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Warriors find winning formula

Hawaii snaps its six-game losing streak with a dominant offensive effort

By Jason Kaneshiro

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Nov 08, 2009

(Single Page View) | Return to Paginated View

Early in the week Hawaii head coach Greg McMackin talked about the Warriors needing "to unleash on somebody."

Utah State turned out to be that somebody.

After a here-we-go-again start, the Warriors turned the running game loose and broke free from the burden of a six-game losing streak. They earned their first Western Athletic Conference win of the season, 49-36 over the Aggies last night before 25,883 at Aloha Stadium.

"It's been a long time since we won a game and it feels good not coming off the field with your head down, just coming off with a great feeling. There's nothing like it," receiver Greg Salas said.

Hawaii quarterback Bryant Moniz threw an interception on the Warriors' first play of the game, which led to Utah State taking a 7-0 lead. The Warriors then scored on five of their next six possessions while suffocating the Aggies' offense to take a 35-7 lead into halftime.

Hawaii held off a Utah State rally in the second half to head into the locker room with its eighth straight homecoming win in which ...

...» The Warriors rolled up season highs in points and total offense with 697 yards.

» Running backs Leon Wright-Jackson and Alex Green became the first Hawaii duo to rush for more than 100 yards each since 1995.

» Moniz rebounded from the shaky start to throw for 337 yards and four touchdown passes and savored his first victory as the Warriors' starting quarterback.

UP NEXT

Who: New Mexico State (3-6, 1-3 WAC) at Hawaii (3-6, 1-5)

When: 5:05 p.m. Saturday

TV/Radio: PPV, Ch. 255/KKEA, 1420AM

When he entered the locker room, Moniz headed straight for the offensive line, congratulating his blockers for a night in which the Warriors (3-6, 1-5 WAC) surrendered one sack and tore through the Aggies (2-7, 1-4) for 360 yards on the ground.

"I appreciate our O-line so much and the work they do protecting me," Moniz said. "Our offense produced real well tonight and that's hats off to the O-line for giving me time to throw and opening holes for the run."

Moniz completed 21 of 37 passes, 10 of his throws going to Salas, who finished with 187 yards and two touchdowns.

But it was a running game that posted its highest total since 1995 -- when Hawaii still ran the triple-option -- that set the tone for the night as Wright-Jackson rumbled for a career-best 167 yards and three touchdowns. Green added 110.

"They probably weren't (expecting to run) either until they started watching our film," Utah State coach Gary Andersen said. "It's been an issue for us all season."

Utah State quarterback Diondre Borel threw for 344 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another. But the Warriors held Robert Turbin, the WAC's second-leading rusher, to 60 yards, and came up with key stops in the red zone.

"At Nevada (the previous week) we started making plays again," McMackin said. "A lot of young guys on defense, started making plays. I could see we made a step up."

After the interception to open the game, which led to a touchdown by Turbin, Moniz bounced back to toss a momentum-turning touchdown pass to Jon Medeiros. Moniz rolled to his right and spotted Medeiros, who hauled in the lob and outran the defense for a 57-yard score.

Utah State's next four possessions ended in an interception by Lametrius Davis -- Hawaii's first in six games -- and three three and outs.

Wright-Jackson scored on a 1-yard run and Moniz found Jovonte Taylor running free across the middle for a 35-yard touchdown. The Warriors added a 9-yard run by Wright-Jackson, and after the defense stopped the Aggies on fourth and 1 at the Warriors' 6, the offense drove 94 yards and extended the lead to 35-7 on a 10-yard scoring pass from Moniz to Salas.

But Utah State kept the celebration on hold by scoring on its first two possessions of the third quarter and threatening again when safety Walter McClenton intercepted a Moniz pass and returned it to the Hawaii 6.

With the Aggies on the verge of closing to within a touchdown, linebacker Corey Paredes pushed them back with a sack of Borel, who then missed an open receiver in the end zone on third down. Chris Ulinski's field-goal attempt went wide left to end the drive and the Warriors then pulled away.

