
The Rainbow Warriors, who won at San Jose State two weeks ago, have now earned wins in consecutive road games for the first time since 2010. In the process UH also snapped Air Force's 15-game home win streak, the second-longest streak in the nation. In addition to the road streak brewing, UH was able to return the Kuter Trophy to the islands, ending its 15-year stint in Colorado Springs.
 
Marcus Kemp had a career-high 151 yards receiving and pair of overtime touchdowns, including a 25-yarder from Dru Brown in the second overtime that proved to be the game-winner. Senior defensive back Jalen Rogers sealed the win for UH when he intercepted Nate Romine's last ditch effort to the endzone on 4th-and-7 on Air Force's ensuing possession.
 
The teams went to overtime only after a surprising key play at the end of regulation.  After a back-and-forth contest, especially in the second half, Air Force strung together a 19-play, 75-yard drive that ate up the final 8:18 of the clock. However, Luke Strebel's 32-yard field goal to win the game as time expired went wide-right for his first miss in 14 attempts this season.
 
The UH defense played a huge part in the UH win, setting up the team's first 13 points and holding the vaunted Air Force offense below its season averages in total offense and points.
 
Down 7-0, the defensive unit helped turn the tide early in the second quarter, beginning with a fourth-down stop of Air Force near midfield. That helped the Rainbow Warriors get on the scoreboard with a 25-yard field goal by Rigoberto Sanchez, cutting the lead to 7-3.
 
The defense came up big again late in the second quarter. Kory Rasmussen forced an Air Force fumble that was recovered by Damien Packer. Those efforts gave UH prime field position on the Air Force 36-yard line and the UH took full advantage, as Steven Lakalaka's 1-yard touchdown gave UH a 10-7 lead heading into the locker room. It was the team-best ninth touchdown for the senior running back who has now scored in six straight contests.
 
In the third quarter, Air Force notched a pair of Strebel field goals to retake the lead at 13-10, but again the Warrior defense would keep UH in the game. Jahlani Tavai forced a fumble recovered by Meffy Koloamatangi that set UH up at the Air Force 11. UH couldn't punch it into endzone but a 35-yard Sanchez kick tied it up, 13-13.
 
The team traded 75-yard scoring drives in the fourth quarter, including a UH drive that ended with a 40-yard touchdown pass from Brown to John Ursua, drawing the score to 20-20 with less than nine minutes remaining.
 
Brown finished with a career-high 21-of-37 for 312 yards and three touchdowns, while throwing two interceptions, snapping a streak of 118 attempts without a pick. Ursua also had a career game with seven catches for 108 yards and one touchdown.
 
Packer finished with 14 tackles and a fumble recovery. Linebacker Malachi Mageo also tallied 14 stops, including 1.5 tackles-for loss for the Warriors, who finished with nine TFLs. Tavai ended with a big game once again, tallying 13 tackles (10 solo), 2.5 TFLs, and a forced fumble.  
 
The Rainbow Warriors next return home to face New Mexico in a Mountain West contest on Saturday, Oct. 29. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. on the Hawaiian Tel FCU Field at Aloha Stadium.