HONOLULU — Breakout performances from the receiver unit and defensive takeaways helped propel the University of Hawai'i football team to its first win of the season, a 29-19 victory over New Mexico State on Saturday at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletic Complex.
The Rainbow Warriors (1-2) bolted out to a 16-0 lead in the first half before the Aggies (1-2) rallied to catch them at 19-19 early in the third quarter. UH promptly reclaimed the lead with a field goal and extended the advantage with a bit of trickery in the fourth quarter. The UH defense then sealed the win with its third takeaway of the night.
UH quarterback
Micah Alejado found
Audric Harris for long gains early and established a rhythm with slot receivers
Tama Uiliata and Kainoa "Kaikai" Carvalho to finish with 346 passing yards. Alejado completed 33 of 45 passes in the sixth 300-plus yard passing performance of his career.
Uiliata set career highs with 10 receptions for 107 yards and threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to
Frank Abreu to extend the lead in the fourth quarter. Harris also set a career high with 105 yards on four catches, the bulk coming on a 55-yard reception in the first quarter. Carvalho caught nine passes covering 82 yards for another career-best performance.
Running back
DeVon Rice rushed for UH's first two touchdowns and finished with 59 yards. Kicker
Sean Olvera-Harle converted on all three of his field goal attempts.
The UH defense came up with its first three turnovers of the season with linebacker
Jamih Otis securing a fumble recovery on NMSU's first possession and sealing the win with an interception in the fourth quarter. Otis also tied safety
Kona Moore with a team-high six tackles.
The UH defense forced a fumble on NMSU's first possession when
Wynden Ho'ohuli stripped the ball away from Trey Hedden and
Jamih Otis recovered at the UH 36. Alejado went 5-for-5 for 50 yards, including a 22-yard completion to Uiliata to the NMSU 7. One play later, Rice broke free around the right side for the game's first touchdown. The point-after attempt went wide and UH led 6-0.
After an NMSU punt, Alejado connected with Harris for a 55-yard catch and run to set up a 32-yard field goal by Olvera-Harle.
The Warriors opened the second quarter with Alejado lofting a throw to Harris down the left side for a 33-yard gain. Two plays later, Rice took a handoff, cut up the middle and hurdled a defender at the goal line for an 11-yard touchdown run, and UH led 16-0.
NMSU broke through with an eight-play scoring drive, aided by a pass interference call in the end zone, and James Jones scored on a 2-yard run. The 2-point conversion failed, keep the margin at 10.
The Aggies cut further into the lead when TK King made a diving catch in the end zone for a 33-yard score with 1:17 left in the half. UH responded with a nine-play drive to the NMSU 24 and Olvera-Harle converted a career-long 42-yard field goal to give UH a 19-13 lead at halftime.
The second half started with wild shifts in momentum in the first two minutes.
Titan Lacaden returned the kickoff 69 yards along the UH sideline to set up the offense at the NMSU 31. On third-and-10 at the 18, Alejado scrambled and took a big hit to force a fumble. De'Marcus Peters picked up the loose ball and returned the fumble 84 yards for a touchdown. The PAT was tipped by
Luther McCoy to keep it tied at 19-19.
Alejado remained in the game after being shaken up on the fumble and led an 11-play march to the NMSU 14. Olvera-Harle nailed his third field goal, this one from 33 yards, and UH reclaimed the lead.
The Warriors protected the 22-19 lead into the fourth quarter and added to it thanks to a bit of trickery. Facing fourth-and-4 at the NMSU 7, Uiliata lined up at quarterback, rolled to his right and connected with Abreu on a touchdown pass. Olvera-Harle's PAT pushed the lead to 29-19 with 5:41 left.
Otis snagged an interception with 3:58 left for UH's third takeaway of the game, and the Warriors finished off the win.
The Rainbow Warriors have a bye week before a Mountain West road game at Wyoming on Sept. 26.
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