StarBulletin.com

Warriors run out of gas on road


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POSTED: Sunday, September 20, 2009

HENDERSON, Nev. » Like so many before, the Hawaii football team rolled the dice praying for that big payoff.

And like so many visitors to this town, the Warriors left town with heartache.

Protecting a five-point lead and 15 yards with less than a minute left, the Warriors took a calculated gamble in blitzing UNLV quarterback Omar Clayton.

Drop Clayton to the Sam Boyd Stadium turf—as they had done a play earlier—and the Warriors' odds of escaping town victorious shoot north.

But as he'd done numerous times earlier, Clayton got the throw off before the rush could reach him. And it was UNLV that came out the big winner when Phillip Payne pulled in the lob just inside the boundary with 36 seconds left to send the Rebels to a dramatic 34-33 victory.

“;We blitzed and put them back (with a sack) and blitzed again and maybe we went to the well one too many times,”; UH head coach Greg McMackin said.

“;We had a full-out blitz and we hit him two times before. He got that one off.”;

Payne scored two touchdowns in the second half on similar plays and the Rebels came up with the final answer in a fourth-quarter shootout to improve to 2-1 before a crowd of 29,717.

               

     

 

NEXT GAME

        Who: Hawaii (2-1) at Louisiana Tech (1-2)
       

When: 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30.

       

TV/Radio: ESPN2/ KKEA, 1420-AM

       

Last meeting: October 11, 2008. Hawaii won, 24-14, at Aloha Stadium.

       

 

       

After a weeklong stay in Las Vegas, the Warriors left the twinkling neon behind in the dark of morning at 2-1 after settling for a split on their two-game road trip.

The Warriors generated 505 yards, 361 in the first half as they took a 20-14 lead into the break.

In the second half, the Rebels' best defense was its offense as UNLV ran 45 plays to UH's 22 after the break, leaving the Warriors' defense on the field in the heat of the desert night.

Clayton came back from a knee injury that knocked him out of the previous week's loss to Oregon State and continually evaded the UH rush to complete 28 of 43 passes for 340 yards and three touchdowns.

Ryan Wolfe led the Rebels with nine catches for 130 yards and Payne finished with 94 yards and the decisive score.

“;Omar didn't have a very good first half and came back in the second half and had a tremendous second half,”; UNLV coach Mike Sanford said. “;He made a lot of plays and his cool and composure was awesome.”;

With the 6-foot-3 Payne matched up with 5-foot-9 UH cornerback Tank Hopkins, the Rebels twice called for Clayton to lob him the ball in the end zone. Both times Hopkins appeared to be in position, but Payne was able to make the catch.

“;That guy does a great job, he goes up they throw him the alley-oop,”; McMackin said. “;We felt we had time to get to him before (Clayton) could get to that. The receiver just went up and got the ball.”;

Clayton's production was just enough to outlast UH quarterback Greg Alexander's career-high 477-yard passing night as three UH receivers ended the night in triple-digits, led by Rodney Bradley's 189 yards.

With Alexander connecting with Kealoha Pilares 12 times for 143 yards, the Warriors racked up yards in the first half, but points were harder to come by as they settled for field-goal attempts on their first two possessions, with Scott Enos hitting the first and missing the second.

“;We have to do a better job in the red zone,”; slotback Greg Salas said after catching six passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns. “;We didn't get it done when we had to get it done.”;

After UNLV took a 7-3 lead in the first quarter, Alexander rolled to his right and found Salas behind the Rebels' coverage and Salas outran the secondary for a 54-yard score.

The Warriors' lead grew to 17-7 when Bradley snared Alexander's dart over the middle for a 39-yard touchdown at the 3:24 mark of the second quarter.

UNLV closed to within three when Clayton's pass sailed over a leaping Lametrius Davis and into the hands of Jerriman Robinson for a 42-yard touchdown.

UH took a 20-14 when Enos nailed a season-long 47-yard field goal on the last play of the first half.

The Rebels' 16-play march to open the third quarter came up empty when Kyle Wilson's first field-goal attempt clanged off the left upright. But they weren't denied on their second trip into the red zone, as Payne outfought Hopkins on an 8-yard touchdown reception.

The roller coaster hit full speed in the fourth quarter.

