HONOLULU - The University of Hawai'i football team started fast and finished strong in a dominant 36-7 win over Northern Iowa on Saturday night at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletic Complex.
 
UH scored the first three touchdowns of the game on their first three drives, then finished off the Panthers by scoring the final two touchdowns of the night.
 
Brayden Schager matched a career-high four touchdown passes and completed 35-of-43 passes for 374 yards with two interceptions. Nick Cenacle finished with a career-best two touchdown receptions, going for 63 yards on a career-high nine catches. Pofele Ashlock caught Schager's first touchdown pass along with 74 yards on 10 receptions, while Jonah Panoke caught the other with 60 yards on four catches. Dekel Crowdus caught three passes for a career-best 83 yards.
 
The UH rushing attack also stepped up, combining for 149 yards against UNI. Landon Sims scored the first rushing touchdown by a UH running back this season.
 
The Rainbow Warriors came out of the gates on fire, getting into the end zone on each of their first three offensive drives of the game. The UH defense stepped up on the game's opening drive. Caleb "C-Bo" Brown tackled Amauri Pesek-Hickson, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Jamih Otis before it went out of bounds. The offense did their part, driving 69 yards on six plays to reach the end zone. Schager finished the drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Panoke down the left sideline.
 
After another defensive stop, Schager connected with Ashlock for a 6-yard touchdown pass to cap off a 75-yard drive. Schager completed five passes for 79 yards on the drive, including a 59-yard completion to Crowdus to get the 'Bows into the redzone. After the score, UH ran a trick play on the PAT. Sims took a direct snap and threw a jump pass to snapper Hunter Higham in the end zone to give Hawai'i a 15-0 lead.
 
Schager made it three touchdowns in three drives when he found Cenacle for a 20-yard score. Schager threw off his back foot for the touchdown pass down the left sideline to finish a seven-play, 80-yard drive.
 
Northern Iowa avoided a shutout with a second-quarter touchdown drive. The Panthers drove 72 yards on eight plays and quarterback Aidan Dunne finished it off with a 3-yard quarterback keeper for UNI's only score of the first half.
 
Just as they did in the first half, the Rainbow Warriors claimed the first score of the second half. On UH's second offensive drive of the second half, the 'Bows utilized a balanced offensive attack on a methodical 11-play scoring drive. UH ran the ball five times, while Schager threw six passes, including a 1-yard touchdown pass to Cenacle to make it 29-7, Hawai'i. Schager tied his career high with his fourth touchdown pass, while Cenacle did the same with his second touchdown reception of the game.
 
The Warrior defense forced their second turnover of the game to start the fourth quarter. Peter Manuma punched the ball out of Layne Pryor's hand, and the ball was recovered by Deliyon Freeman. Following the interception, Sims scored on a 6-yard touchdown run to cap off a 74-yard UH drive. Sims' touchdown run was the first score by a Hawaii running back this season.