Hawaii’s first three possessions on Saturday resulted in touchdowns.
The Rainbow Warriors kept pace with Utah State with the first two scores.
They couldn’t recover from the third.
Hawaii answered Utah State touchdowns with two efficient drives of its own to tie the game at 14 in the first quarter of a game that had the makings of a Mountain West Conference shootout at Aloha Stadium.
The momentum shifted heavily to the makai sideline early in the second quarter when Utah State linebacker Zach Vigil stormed into the backfield and wrapped up UH quarterback Ikaika Woolsey, knocking the ball loose in the process. USU safety Devin Centers scooped up the fumble at the 10, and took it into the south end zone for the go-ahead score.
The takeaway triggered a 21-0 spurt that left the Warriors to lament a 35-14 loss.
"They come off the edge really hard and I held on to the ball a little too long and I have to get rid of it," Woolsey said. "I just have to eat that one and take a sack and not turn the ball over."
The Warriors went three-and-out on their next two possessions as Utah State built a 28-14 halftime advantage.
The second half opened with two more punts, and when Utah State capitalized on a roughing-the-punter penalty to extend a 98-yard scoring drive, UH’s third straight loss was all but sealed.
"We were only down by one score (following the fumble return), but after that we just couldn’t accumulate drives," Woolsey said. "We made drives going downfield, but we couldn’t punch it in."
Statistically, Hawaii generated 454 yards in total offense, just 11 behind Utah State and the Warriors’ second-highest total of the season. Woolsey set season highs for completions (26) and passing yards (356). Receiver Quinton Pedroza caught eight passes for 123 yards, also a season best.
But the numbers didn’t add up to enough scores and UH dropped to 2-7 overall, 1-3 in conference play.
"As of now we’re playing for pride," Pedroza said. "Nobody in that locker room is a quitter. We love this game, we play because we love it. We’ll practice like we’re playing for something and that’s our pride."
Hawaii moved effectively on its first two possessions, driving 64 yards in 11 plays on the first and moving 82 yards in six plays — highlighted by a 54-yard completion to Keelan Ewaliko — on the second.
Diocemy Saint Juste scored on an 8-yard run for UH’s first touchdown. Justin Vele’s 1-yard reception helped tie the game and Woolsey completed 10 of his first 12 passes, including a run of nine straight following a drop on his first attempt.
But the rhythm UH showed early evaporated after the Utah State fumble return as the Warriors often pushed themselves backward, committing a season-high 13 penalties for 100 yards.
"We have a strong drive and we shoot ourselves in the foot with penalties that don’t even involve football, penalties that are just stuff that don’t involve the play," Pedroza said.