A 23-yard touchdown reception by Salas was answered by Clayton's 11-yard run. That was followed by a 2-yard touchdown run by UH running back Alex Green giving the Warriors' a 33-28 lead with 5:27 left. The Warriors' 2-point conversion attempt failed and UNLV mustered a 14-play drive culminating in the winning score.

“;It means a lot to me,”; said UNLV defensive end Malo Taumua, an Aiea graduate. “;We lost to them in '06 and '07 and this win tonight means a lot to me and all the other players on this team.”;

 

WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
 ConferenceOverall
 WLPFPAWLPFPA
Boise State1051343011842
Idaho10216217868
Hawaii0000219674
Louisiana Tech0000127582
Utah State0000024773
Nevada0000022070
San Jose State00000334122
New Mexico State01621123977
Fresno State0134511211685

FRIDAY'S RESULT
Boise St. 51, Fresno St. 34
SATURDAY'S RESULTS
UNLV 34, Hawaii 33
LaTech 48 Nicholls St. 13
Stanford 42, San Jose St. 17
Texas A&M 38, Utah St. 30
Idaho 34, San Diego St. 20
UTEP 38, N.M. St. 12
Colorado St. 35, Nevada 20

 

UNLV 34, HAWAII 33

At Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas

                                                                                                                                           
Hawaii101001333
UNLV7771334

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
First Quarter
UH11:23Scott Enos 23 FG3-0
UNLV4:12Mike Clausen 2 run (Kyle Watson kick)3-7
UH1:55Greg Salas 54 pass from Greg Alexander (Enos kick)10-7
Second Quarter
UH3:24Rodney Bradley 39 pass from Alexander (Enos kick)17-7
UNLV1:35Jerriman Robinson 42 pass from Omar Clayton (Watson kick)17-14
UH0:00Enos 47 FG20-14
Third Quarter
UNLV00:29Phillip Payne 8 pass from Clayton (Watson kick)20-21
Fourth Quarter
UH11:34Salas 23 pass from Alexander (Enos kick)27-21
UNLV08:53Clayton 11 run (Watson kick)27-28
UH05:27Alex Green 2 run (pass failed)33-28
UNLV00:36Payne 15 pass from Clayton (pass failed)33-34

Attendance —29,717. Time: 3:11.
Officials Referee: Randy Smith; Umpire: Michael Ross; Back judge: Larry Neal Jr.; Field judge: Shane Standley; Scorer: Jim Shaffe.

 

TEAM STATISTICS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 HAWAIIUNLV
FIRST DOWNS2328
Rushing39
Passing1818
Penalty21
NET YARDS RUSHING28120
Rushing1535
Average per rush1.93.4
Rushing touchdowns12
Yards gained rushing38138
Yards lost rushing1018
NET YARDS PASSING477340
Completions-Attempts-Int31-48-128-43-2
Average per attempt9.97.9
Average per completion15.412.1
Passing touchdowns33
TOTAL OFFENSIVE YARDS505460
Total offensive plays6978
Average gain per play8.05.9
Fumbles: Number-Lost0-00-0
Penalties: Number-Yards5-406-60
PUNTS-YARDS1-392-89
Average yards per punt39.044.5
Net yards per punt39.042.5
Inside 2000
50-plus yards00
Touchbacks00
Fair catch01
KICKOFF-YARDS6-4156-409
Average yards per kickff69.268.2
Net yards per kickoff43.245.5
Touchbacks11
Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD1-4-00-0-0
Average per return4.000.0
Kickoff returns: Number-Yards-TD5-116-05-136-0
Average per return23.227.2
Interceptions: Number-Yards-TD2-17-01-0-0
Fumbles returns: Number-Yards-TD0-00-00-00-0
Miscellaneous yards00
POSSESSION TIME25:4634:14
First Quarter8:286:32
Second Quarter7:417:19
Third Quarter2:0912:51
Fourth Quarter7:287:32
Third-down conversions5 of 1110 of 16
Fourth-down conversions1 of 32 of 2
Red-zone scores-chances2-34-6
Sacks by: Number-Yards1-92-10
PAT kicks3-34-4
Field goals2-30-1

 

INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE STATISTICS

TACKLES FOR LOSS-YARDS Hawaii, Jake Heun 1-9, Elliott Purcell -2, R.J. Kiesel-Kauhana 0.5-1, Corey Paredes 0.5-1, Blaze Soares 0.5-1, Vaughn Meatoga 0.5-1. UNLV, J. Beauchamp 2.5-8, Isaako Aaitui 0.5-4.

SACKS-YARDS Hawaii, Heun 1-0. UNLV, Jason Beauchamp 1-1, Isaako Aaitui 0-1.

INTERCEPTIONS Hawaii, Richard Torres 1-17, Mana Silva 1-0. UNLV, Mike Grant 1-0.

KICKS BLOCKED Hawaii, None. UNLV, None.

QUARTERBACK HURRIES Hawaii, None. UNLV, None.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
HAWAII
 TACKLES
PLAYERSOLOASTT
R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane6612
Corey Paredes5510
Blaze Soares3710
Elliott Purcell448
Spencer Smith527
Mana Silva437
Jeramy Bryant325
Richard Torres044
Liko Satele123
Jake Heun123
Aaron Brown112
Tuika Tufaga022
Vaughn Meatoga022
Mike Wadsworth101
Rocky Savaiigaea011
Lewis Walker011
Inoke Funaki011
Po'okela Ahmad011
Victor Clore011
Joshua Rice011
UNLV
 TACKLES
PLAYERSOLOASTT
Terrance Lee639
Quinton Pointer448
Ronnie Paulo268
Chris Jones336
Jason Beauchamp314
Isaako Aaitui224
Starr Fuimaono033
Ryan Wolfe202
Beau Orth112
Heiveha Mafi112
Deante Purvis112
Warren Zeigler112
Marquel Martin022
Mike Grant101
Beau Brence101
Chris Brogdon011
Calvin Randleman011
Martin Tevaseu011
Malo Taumua011

 

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE STATISTICS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
HAWAII
RUSHING No. Gain Loss Net TD Lg Avg.
Greg Alexander9271017091.9
Alex Green310010153.3
Leon Wright-Jackson3101010.3
Totals15381028191.9
PASSING Cmp-Att-Int Yds TD Long Sack
Greg Alexander31-48-14773542
RECEIVING No. Yds TD Lg
Kealoha Pilares13146032
Rodney Bradley8189139
Greg Salas6104254
Royce Pollard222014
Leon Wright-Jackson216018
Totals31477354
PUNTING No. Yds Avg Long In20 TB
Alex Dunnachie13939.03900
ALL RETURNS Punts Kickoffs Intercept
 No Yds Lg No Yds Lg No Yds Lg
Kealoha Pilares00023320000
Royce Pollard00038341000
Richard Torres00000011717
Mana Silva000000100
Ryan Henry144000000
Totals14451164121717
ALL PURPOSE Rush Rcv KR PR IR Total
Rodney Bradley0189000189
Kealoha Pilares01463300179
Royce Pollard0228300105
Greg Salas0104000104
Richard Torres00001717
Leon Wright-Jackson11600017
Greg Alexander17000017
Alex Green10000010
Ryan Henry000404
Totals28477116417642

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
UNLV
RUSHING No. Gain Loss Net TD Lg Avg.
ChanningTrotter15702680154.5
Omar Clayton93314191112.1
C.J. Cox4142120113.0
Ryan Wolfe210010095.0
Mike Clausen2505132.5
Chris Brogdon2303021.5
Michael Johnson1303033.0
Totals35138181202153.4
PASSING Cmp-Att-Int Yds TD Long Sack
Omar Clayton28-43-23403521
RECEIVING No. Yds TD Lg
Ryan Wolfe9130052
Phillip Payne894216
Jerriman Robinson369142
Kyle Watkins21709
Michael Johnson21308
Channing Trotter2706
Rodelin Anthony1505
Jordan Barrett1505
Totals28340352
PUNTING No. Yds Avg Long In20 TB
Kyle Watson28944.54600
ALL RETURNS Punts Kickoffs Intercept
 No Yds Lg No Yds Lg No Yds Lg
Michael Johnson00002323000
Mike Grant000000100
Deante Purvis000511329000
Totals000513629100
ALL PURPOSE Rush Rcv KR PR IR Total
Ryan Wolfe10130000140
Deante Purvis0011300113
Phillip Payne09400094
Channing Trotter68700075
Jerriman Robinson06900069
Michael Johnson313230039
Omar Clayton19000019
Kyle Watkins01700017
C.J. Cox12000012
Rodelin Anthony050005
Mike Clausen500005
Jordan Barrett050005
Chris Brogdon300003
Totals12034013600596