LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The University of Hawai'i football team lost its third straight contest—and fourth straight in conference—with a 27-13 loss to UNLV Saturday afternoon at Allegiant Stadium. The Rainbow Warriors fell to 4-7 overall and 1-5 in the Mountain West.
 
Charles Williams rushed for a career-high 266 yards and three touchdown on 38 carries and the Rebels scored 13 unanswered points bridging the second and third quarters to gain their first win over UH since 2017. With the win, the Rebels (2-8, 2-4) regained possession of the Island Showdown Trophy.
 
UH struck early when Chevan Cordeiro found Nick Mardner for a 79-yard bomb on UH's first play from scrimmage. It marked the third time this year that the Warrior offense scored on the game's very first play as UH took a quick 7-0 lead.
 
But the UH offense struggled the rest of the way, managing a season-low 240 yards and 10 first downs for the game. The Warrior also went just 2-of-14 on third down conversions.
 
The UH defense, meanwhile, was stellar early and forced three turnovers in the first-quarter alone, including two in UNLV territory. But UH was only able to net three points off those turnovers. The teams eventually went into the locker room knotted up 10-10.
 
UNLV took the opening possession of the second half 88 yards—64 of them on a William's burst and capped by Williams' 7-yard score—to take its first lead of the game. It was a lead they would not relinquish.
 
UH did get the ball late in the game with a chance for a game-tying drive. However UH was stopped on downs near midfield to end any hopes of a comeback.  The Rebels padded their lead with Williams third touchdown of the day as he broke free for a 47-yard dash for the final score.
 
The Rainbow Warriors now return to the islands for their final home game of the season when they hosts Colorado State on Saturday, Nov. 20. Kickoff is 6:00 p.m. at the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex.