Warriors defense denies Aggies
POSTED: Sunday, November 15, 2009
Even with a 17-point lead, Hawaii head coach Greg McMackin wasn't dishing out a whole lot of praise in the locker room midway through last night's game against New Mexico State.
“;I was pretty hot at halftime,”; McMackin said. “;I thought we were letting New Mexico State stay with us and needed to pick it up in all phases.”;
The Warriors' defense eased those halftime concerns by holding the Aggies out of the end zone to secure a 24-6 Western Athletic Conference win last night at Aloha Stadium.
After a blistering start, the Hawaii offense cooled a bit in the middle of the contest, witnessed by a crowd of 25,103, the smallest turnout of the season.
But it didn't matter much as the Warriors (4-6, 2-5 WAC) stifled a struggling New Mexico State offense while winning their second straight.
HAWAII (4-6, 2-5 WAC) AT SAN JOSE STATE (1-8, 0-5)
When: 3 p.m. Saturday TV/Radio: PPV Ch. 255/KKEA, 1420-AM
|
Hawaii quarterback Bryant Moniz threw for 294 yards before leaving the game with sore ribs early in the fourth quarter.
Shane Austin provided a smooth transition by completing his first six passes, including a record-tying 12-yard touchdown to Greg Salas that erased any lingering doubt.
“;You've always got to be ready; that's the mind-set you've gotta have,”; Austin said after going 8-for-11 for 72 yards in his second relief appearance of the season. “;Especially this season, the way quarterbacks have been going down you have to stay ready and stay into the game. That's what I did and it paid off.”;
Salas' score was his 15th catch of the night, matching the school record set by Davone Bess in 2007. A 6-yard catch on the Warriors' next drive gave him sole possession of the record as he finished with a career-high 196 yards.
“;They played press man (coverage) a lot, so we knew we were going to have a lot of stuff out there for us to get open,”; Salas said.
Salas' 127 receiving yards in the first half came up just 14 yards shy of New Mexico State's total yardage going into halftime and the Warriors took a 17-0 lead and cruised to the win.
The Warriors' first two drives ended with running back Leon Wright-Jackson touchdown runs of 3 and 11 yards—giving him five scores in the last two games—and the third led to a 38-yard field goal by Scott Enos.
“;We're trying to emphasize being explosive right from the jump,”; said Wright-Jackson, who accounted for 47 yards on the Warriors' opening drive. “;So anybody we're playing, we're trying to get on top of as fast as possible.”;
The Warriors generally stayed away from NMSU cornerbacks Davon House—who scored NMSU's only points of the night with a 58-yard interception return in the third quarter—and Jonte Green.
But the Aggies' coverage outside opened spaces for Salas and Jon Medeiros running out of the slot positions. Medeiros complemented Salas with seven receptions for 79 yards. Kealoha Pilares' two catches for 46 yards were the only touches for the outside receivers.
“;We had to win on the inside. I knew it was going to be the inside guys having the catches this week,”; said UH quarterbacks coach Nick Rolovich, who calls the plays from the sideline. “;We tested (the cornerbacks) early and they were as advertised and we knew we had to keep it inside.”;
The Warriors continued to roll up the yardage, though the flow of points slowed as their final two possessions of the first half stalled deep in NMSU territory.
When the Aggies (3-7, 1-4) did put together promising drives, the Warriors denied them with interceptions by Mana Silva and linebacker Blaze Soares.
The Warriors forced seven punts and the Aggies' drive to the UH 27 in the second quarter marked their deepest venture of the night.
“;We came out with a chip in our shoulder and I feel like our defense is improving more and more each week,”; Soares said.
House's interception return off a pass tipped by receiver Jovonte Taylor brought the Aggies to within 11 with a full quarter left. But the NMSU offense, the lowest-scoring unit in the country, mustered only 23 yards in the final period in the Aggies' fourth straight loss.
Moniz generated most of the Warriors' 485 yards in total offense before leaving the game.
Moniz, who ran for 43 yards and was sacked twice, said he played through the injury earlier in the game, and played through it until going to the sideline two plays into the fourth quarter.