A 59-yard connection from Moniz to Salas set up Wright-Jackson's third touchdown run of the night, a 5-yarder on an option play around the left side.

"I'm not smiling yet," McMackin said after the Warriors' first win in 56 days. "It's a relief is what it is."

HAWAII 49, UTAH STATE 36

At Aloha Stadium

Utah State	7	0	14	15	--	36
Hawaii	14	21	7	7	--	49

First Quarter
Utah	12:57	Robert Turbin 7 run (Chris Ulinski kick)	7-0
UH	10:06	Jon Medeiros 57 pass from Bryant Moniz (Scott Enos kick)	7-7
UH	0:01	Leon Wright-Jackson 1 run (Enos kick)	7-14
Second Quarter
UH	12:41	Jovonte Taylor 35 pass from Moniz (Enos kick)	7-21
UH	9:41	Wright-Jackson 9 run (Enos kick)	7-28
UH	2:25	Greg Salas 10 pass from Moniz (Enos kick)	7-35
Third Quarter
Utah	13:20	Turbin 3 run (Ulinski kick)	14-35
Utah	6:35	Jeremy Mitchell 16 pass from Diondre Borel (Ulinski kick)	21-35
UH	1:49	Wright-Jackson 5 run (Enos kick)	21-42
Fourth Quarter
Utah	14:54	Michael Smith 31 pass from Borel (Ulinski kick)	28-42
UH	10:25	Salas 4 pass from Moniz (Enos kick)	28-49
Utah	1:06	Borel 1 run (Omar Sawyer pass from Borel)	36-49

Attendance -- 25,883. Time: 3:07.
Officials -- Referee: Rich Kollen; Umpire: Al Coryl; Back judge: Steven Steichen; Field judge: Vern Sparling; Scorer: Dara Young.

Team Statistics

	UTAH STATE	HAWAII
First Downs	23	28
Rushing	9	12
Passing	14	12
Penalty	0	4
Net Yards Rushing	102	360
Rushing	39	37
Average per rush	2.6	9.7
Rushing touchdowns	3	3
Yards gained rushing	154	377
Yards lost rushing	52	17
Net Yards Passing	344	337
Completions-Attempts-Int	25-38-2	21-38-2
Average per attempt	9.1	8.9
Average per completion	13.8	16.0
Passing touchdowns	2	4
Total Offensive Yards	446	697
Total offensive plays	77	75
Average gain per play	5.8	9.3
Fumbles: Number-Lost	2-0	0-0
Penalties: Number-Yards	6-51	7-64
Punts-Yards	4-105	1-31
Average yards per punt	26.2	31.0
Net yards per punt	25.8	31.0
Inside 20	0	0
50-plus yards	0	0
Touchbacks	0	0
Fair catch	0	0
Kickoff-Yards	5-328	8-514
Average yards per kickff	65.6	64.2
Net yards per kickoff	48.4	38.5
Touchbacks	1	0
Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD	0-0-0	1-2-0
Average per return	0.0	2.0
Kickoff returns: Number-Yards-TD	8-206-0	4-66-0
Average per return	25.8	16.5
Interceptions: Number-Yards-TD	2-27-0	2-13-0
Fumbles returns: Number-Yards-TD	0-0-0	0-0-0
Miscellaneous yards	21	0
Possession time	25:48	34:12
First Quarter	5:21	9:39
Second Quarter	9:03	5:57
Third Quarter	7:21	7:39
Fourth Quarter	4:03	10:57
Third-down conversions	7 of 15	8 of 12
Fourth-down conversions	2 of 3	0 of 1
Red-zone scores-chances	4-6	5-7
Sacks by: Number-Yards	1-6	3-33
PAT kicks	4-4	7-7
Field goals	0-1	0-2

INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE STATISTICS

TACKLES FOR LOSS-YARDS -- Utah State, Levi Koskan 1-6, Joey Schrader 1-3, Jacob Atkinson 1-3, Reuben Willis 1-2, Bobby Wagner 1-2, Rajric Coleman 1-1. Hawaii, Corey Paredes 2-18, Blaze Soares, 1-11, Paipai Falemalu 1-10, Tuika Tufaga 2-7, Richard Torres 1-2, Po 'okela Ahmad 1-2, John Fonoti 1-1, Mana Silva 1-1.
SACKS-YARDS -- Utah State, Koskan 1-6. Hawaii, Paredes 1-12, Soares 1-11, Falemalu 1-10.
INTERCEPTIONS -- Utah State, Walter McClenton 1-27, Kejon Murphy 1-0. Hawaii, Silva 1-13, Lametrius Davis 1-0.
KICKS BLOCKED -- Utah State, Devin Johnson. Hawaii, None.
QuARTERBACK HURRIES -- Utah State, Kyle Gallagher, Coleman, Schrader, Koskan, Willis. Hawaii, Soares 2, R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane 2, Paredes, Spencer Smith, Tufaga.

UTAH STATE
	TACKLES
PLAYER	SOLO	AST	T
Bobby Wagner	7	2	9
Kyle Gallagher	4	2	6
Rajric Coleman	5	0	5
Joey Schrader	5	0	5
Jacob Actkinson	4	1	5
Kejon Murphy	3	1	4
James Brindley	1	3	4
Curtis Marsh	2	1	3
Chris Randle	2	1	3
Quinn Garner	2	0	2
Daniel Gurrola	2	0	2
Levi Koskan	1	1	2
Walter McClenton	1	1	2
Austin Alder	1	0	1
Devin Johnson	1	0	1
Reuben Willis	1	0	1
Chris Williams	1	0	1
Stanley Morrison	1	0	1
Cache Morgan	1	0	1
Junior Kelaho	1	0	1
Quinton Byrd	1	0	1
Antonio May	0	1	1
Hawaii
	TACKLES
PLAYER	SOLO	AST	T
Blaze Soares	4	5	9
Corey Paredes	8	0	8
Mana Silva	5	3	8
Kawika Ornellas	6	1	7
Fetaiagogo Fonoti	4	3	7
Richard Torres	5	1	6
Paipai Falemalu	4	0	4
R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane	2	2	4
Lametrius Davis	3	0	3
Mana Lolotai	1	2	3
Spencer Smith	0	3	3
Tuika Tufaga	2	0	2
Vaughn Meatoga	2	0	2
Joshua Rice	1	1	2
Jake Heun	1	0	1
John Estes	1	0	1
Liko Satele	1	0	1
Scott Enos	1	0	1
Lewis Walker	1	0	1
Jordan Gomes	1	0	1
Geordon Hanohano	1	0	1
Po'okela Ahmad	1	0	1
Mike Wadsworth	0	1	1

WAC Scores

Yesterday
» Hawaii 49, Utah State 36
» Fresno State 31, Idaho 21
Today
» Nevada at San Jose State, 3:30 p.m.

Individual Offensive Statistics

UTAH STATE
RUSHING	NO.	GAIN	LOSS	NET	TD	LG	AVG.
Robert Turbin	13	63	3	60	2	16	4.6
Michael Smith	4	22	0	22	0	8	5.5
Diondre Borel	19	63	45	18	1	12	0.9
Derrvin Speight	1	6	0	6	0	6	6.0
Omar Sawyer	1	0	2	-2	0	0	-2.0
Team	1	0	2	-2	0	0	-2.0
Totals	39	154	52	102	3	16	2.6
PASSING	COMP.-ATT.-INT.	YDS.		TD	LG	SACK
Diondre Borel	25-38-2	344		2	43	3
Totals	25-38-2	344		2	43	3
RECEIVING	NO.	GAIN	TD	LG
Omar Sawyer	6	86	0	31
Robert Turbin	6	51	0	13
Eric Moats	2	49	0	32
Xavier Bowman	2	48	0	43
Michael Smith	2	32	1	31
Austin Alder	2	24	0	17
Mikhail Morgan	2	17	0	11
Stanley Morrison	1	17	0	17
Jeremy Mitchell	1	16	1	16
Kellen Bartlett	1	4	0	4
Totals	25	344	2	43
PUNTING	NO.	YDS.	AVG.	LG	In20	TB
Peter Caldwell	4	105	26.2	29	0	0
Totals	4	105	26.2	29	0	0
ALL RETURNS	PUNTS	KICKOFFS	INTERCEPT
	No.	Yds.	Lg	No.	Yds.	Lg	No.	Yds.	Lg
Michael Smith	0	0	0	1	27	27	0	0	0
Walter McClenton	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	27	27
Kerwynn Williams	0	0	0	6	166	40	0	0	0
Joey Schrader	0	0	0	1	13	13	0	0	0
Kejon Murphy	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Totals	0	0	0	8	206	40	2	27	27

