HONOLULU – Behind a second half surge and a number of big plays on both sides of the ball, the Hawai'i football team knocked off UNLV, 31-25 on Senior Night at the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex Saturday night.
 
The Rainbow Warriors (3-9, 2-5 MW) outscored the Rebels (4-7, 2-5 MW) 24-12 after halftime, overcoming a pair of second-half fumbles with some key defensive stops and long offensive scoring plays. UH sent off its 2022 seniors with its fifth consecutive Senior Night victory and 10th in the last 11.
 
After trailing 13-7 at the break, the Warriors reclaimed the lead coming out of halftime, converting on four third-down attempts to drive 84 yards for a touchdown. Brayden Schager completed passes of 11, 28, 22 and 11 yards on the four third down conversions, highlighted by an 11-yard connection with Caleb Phillips to give UH a 14-13 lead.
 
UNLV jumped back in front with a field goal at the 1:35 mark of the third quarter, but Hawai'i punched right back on its next drive. Schager hooked up with Zion Bowens on a deep ball down the left side for an electric 55-yard touchdown, making it 21-16 UH.
 
Hawai'i stretched its lead to 24-16 shortly after as Logan Taylor came away with his first career interception on the ensuing UNLV drive, setting up a Matthew Shipley 30-yard field goal.
 
The next two UH drives ended in fumbles, with the Rebels returning the first for a touchdown to make it 24-22 at the 8:13 mark of the fourth quarter. UNLV attempted to tie the game on a two-point conversion, but the 'Bows got the stop to stay in front. A Tylan Hines fumble ended the next Hawai'i drive, but the defense came up with another big stop with Peter Manuma breaking up a pass on a fourth-down attempt.
 
Senior Dedrick Parson capitalized three plays later, breaking off a 34-yard touchdown run to put the Warriors up two possessions at 31-22. The Rebels added a field goal on their next possession, but Jordan Murray recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt to seal the win.
 
Schager tossed a career-high three touchdown passes while going 16-for-27 for 202 yards with no interceptions. Parson turned in his third 100-yard rushing game of the season, finishing with 115 yards on 19 carries with 64 of those rushing yards coming in the fourth quarter.
 
Taylor led the way defensively yet again, recording double-digit tackles for the fifth-straight game with 11 while recording his first career interception and coming up with a TFL. He also has 64 tackles in the last five games, the most by a Hawai'i player in a five-game stretch since Solomon Elimimian had 68 in a five-game stretch in 2007. Meki Pei added 10 tackles while Penei Pavihi had a sack and eight stops and Manuma recorded six tackles and two pass breakups, including the PBU on the fourth-down stop in the fourth quarter.
 
The Warriors next hit the road for their regular season finale on Saturday against San Jose State at 10:30 a.m. HT.