HAWAII FOOTBALL
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hawaii receiver Ian Sample ran over Fresno State's A.J. Jefferson for a touchdown during the first half of a rout of the Bulldogs yesterday.
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Warriors stomp Bulldogs
Hawaii pays back Fresno State for the thrashing it received the last time it visited
HAWAII 68, FRESNO STATE 37
FRESNO, Calif. » Some of the names are the same, but the Hawaii football team that took the Bulldog Stadium field yesterday bore little resemblance to the one that was bullied around the same park two years before.
Showing they are not above kicking a Bulldog when it's down, the Warriors were close to unstoppable in a record-setting 68-37 win over a struggling Fresno State team in yesterday's Western Athletic Conference matchup.
The last time the Warriors (4-2, 2-1) visited California's Central Valley, Fresno State delivered a 70-14 thrashing. Yesterday, they took the bark out of a reeling Bulldog team and their homecoming crowd to win their third straight and first on the road this season.
"I think we're just a different breed this year," Hawaii senior center Samson Satele said.
Hawaii's output set a school record for points scored on the road, breaking the previous mark set in a 62-41 win at San Jose State in 1999. It also set a Bulldog Stadium record for points by a Fresno State opponent.
"I'm one of the guys who were here two years ago and remembered what happened, and we didn't want that to happen this year," said senior defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis. "We're a lot better team now. We came out fighting."
Warriors quarterback Colt Brennan was near perfect in completing 32 of 39 passes -- an astounding 82 percent completion rate -- for 409 yards and five touchdowns. Backup Tyler Graunke went 5-for-5 with a TD pass after taking over in the fourth quarter.
The Warriors scored touchdowns on 10 of their 13 offensive possessions, sending the Fresno State fans streaming to the exits early in the second half.
"We're pretty efficient right now running what we do, and it all starts with Colt and our offensive line playing very well and the guys have bought into it and are playing hard," UH coach June Jones said.
Each of UH's starting receivers caught at least one touchdown pass. Ross Dickerson led the group with 10 catches for 115 yards and a touchdown. Davone Bess and Ian Sample had two scores each and Jason Rivers had six catches for 80 yards and a score.
Running back Nate Ilaoa ran past and through Fresno State defenders to roll up 112 total yards (34 rushing, 78 receiving) and scored three touchdowns in the first half.
"We ran into a buzz saw tonight," Fresno State head coach Pat Hill said. "Their quarterback was really on. I don't remember playing against a quarterback as hot as that.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
UH running back Nate Ilaoa ran in for a touchdown past Fresno State's Tyler Clutts yesterday.
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"We were outmatched tonight. Hawaii was the better team, I give them a lot of credit. They're an outstanding football team."
The Hawaii offense's production was aided by a Warrior defense that produced three first-half turnovers -- capped by Leonard Peters' 54-yard interception return for a touchdown -- that helped turn a 7-0 deficit into a 42-14 lead late in the first half.
"You always try to get the 12th man on the field, Mr. Momentum," Peters said. "After that first touchdown in the beginning, we came together and said, 'Let's get Mr. Mo on our side, get fumbles, get interceptions.' "
The Hawaii defense held Bulldogs running back Dwayne Wright, the nation's seventh-leading rusher (132.6 ypg) entering the game, to 16 yards on 11 carries and forced him into two fumbles as the Bulldogs (1-5, 1-2) lost their fifth straight game and ninth of their last 10 dating back to last year.
"The running back was awesome, he's a good running back," UH linebacker Solomon Elimimian said. "But we just had to stop them and we all made an effort to stop them."
The Bulldogs gave their fans hope early on after tight end Bear Pascoe broke loose over the middle and rumbled for a 75-yard touchdown on Fresno State's third play from scrimmage.
But the Warriors responded immediately, with Ilaoa taking a shovel pass and running up the right side for a 39-yard gain. He completed the six-play drive with a 1-yard plunge to tie the game at 7-7.
"When we came down and answered I think that's really what set the tone for the rest of the game," Brennan said. "When we answered back to their early touchdown I think it let them know that we're going to be here all game and we're going to keep putting pressure on you."
"When they scored that first touchdown it could have snowballed like it did a couple years ago," Jones said. "But we're a better football team and the kids are very competitive and we answered the call."
After taking a 14-7 lead on a 47-yard connection from Brennan to Sample, Elimimian jarred the ball out of Wright's grasp and Alama-Francis recovered at the Bulldogs 24.
Ilaoa scored three plays later, and when Wright fumbled again on Fresno State's next possession, the rout was soon to follow.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Fresno State's Bear Pascoe ran past Hawaii defenders for a first-half touchdown yesterday in Fresno, Calif.
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With Hawaii leading 28-7, Hill replaced embattled starting quarterback Tom Brandstater with sophomore Sean Norton, drawing a loud ovation from the home crowd.
Norton promptly led the Bulldogs on a three-play drive that ended with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Pascoe.
But Hawaii kept its foot on the gas pedal, and after Ilaoa broke free for a 20-yard touchdown, Peters picked off a Norton throw and scored his second touchdown of the season with 1:37 left in the first half.
"He didn't look anybody off," Peters said. "I saw him staring down the left side the whole time, and as soon as I saw the outside receiver break in I broke too and it came right to me."
The Warriors then scored on each of their first four possessions of the second half. The only time they fell short of the goal line came when time ran out.
By then, few of the Bulldogs faithful were around to see the Warriors perform a celebratory haka at midfield for the green-clad supporters who followed them to Fresno.
"The last time we came here we got smashed, so to be able to return the favor is an awesome feeling," Dickerson said.
HAWAII 68, FRESNO ST. 37
At Bulldog Stadium
| Hawaii (4-2, 2-1 WAC) |
21 |
21 |
20 |
6 |
-- |
68 |
| Fresno St. (1-5, 1-2 WAC) |
7 |
10 |
6 |
14 |
-- |
37 |
FIRST QUARTER
| FSU |
12:28 |
Bear Pascoe 75 pass from Tom Brandstater |
0-7 |
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|
(Clint Stitser kick) |
| UH |
9:39 |
Nate Ilaoa 1 run (Dan Kelly kick) |
7-7 |
| UH |
5:11 |
Ian Sample 47 pass from Colt Brennan |
14-7 |
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(Kelly kick) |
| UH |
1:46 |
Ilaoa 5 run (Kelly kick) |
21-7 |
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SECOND QUARTER
UH
|
13:11 |
Sample 2 pass from Brennan (Kelly kick) |
28-7 |
|
| FSU |
6:56 |
Pascoe 20 pass from Sean Norton (Stitser kick) |
28-14 |
| UH |
3:38 |
Ilaoa 20 run (Kelly kick) |
35-14 |
|
| UH |
1:37 |
Leonard Peters 54 interception return |
42-14 |
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(Kelly kick) |
| FSU |
0:00 |
Stitser 28 FG |
42-17 |
THIRD QUARTER
| FSU |
14:21 |
Marlon Moore 75 pass from Norton (run failed) |
42-23 |
| UH |
12:13 |
Davone Bess 20 pass from Brennan |
49-23 |
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(Kelly kick) |
| UH |
7:26 |
Bess 2 pass from Brennan (kick blocked) |
55-23 |
| UH |
0:41 |
Ross Dickerson 35 pass from Brennan |
62-23 |
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(Kelly kick) |
FOURTH QUARTER
FSU 11:22 Lonyae Miller 4 run (Stitser kick) 62-30
UH 7:38 Jason Rivers 1 pass from Tyler Graunke 68-30
(kick blocked)
FSU 2:26 Isaac Kinter 8 pass from Norton (Stitser kick) 68-37
Attendance: 39,122. Time: 3:25.
