HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i defeated New Mexico State for the second time this season after 48-34 shootout Saturday night at the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex. The Rainbow Warriors improved to 4-4 on the season.
 
It was a special evening for Warriors who hosted fans at a home game for the first time since 2019, while also retiring the jersey of the late Colt Brennan during a halftime ceremony with the Brennan family in attendance. Brennan, who wore No. 15 during a storied three-year career (2005-07), is only the second retired number in program history.
 
On the field, it was an entertaining, back-and-forth affair before UH ultimately pulled away. The teams combined for 82 points and 967 yards of offense including five scoring plays of 46-yards or more.
 
Running back Dedrick Parsons started in place of an injured Dae Dae Hunter and finished with 215 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. In his most extensive outing of the season, the Philadelphia, Pa., native rushed for 161 yards on 25 carries and led the team with six receptions for 54 yards. 
 
Meanwhile UH got a pair of scores from its defense in the form of two momentous interception returns for touchdowns. Khoury Bethley's 79-yard touchdown gave the Warriors a 17-3 lead early in the second quarter while Darius Muasau's 75-yard pick six put UH up by two scores early in the fourth.
 
After the team's traded field goals in the first quarter, UH scored 21 straight points – including Parson's first two rushing scores – to take a 24-3 second-quarter lead. The Aggies responded with 17 unanswered points of its own and eventually came all the way back to tie the game 27-27 late in the third quarter after Juwan Price's 46-yard rushing score.
 
Price led the Aggies (1-7) with 159 yards rushing on 17 carries. 
 
Freshman Brayden Schager made his third consecutive start at quarterback and finished 25-of-29 for 219 yards. Placekicker Matthew Shipley connected on two field goals of 41- and 27-yards.
 
The Warriors return to Mountain West action when they head for the road and a meeting with Utah State on Saturday, Oct. 30. Kickoff is 1:00 p.m. MT/9:00 a.m. HT.