SAME old, same old. Kindly ’Bows
wouldn’t let
Lobos loseThat's the plight of the downtrodden Hawaii Rainbows, who continued their losing ways, this time falling to the New Mexico Lobos.
The "Low 'Bows" lost their seventh consecutive game of the season and extended several other dubious streaks, too:
Thirteen consecutive losses, tying them with Nevada-Las Vegas for the longest current winless stretch in Division I football. That skid is the longest in school history (UH began playing football in 1909).
But enough talk about losing streaks.
What was different about Saturday night's loss to New Mexico -- and what pained me the most -- was that the Lobos were so beatable. The Rainbows matched up well with the Lobos, and the 'Bows had the advantage of playing at home. It least it used to be an advantage.
Both teams went into the game 0-4 in the Western Athletic Conference, and they played like it.
It was as if the Lobos wanted to lose, but the Rainbows wouldn't let them.
"This one was gift-wrapped for New Mexico," beleaguered Rainbow coach Fred vonAppen said.
TWO of the gifts were a fumble by Afatia Thompson and an interception thrown by Dan Robinson, both inside the UH 25, which led to cheapie touchdowns for the Lobos.
Still, the 'Bows had numerous opportunities to finally break into the win column, but couldn't capitalize.
In the second quarter, they started first-and-10 on New Mexico's 30, but stalled at the 4 and Chad Shrout missed a 21-yard field goal.
The guy who sets off the cannon following a UH score was so sure the kick would be good that he fired off a shot. Obviously, the football team's lack of execution and timing is infectious.
Because of a missed blocking assignment, Charles Tharp was stopped on a fourth-and-one at the Lobos' 3, ending another scoring opportunity.
A bunch of drops and overthrown passes didn't help. Nor did a number of drive-killing penalties.
The Lobos enjoyed a seemingly insurmountable 24-0 lead. Seemingly because that's a mountain to climb for a UH team averaging only 9.8 points a game, which is still dead last among 112 Division I teams.
But to the Rainbows' credit, they didn't quit.
"They didn't give up even at the end," Lobo coach Rocky Long said.
Robinson, who attempted a school-record 57 passes, connected for three touchdowns -- all to Wesley Morris -- to make a game of it. Unfortunately, Morris dropped as many passes.
STILL, the 'Bows had a shot in this last-chance, last-dance game with New Mexico, the fourth WAC defector on this year's schedule.
After scoring to close to within 27-14 early in the fourth quarter, UH safety Anthony Smith recovered a fumble and was beelining for the end zone.
But he was tripped up by Lobo quarterback Graham Leigh at the Lobo 24. It turned out to be a touchdown-saving tackle as the 'Bows again came up empty when three consecutive passes fell incomplete.
It was the biggest play of the game, Long said. Had the 'Bows scored to make it 27-21, who knows what might have happened. Especially with the Lobos' propensity for blowing games in the late going this season.
But it was not to be for the 'Bows. Again.
Bad as they've been this season, the 'Bows don't deserve the boos they got when they went to the locker room at halftime.
If anything, boo the coaches, not the players.