JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Hawaii defenders swarmed to stop UNLV running back Erick Jackson during the first half last night. The Warriors held the Rebels scoreless well into the third quarter.

D-omination

Hawaii's oft-maligned defense matches the play of its prolific offense in thrashing UNLV

DEFENSIVE masterpieces have been the exception in June Jones' eight-year tenure at Hawaii. If last night's against UNLV wasn't a fluke, UH could be headed for great things this season -- especially since the offense showed signs of living up to its promise.

The Warriors dominated the Rebels thoroughly, 42-13, in last night's home opener at Aloha Stadium.

Hawaii improved to 1-1 headed into its Western Athletic Conference opener Saturday at Boise State. On that night, Hawaii's defensive prowess will either be confirmed or exposed as a mirage that shined against an unprepared and uninspired UNLV offense.

For at least one night though, UH played smart and swarming defense, seemingly anticipating every move by UNLV's multi-faceted spread-option shotgun attack.

Make that a night-and-a-half. Although they had a bye last week, the Warriors were able to build off a strong defensive performance in the second half against Alabama on Sept. 2.

"Both games we outhit the other team, which hadn't happened since I've been here," Jones said.

The Rebels (1-2) managed only six first downs in the first half as the Warriors built a 28-0 lead. Their two touchdowns came long after the issue had been settled.

UNLV struggled to a meager 39 yards rushing. Most of the 232 passing came after Hawaii had sealed the win by scoring the first 42 points.

Ends Melila Purcell and Ikaika Alama-Francis continually harassed quarterback Rocky Hinds, forcing him to throw on the run. And unsuccessfully.

"The whole two weeks we were scouting them out," Purcell said. "I just want to thank the scout team. They ran it exactly as it happened in the game. They gave us a lot of looks, but we knew them already."

UNLV lost its 11th straight road game, before a crowd of 28,173.

"I don't have much to say except we didn't play like we can play," Rebels coach Mike Sanford said. "That was not the same team as in the first two games."

RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Hawaii's Melila Purcell chased after UNLV quarterback Rocky Hinds during the first quarter of last night's game at Aloha Stadium.

Brennan, playing less than three quarters, completed 24 of 35 passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns. He was also intercepted twice.

"We set the tone offensively," Brennan said. "When we had all that success early it forced them to make changes. They couldn't get ready for the run."

Running back Nate Ilaoa and receivers Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins also produced big numbers despite leaving the game early.

Ilaoa rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Bess caught 10 passes for 124 yards and one score. Grice-Mullins caught seven for 111 and a TD.

Those numbers are often typical for the Warriors offense, but the defense in recent years has rarely played as well as it did last night, with the notable exception of a 24-0 win at Idaho in 2005.

UH -- which held Alabama to 22 second-half rushing yards in its first game two weeks ago at Tuscaloosa -- limited UNLV to 3 rushing yards on 12 first-half attempts and 112 total yards before intermission.

Hawaii led 14-0 on a pair of 7-yard touchdown passes to Grice-Mullins and Bess.

Meanwhile, the Warriors defense stopped the Rebels three times on fourth down in UH territory in the first half.

Defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said the key was playing the option responsibly, and then the Warriors were able to attack on defense after getting the early lead.

"In option football, one guy takes the pitch, one guy takes the dive, one guy takes the quarterback," he said. "Could we have done that last year? Probably not.

"We get up 14 points, we get a little happy hand grenades," Glanville added. "Our offense helped our defense."

And UH's success throwing the ball opened up big holes for Ilaoa and Reagan Mauia (six carries for 33 yards).

"We do it a little different," Jones said. "We throw to set up the run. Once we pass successfully the run comes kind of easy."

Ilaoa scored on an 8-yard run to expand the lead to 21-0.

Then Brennan capped a 93-yard drive with a 13-yard scramble to within a foot of the goal line and a keeper into the end zone on the next play. UH led 28-0 with 5:58 left in the half.

UNLV then made its deepest penetration of the half, to the Hawaii 25. But outside linebacker Amani Purcell sacked Hinds for a 12-yard loss on third and 7, forcing the Rebels to punt.

The Hawaii domination continued in the second half, beginning with the first play from scrimmage. Free safety Leonard Peters intercepted Hinds' pass, and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown.

Then the Warriors used a big chunk of the third-quarter clock to go 96 yards, with Ilaoa rushing 7 yards for the score.

The Rebels finally scored with 3:51 left in the third quarter as David Peeples went the final yard of a 12-play, 63-yard drive, and again with 2:34 remaining in the game with a touchdown against UH backups.

Brad Kalilimoku -- subbing for injured starter Solomon Elimimian at inside linebacker -- led UH with eight tackles.

"We're going to try to take this and more (to Boise)," Kalilimoku said.