“;It's not serious at all. It happened early in the game and I played with it,”; Moniz said. “;I'll be out there next week.”;
McMackin said Moniz will have X-rays taken to determine whether the rib is bruised or cracked, which could lead to an extended absence.
“;He'll take X-rays and I'm going to be on my knees all night, because hopefully it's a bruise,”; McMackin said. “;He's a tough kid and we just have to hope for the best.”;
HAWAII 24, NEW MEXICO STATE 6
At Aloha Stadium
| New Mexico State | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 6 |
| Hawaii | 14 | 3 | 0 | 7 | — | 24 |
| First Quarter | |||
| UH | 7:03 | Leon Wright-Jackson 3 run (Scott Enos kick) | 0-7 |
| UH | 3:39 | Wright-Jackson 11 run (Enos kick) | 0-14 |
| Second Quarter | |||
| UH | 12:13 | FG Enos 38 | 0-17 |
| Third Quarter | |||
| NMSU | 1:13 | Davon House 58 interception return (run failed) | 6-17 |
| Fourth Quarter | |||
| UH | 11:08 | Greg Salas 12 pass from Shane Austin (Enos kick) | 6-24 |
Attendance —25,103. Time: 2:53.
Officials — Referee: Steve Barth; Umpire: Johnnie Forte; Back judge: Folayan Kindred; Field judge: Ed Vinzat; Scorer: Dara Young.
TEAM STATISTICS
| NMSU | HAWAII | |
| FIRST DOWNS | 10 | 26 |
| Rushing | 7 | 5 |
| Passing | 3 | 21 |
| Penalty | 0 | 0 |
| NET YARDS RUSHING | 133 | 119 |
| Rushing | 23 | 26 |
| Average per rush | 5.8 | 4.6 |
| Rushing touchdowns | 0 | 2 |
| Yards gained rushing | 143 | 138 |
| Yards lost rushing | 10 | 19 |
| NET YARDS PASSING | 111 | 366 |
| Completions-Attempts-Int | 12-21-2 | 28-49-1 |
| Average per attempt | 5.3 | 7.5 |
| Average per completion | 9.2 | 13.1 |
| Passing touchdowns | 0 | 1 |
| TOTAL OFFENSIVE YARDS | 244 | 485 |
| Total offensive plays | 44 | 75 |
| Average gain per play | 5.5 | 6.5 |
| Fumbles: Number-Lost | 3-0 | 0-0 |
| Penalties: Number-Yards | 6-60 | 4-40 |
| PUNTS-YARDS | 7-279 | 3-172 |
| Average yards per punt | 39.9 | 57.3 |
| Net yards per punt | 33.7 | 57.3 |
| Inside 20 | 1 | 1 |
| 50-plus yards | 2 | 3 |
| Touchbacks | 2 | 1 |
| Fair catch | 0 | 0 |
| KICKOFF-YARDS | 2-133 | 5-338 |
| Average yards per kickff | 66.5 | 67.6 |
| Net yards per kickoff | 46.0 | 45.4 |
| Touchbacks | 0 | 1 |
| Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD | 1-20-0 | 1-3-0 |
| Average per return | -20.0 | 3.0 |
| Kickoff returns: Number-Yards-TD | 4-91-0 | 2-41-0 |
| Average per return | 22.8 | 20.5 |
| Interceptions: Number-Yards-TD | 1-58-1 | 2-21-0 |
| Fumbles returns: Number-Yards-TD | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 |
| Miscellaneous yards | 0 | 0 |
| Possession time | 24:45 | 35:15 |
| First Quarter | 7:18 | 7:42 |
| Second Quarter | 4:42 | 10:18 |
| Third Quarter | 7:11 | 7:49 |
| Fourth Quarter | 5:34 | 9:26 |
| Third-down conversions | 1 of 8 | 5 of 13 |
| Fourth-down conversions | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 |
| Red-zone scores-chances | 0-0 | 4-6 |
| Sacks by: Number-Yards | 2-12 | 2-7 |
| PAT kicks | 0-0 | 3-3 |
| Field goals | 0-0 | 1-2 |
INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE STATISTICS
TACKLES FOR LOSS-YARDS —NMSU, Donte Savage 2-9, Donyae Coleman 1-9, Jason Scott 1-1. Hawaii, Paipai Falemalu 2-5, Fetaiagogo Fonoti 1-3, R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane 1-1.
