HONOLULU - The Hawai'i football team snapped an eight-game losing streak to Utah State with a 44-26 win over the Aggies on Saturday night at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletic Complex.
 
The Rainbow Warriors (5-2, 2-1 MW) followed up a back-and-forth first half with a dominant second half, outscoring the Aggies (3-3, 1-1) 20-6 in the third and fourth frames. All three units made big contributions in the second half, as three straight stops by the defense led to four straight scoring drives to clinch the 'Bows' first win against Utah State since 2010.
 
Quarterback Micah Alejado celebrated his birthday by becoming the first UH signal caller since Cole McDonald to throw for over 400 passing yards in back-to-back games. Alejado completed 34-of-54 passes for 413 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He also had a rushing touchdown. Alejado completed passes to 11 different receivers, led by Pofele Ashlock and Jackson Harris. Ashlock caught eight passes for 113 yards and three touchdowns, while Harris led all receivers with 117 yards on seven catches.
 
Landon Sims tied a career high with 82 yards on 10 carries with a rushing touchdown.
 
Placekicker Kansei Matsuzawa continued his perfect start to the season, improving to 19-for-19 with three field goals (31, 46, 36) against the Aggies. Matsuzawa tied Jason Elam's school record for most consecutive field goals made with 20 consecutive makes dating back to last season.
 
The 'Bows and Aggies traded defensive stops to begin a back-and-forth first half. Matsuzawa connected on a 31-yard field goal to open the scoring, but it was quickly matched by Utah State on Tanner Rinker's 20-yarder.
 
Two plays later, Alejado completed a 46-yard bomb to Brandon White, setting up an 18-yard touchdown pass to Ashlock and capping off a quick four-play scoring drive. Utah State responded with a touchdown drive of their own as Miles Davis found the endzone from a yard out to tie the game, 10-10.
 
Utah State scored on a short field after a failed UH punt fake conversion, and this time it was the 'Bows who had to respond. The Alejado and Harris combination drove UH down the field on completions of 12 and 43 yards to open the drive, but it was Ashlock again who put the capper on the drive as Alejado found Ashlock in the endzone for a 7-yard score to tie up the game.
 
After a Utah State field goal late in the half, the Rainbow Warriors put together one more scoring drive with a minute left to play. The formula was the same. Alejado completed passes of 17- and 15-yards to Harris to drive the 'Bows down the field, and this time it was Ashlock with the explosive play as his 31-yard touchdown put UH up 24-20 at the half.
 
The Aggies scored first in the second half to go up 26-24, but it was all 'Bows from there. The Warriors scored on each of their next four possessions to take control of the game. Matsuzawa connected on a pair of field goals from 46- and 36-yards away, while Alejado and Sims each scored on the ground.
 
Alejado capped off an 81-yard scoring drive with a 15-yard quarterback keeper, and Sims bounced off several Aggies defenders for a four-yard touchdown run to make it 44-26.
 
The UH defense locked the Aggies offense down in the second half, forcing a USU turnover on each of its final three drives. Elijah Palmer broke up a pass to force a turnover-on-downs, while Jamih Otis forced a fumble that was recovered by Jalen Smith. Otis followed up the effort with an interception off of Barnes on the following drive.
 
The 'Bows will head back out on the road for a match-up with Colorado State on Oct. 18 in Fort Collins, Colo. Kickoff is 1:00 p.m. HT.