ALL PURPOSE	RUSH	RCV	KR	PR	TOTAL
Kerwynn Williams	0	0	166	0	166
Robert Turbin	60	51	0	0	111
Omar Sawyer	-2	86	0	0	84
Michael Smith	22	32	27	0	81
Eric Moats	0	49	0	0	49
Xavier Bowman	0	48	0	0	48
Walter McClenton	0	0	0	0	27
Austin Alder	0	24	0	0	24
Diondre Borel	18	0	0	0	18
Stanley Morrison	0	17	0	0	17
Mikhail Morgan	0	17	0	0	17
Jeremy Mitchell	0	16	0	0	16
Joey Schrader	0	0	13	0	13
Derrvin Speight	6	0	0	0	6
Kellen Bartlett	0	4	0	0	4
Team	-2	0	0	0	-2
Totals	102	344	206	0	679

HAWAII
RUSHING	NO.	GAIN	LOSS	NET	TD	LG	AVG.
Leon Wright-Jackson	15	172	5	167	3	62	11.1
Alex Green	10	112	2	110	0	35	11.0
Bryant Moniz	8	82	6	76	0	31	9.5
Chizzy Dimude	3	11	1	10	0	7	3.3
TEAM	1	0	3	-3	0	0	-3.0
Totals	37	377	17	360	3	62	9.7

PASSING	COMP.-ATT.-INT.	YDS.		TD	LG	SACK
Bryant Moniz	21-37-2	337		4	59	1
TEAM	0-1-0	0		0	0	0
Totals	21-38-2	337		4	59	1

RECEIVING	NO.	GAIN	TD	LG
Greg Salas	10	187	2	59
Jon Medeiros	3	68	1	57
Jovonte Taylor	2	53	1	35
Leon Wright-Jackson	2	13	0	9
Alex Green	2	9	0	12
Ryan Henry	1	7	0	7
Kealoha Pilares	1	0	0	0
Totals	21	337	4	59

PUNTING	NO.	YDS.	AVG.	LG	In20	TB
Alex Dunnachie	1	31	31.0	31	0	0
Totals	1	31	31.0	31	0	0

ALL RETURNS	PUNTS	KICKOFFS	INTERCEPT
	No.	Yds.	Lg	No.	Yds.	Lg	No.	Yds.	Lg
Jovonte Taylor	0	0	0	4	66	20	0	0	0
Ryan Henry	1	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
Mana Silva	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	13	13
Lametrius Davis	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Totals	1	2	2	4	66	20	2	13	13

ALL PURPOSE	RUSH	RCV	KR	PR	TOTAL
Greg Salas	0	187	0	0	187
Leon Wright-Jackson	167	13	0	0	180
Jovonte Taylor	0	53	66	0	119
Alex Green	110	9	0	0	119
Bryant Moniz	76	0	0	0	76
Jon Medeiros	0	68	0	0	68
Mana Silva	0	0	0	0	13
Chizzy Dimude	10	0	0	0	10
Ryan Henry	0	7	0	2	9
TEAM	-3	0	0	0	-3
Totals	360	337	66	2	778