SACKS-YARDS —NMSU, Coleman 1-9, Savage 1-3. Hawaii, Falemalu 1-4, Fonoti 1-3.
INTERCEPTIONS —NMSU, Davon House 1-58. Hawaii, Blaze Soares 1-21, Mana Silva 1-0.
KICKS BLOCKED —NMSU, None. Hawaii, None.
QUARTERBACK HURRIES —NMSU, Pierre Fils. Hawaii, Liko Satele 2, Soares.
NEW MEXICO STATE
| TACKLES | |||
| PLAYER | SOLO | AST | T |
| Chris Buckner | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| Alphonso Powell | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Donte Savage | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Jonte Green | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Davon House | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Stephon Hatchett | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Jason Scott | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Donyae Coleman | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| John Finua | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Marcus Allen | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Sam King | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| B.J. Adolpho | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Ka'ua Adolpho | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Pierre Fils | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jamar Cotton | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| David Quiroga | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Ronny Torres | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| HAWAII | |||
| TACKLES | |||
| PLAYER | SOLO | AST | T |
| R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane | 6 | 2 | 8 |
| Kawika Ornellas | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Blaze Soares | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Lametrius Davis | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Richard Torres | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Mana Silva | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Vaughn Meatoga | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Corey Paredes | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Paipai Falemalu | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Fetaiagogo Fonoti | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Po'okela Ahmad | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Spencer Smith | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jake Heun | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Rocky Savaiigaea | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Mike Wadsworth | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Jordan Gomes | 0 | 1 | 1 |
INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE STATISTICS
NEW MEXICO STATE
| RUSHING | NO. | GAIN | LOSS | NET | TD | LG | AVG. | ||
| Tonny Glynn | 11 | 76 | 2 | 74 | 0 | 20 | 6.7 | ||
| Marcus Anderson | 1 | 24 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 24 | 24.0 | ||
| Seth Smith | 5 | 20 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 8 | 4.0 | ||
| Jeff Fleming | 5 | 23 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 13 | 3.2 | ||
| TEAM | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | -1.0 | ||
| Totals | 23 | 143 | 10 | 133 | 0 | 24 | 5.8 | ||
| PASSING | COMP.-ATT.-INT. | YDS. | TD | LG | SACK | ||||
| Jeff Fleming | 12-21-2 | 111 | 0 | 26 | 2 | ||||
| Totals | 12-21-2 | 111 | 0 | 26 | 2 | ||||
| RECEIVING | NO. | GAIN | TD | LG | |||||
| Marcus Allen | 4 | 42 | 0 | 26 | |||||
| Todd Lee | 3 | 20 | 0 | 8 | |||||
| Kyle Nelson | 2 | 16 | 0 | 10 | |||||
| Kyle Hipp | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 | |||||
| William Bullock | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 | |||||
| Marcus Anderson | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | |||||
| Totals | 12 | 111 | 0 | 26 | |||||
| PUNTING | NO. | YDS. | AVG. | LG | In20 | TB | |||
| Kyle Hughes | 7 | 279 | 39.9 | 73 | 1 | 2 | |||
| Totals | 7 | 279 | 39.9 | 73 | 1 | 2 | |||
| ALL RETURNS | PUNTS | KICKOFFS | INTERCEPT | ||||||
| No. | Yds. | Lg | No. | Yds. | Lg | No. | Yds. | Lg | |
