LARAMIE, Wyo. – The University of Hawaiʻi football team lost possession of the Paniolo Trophy following a 27-10 loss to Wyoming in a Mountain West match-up Saturday at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium.
The Rainbow Warriors (1-3, 0-2 MW) struggled to find its offensive rhythm all game, scoring on only two of eight drives including two of four in the red zone. Defensively, Hawai'i allowed the Cowboys to score on all five of their drives in the red zone and while surrendering 183 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
UH quarterback
Micah Alejado threw for 226 yards and one touchdown while running back
DeVon Rice ran for a season-high 75 yards on 12 carries. Linebacker
Wynden Ho'ohuli led the defensive effort with a career-high 10 tackles, including one sack and one forced fumble.
The Cowboys (2-2, 1-0) racked up 387 yards of total offense and had their highest scoring output of the season. Quarterback Tyler Hughes threw for 204 yards on 17-of-23 passing while running backs Samuel Harris and Markell Holman combined for 181 yards rushing and three scores.
The teams traded field goals on their opening possessions. The Cowboys then regained the lead on their opening drive of the second quarter and tacked on a touchdown by Holman for a 13-3 lead at halftime. Hawai'i's offense generated only 90 total yards in the first half, including a combined 30 in its final three drives of the half.
UH appeared to get back in the contest on its opening possession of the second half. The Warriors drove downfield on a 16-play, 9:14 drive that stalled at the one-yard line. Alejado completed 10 straight passes during the drive but the offense failed to convert after four plays inside the Wyoming 5.
The Cowboys' ensuing possession was extended by a costly UH special teams penalty and Wyoming capitalized on a 99-yard drive, capped by Holman's 18-yard touchdown run. Hawai'i answered right back, though, with a 20-yard score from Alejado to
Devon Tauaefa pulling the Warriors to within 20-10 with 12:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.
After a Wyoming punt midway through the quarter, UH drove downfield but stalled again following a costly holding penalty and a missed 54-yard field goal. The Cowboys put the finishing touches on the victory with an 18-yard touchdown by Harris.
UH returns to Honolulu for another rivalry trophy game as San Jose State comes to town next week. The Spartans currently hold possession of the Dick Tomey Legacy Trophy. Hawai'i will look to snap a five-game losing streak in the series. Kickoff is 6:00 p.m. at Clarence T.C. Ching Complex.
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