Warriors snap skid, roll to 48-10 win over Rebels


HALAWA - Two touchdowns by Joey Iosefa helped lead the Warriors over the Runnin' Rebels of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, their second win of the season. Hawaii racked up 340 total yards of offense and added an interception for a touchdown in the 48-10 victory Saturday night.

"I thought they performed very well," said Warriors head coach Norm Chow. "Very fortunate and very proud to be part of this evening."

The first score of the game came on the opening drive for Hawaii. Sophomore running back Joey Iosefa capped off the drive with a 25-yard touchdown run, breaking multiple tackles on his scamper to the end zone. A Tyler Hadden extra point put Hawaii up 7-0.

"The offensive line did really great tonight, opening up those holes," said Iosefa.

Iosefa finished the night with 13 carries, three catches and 107 total yards (56 rushing/51 receiving) and two touchdowns. He scored his second touchdown off a dump off pass from quarterback Sean Schroeder. Iosefa broke a tackle and plunged his way into the end zone for a seven-yard score. The Iosefa touchdown came at the 5:24 mark of the second quarter.

"We played well... offensive line did great," said Schroeder, who ended the night going 13 of 24 passing for 201 yards. "Running game worked well to set it up going over the top."

Senior running back Sterling Jackson powered his way through the goal line for the second score of the night. The one-yard score, the first one of the season for Jackson, put the Warriors up 14-0 with 11:56 to go in the second period.

"We've been way overdue for a win," said defensive linemen Paipai Falemalu. "It was a good win for our team and for our fans."

The defense for Hawaii also got in on the scoring action. On a second and ten situation in Runnin' Rebel territory, junior defensive back John Hardy-Tuliau picked off UNLV quarterback Nick Sherry. Hardy-Tuliau maneuvered his way through the Runnin' Rebel offense to the end zone to put the score at 28-0 with 1:50 to go in the half.

"We played very good defense, said Chow. "Our guys were focused."

A blocked UNLV punt set up Hawaii inside the ten yard line with about a minute to go in the half. The Warriors extended their lead by three as Tyler Hadden booted a 23 yard field goal to put the score at 31-0 going into the locker rooms.

"(About improvement from last week) we did what the coaches to tell us to," said Falemalu. "Before, we used to make little mistakes... we just executed.

The Warriors special teams got into the act as well, as Scott Harding returned a punt 69 yards to the house at the 12:04 mark of the fourth quarter. The return by the sophomore receiver was the first punt return for a score since 2007.

Harding finished the night with three catches for 75 yards to go along with his punt return.

"We are proud of what we did," said Chow. "It all came together."

The Runnin' Rebels finally got on the board at the 9:20 mark of the fourth quarter. Nolan Kohorst hit a 43-yard field goal to make the score 41-3.

"The tough part is this is what we envisioned all year long," said Chow. "We have a long way to go."

The Warriors tonight featured the Under Armour "Wounded Warrior Project" uniforms. Hawaii, decked out head-to-toe in customized patriotic uniforms Saturday night, wore the uniforms to honor the veterans and injured service members in the armed forces. The last names on the back of jerseys were replaced on these uniforms with one of the following words: Duty, Honor, Courage, Commitment, Integrity, Country, or Service. The words represented a core value declaration of the service. Boston College also was a team chosen to wear the patriotic jerseys this season.

"(Wearing the jerseys) it had a big impact on how we played tonight," said Falemalu. "I wish we could keep them…but it's going to a good cause."

The jerseys will now be auctioned off with all proceeds going to the Wounded Warrior project.

Hawaii improves to 2-9 while UNLV dropped to 2-11. The Warriors move on to play Southern Alabama next week in their final game of the season.



Reach Aven Santiago at [email protected].