| Marcus Allen | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 91 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Todd Lee | 1 | -20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Davon House | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 58 | 58 |
| Totals | 1 | -20 | 0 | 4 | 91 | 26 | 1 | 58 | 58 |
| ALL PURPOSE | RUSH | RCV | KR | PR | TOTAL | ||||
| Marcus Allen | 0 | 42 | 91 | 0 | 133 | ||||
| Tonny Glynn | 74 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 74 | ||||
| Davon House | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 58 | ||||
| Marcus Anderson | 24 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 29 | ||||
| Seth Smith | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | ||||
| Kyle Nelson | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 | ||||
| Jeff Fleming | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | ||||
| Kyle Hipp | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15 | ||||
| William Bullock | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 | ||||
| TEAM | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | ||||
| Totals | 133 | 111 | 91 | -20 | 373 |
HAWAII
| RUSHING | NO. | GAIN | LOSS | NET | TD | LG | AVG. | ||
| Leon Wright-Jackson | 6 | 43 | 0 | 43 | 2 | 19 | 7.2 | ||
| Bryant Moniz | 9 | 55 | 12 | 43 | 0 | 17 | 4.8 | ||
| Alex Green | 11 | 40 | 7 | 33 | 0 | 9 | 3.0 | ||
| Totals | 26 | 138 | 19 | 119 | 2 | 19 | 4.6 | ||
| PASSING | COMP.-ATT.-INT. | YDS. | TD | LG | SACK | ||||
| Bryant Moniz | 20-38-1 | 294 | 0 | 41 | 2 | ||||
| Shane Austin | 8-11-0 | 72 | 1 | 15 | 0 | ||||
| Totals | 28-49-1 | 366 | 1 | 41 | 2 | ||||
| RECEIVING | NO. | GAIN | TD | LG | |||||
| Greg Salas | 16 | 196 | 1 | 41 | |||||
| Jon Medeiros | 7 | 79 | 0 | 17 | |||||
| Kealoha Pilares | 2 | 46 | 0 | 31 | |||||
| Leon Wright-Jackson | 2 | 29 | 0 | 16 | |||||
| Alex Green | 1 | 16 | 0 | 16 | |||||
| Totals | 28 | 366 | 1 | 41 | |||||
| PUNTING | NO. | YDS. | AVG. | LG | In20 | TB | |||
| Alex Dunnachie | 3 | 172 | 57.3 | 65 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Totals | 3 | 172 | 57.3 | 65 | 1 | 1 | |||
| ALL RETURNS | PUNTS | KICKOFFS | INTERCEPT | ||||||
| No. | Yds. | Lg | No. | Yds. | Lg | No. | Yds. | Lg | |
| Jovonte Taylor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 41 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blaze Soares | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 21 |
| Ryan Henry | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mana Silva | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 41 | 24 | 2 | 21 | 21 |
| ALL PURPOSE | RUSH | RCV | KR | PR | TOTAL | ||||
| Greg Salas | 0 | 196 | 0 | 0 | 196 | ||||
| Jon Medeiros | 0 | 79 | 0 | 0 | 79 | ||||
| Leon Wright-Jackson | 43 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 72 | ||||
| Alex Green | 33 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 49 | ||||
| Kealoha Pilares | 0 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 46 | ||||
| Bryant Moniz | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | ||||
| Jovonte Taylor | 0 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 41 | ||||
| Blaze Soares | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | ||||
| Ryan Henry | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | ||||
| Totals | 119 | 366 | 41 | 3 | 550 |
WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
| Conference | Overall | |||||||
| W | L | PF | PA | W | L | PF | PA | |
| Nevada | 5 | 0 | 287 | 134 | 7 | 3 | 388 | 264 |
| Boise State | 5 | 0 | 204 | 101 | 10 | 0 | 382 | 160 |
| Fresno State | 5 | 2 | 227 | 192 | 6 | 4 | 329 | 254 |
| Idaho | 4 | 3 | 211 | 252 | 7 | 4 | 333 | 374 |
| Louisiana Tech | 2 | 4 | 176 | 153 | 3 | 7 | 267 | 259 |
| Utah State | 2 | 4 | 159 | 165 | 3 | 7 | 276 | 307 |
| Hawaii | 2 | 5 | 149 | 231 | 4 | 6 | 245 | 305 |
| New Mexico State | 1 | 4 | 42 | 141 | 3 | 7 | 112 | 310 |
| San Jose State | 0 | 5 | 69 | 199 | 1 | 8 | 122 | 332 |
YESTERDAY
Hawaii 24, New Mexico St. 6 Nevada 52, Fresno State 14 LSU 24, Louisiana Tech 16
Boise State 63, Idaho 25 Utah State 24, San Jose St. 9