Officials -- Referee: Bill McCabe; Umpire: Rick Dibernardo; Linesman: Jack Erb; Line judge: Terry Wilson; Back judge: Bob Taylor; Field judge: Steve Strimling; Side judge: Bill Baraya; Scorer: Troy Wagner.
TEAM STATISTICS
|
HAWAII |
FSU |
| FIRST DOWNS |
30 |
22 |
| NET YARDS RUSHING |
100 |
183 |
| Rushing Attempts |
18 |
41 |
| Average Per Rush |
5.6 |
4.5 |
| Yards Gained Rushing |
106 |
211 |
| Yards Lost Rushing |
6 |
28 |
| NET YARDS PASSING |
470 |
304 |
| Completions-Attempts-Int |
37-44-0 |
18-29-1 |
| Average Per Attempt |
10.7 |
10.5 |
| Average Per Completion |
12.7 |
16.9 |
| TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS |
570 |
487 |
| Total offense plays |
62 |
70 |
| Average Gain Per Play |
9.2 |
7.0 |
| Fumbles: Number-Lost |
1-0 |
3-2 |
| Penalties: Number-Yards |
4-31 |
6-53 |
| PUNTS-YARDS |
2-90 |
3-116 |
| Average Yards Per Punt |
45.0 |
38.7 |
| Net Yards Per Punt |
37.0 |
39.0 |
| KICKOFFS-YARDS |
11-666 |
6-381 |
| Average Yards Per Kickoff |
60.5 |
63.5 |
| Net Yards Per Kickoff |
43.5 |
44.8 |
| Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD |
2--1-0 |
2-16-0 |
| Average Per Return |
-0.5 |
8.0 |
| Kickoff returns: Number-Yds-TD |
2-32-0 |
6-127-0 |
| Average Per Return |
16.0 |
21.2 |
| Interceptions: Number-Yds-TD |
1-54-1 |
0-0-0 |
| Fumble Returns: Number-Yds-TD |
0-0-0 |
0-0-0 |
| Miscellaneous Yards |
0 |
0 |
| Possession Time |
29:18 |
30:42 |
| Third-Down Conversions |
7 of 9 |
7 of 13 |
| Fourth-Down Conversions |
0 of 0 |
0 of 1 |
| Red-Zone Scores-Chances |
7-7 |
4-4 |
| Sacks By: Number-Yards |
1-8 |
1-3 |
| PAT Kicks |
8-10 |
4-4 |
| Field Goals |
0-0 |
1-1 |
INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE STATISTICS
RUSHING--
Hawaii: Brennan 7-43, Ilaoa 6-34, Funaki 3-14, Graunke 1-5, Farmer 1-4.
Fresno St.: Miller 16-113, Norton 6-32, Wright 11-16, Harding 3-12, West 3-9, Brandstater 2-1.
PASSING--Hawaii: Brennan 32-39-0-409, Graunke 5-5-0-61. Fresno St.: Norton 14-24-1-225, Brandstater 4-5-0-79.
RECEIVING--Hawaii: Dickerson 10-115, Bess 8-70, Sample 6-83, Rivers 6-80, Ilaoa 5-78, Mock 1-46, Farmer 1-(minus 2). Fresno St.: West 6-74, Moore 3-100, Wright 3-3, Pascoe 2-95, Kinter 2-12, Miller 1-11, Ciccone 1-9.
INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE STATISTICS
Hawaii |
| Player |
Solo |
Ast |
Tot |
| Solomon Elimimian |
4 |
3 |
7 |
| Leonard Peters |
4 |
2 |
6 |
| Gerard Lewis |
2 |
3 |
5 |
| Melila Purcell |
1 |
4 |
5 |
| Brad Kalilimoku |
1 |
4 |
5 |
| Jacob Patek |
3 |
1 |
4 |
| Timo Paepule |
2 |
2 |
4 |
| Micah Lau |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| Adam Leonard |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| Amani Purcell |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| AJ Martinez |
1 |
2 |
3 |
| I. Alama-Francis |
0 |
3 |
3 |
| Michael Lafaele |
2 |
0 |
2 |
| Guyton Galdeira |
2 |
0 |
2 |
| Myron Newberry |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| Michael Malala |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| CJ Hawthorne |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Rustin Saole |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Ryan Keomaka |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Jason Rivers |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Victor Fergerstrom |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Rocky Savaiigaea |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Fresno State |
| Player |
Solo |
Ast |
Tot |
| Josh Sherley |
5 |
1 |
6 |
| Alan Goodwin |
3 |
2 |
5 |
| Ahijah Lane |
4 |
0 |
4 |
| Seyi Ajirotutu |
4 |
0 |
4 |
| Marcus McCauley |
4 |
0 |
4 |
| Elgin Simmons |
4 |
0 |
4 |
| Vincent Mays |
3 |
1 |
4 |
| Louis Leonard |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| Trevor Shamblee |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| Jason Roberts |
2 |
0 |
2 |
| Damon Jenkins |
2 |
0 |
2 |
| Jon Monga |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| Sean Norton |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| Marlon Brisco |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| Ikenna Ike |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| Anthony Harding |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Damion Owens |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Marcus Riley |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Ryan Machado |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Clint Stitser |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Robert Malone |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Tyler Clutts |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Reynard Camp |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Dwayne Andrews |
0 |
1 |
1 |
Tackles for loss-yards -- Hawaii: Kalilimoku 1.5-8, Lau 1-9, Alama-Francis 1-5, Lafaele 1-4, M. Purcell 1-2, Lewis 0.5-4.
FSU: Leonard 1.5-4, Roberts 1-3, McCauley 1-1, Malone 0.5-1.
Sacks-Yards -- Hawaii: Kalilimoku 1-8. FSU: Leonard 1-3.
Fumbles forced -- Hawaii: Elimimian, M. Purcell. FSU: Sherley.
Fumbles recovered -- Hawaii: Leonard 1-0, Alama-Francis 1-0. FSU: None.
Interceptions -- Hawaii: Peters 1-54. FSU: None.
Passes broken up -- Hawaii: Lewis, M. Purcell. FSU: McCauley, Mays, Jenkins.
Kicks blocked -- Hawaii: None. FSU: Shirley 2.
WAC Standings
|
CONFERENCE |
OVERALL |
|
W |
L |
Pct |
W |
L |
Pct |
| Idaho |
3 |
0 |
1.000 |
4 |
3 |
.571 |
| Boise St. |
2 |
0 |
1.000 |
6 |
0 |
1.000 |
| San Jose St. |
1 |
0 |
1.000 |
4 |
1 |
.800 |
| Hawaii |
2 |
1 |
.667 |
4 |
2 |
.667 |
| Fresno St. |
1 |
2 |
.333 |
1 |
5 |
.167 |
| Utah St. |
1 |
2 |
.333 |
1 |
6 |
.143 |
| New Mexico St. |
0 |
1 |
.000 |
2 |
3 |
.400 |
| Nevada |
0 |
2 |
.000 |
3 |
3 |
.500 |
| Louisiana Tech |
0 |
2 |
.000 |
1 |
5 |
.167 |
Yesterday
Hawaii 68, Fresno St. 37
San Jose St. 21, Utah St. 14
Idaho 24, Louisiana Tech 14
UH Schedule
| Sept. 2 |
at Alabama |
L, 25-17 |
| Sept. 16 |
UNLV |
W, 42-13 |
| Sept. 23 |
at Boise State |
L, 41-34 |
| Sept. 30 |
Eastern Illinois |
W, 44-9 |
| Oct. 7 |
Nevada |
W, 41-34 |
| Yesterday |
at Fresno State |
W, 68-37 |
| Oct. 21 |
at New Mexico State |
| Oct. 28 |
Idaho |
| Nov. 4 |
at Utah State |
| Nov. 11 |
Louisiana Tech |
| Nov. 18 |
San Jose State |
| Nov. 25 |
Purdue |
| Dec. 2 |
Oregon State |
