UH sets the tone early

The Hawaii defense ended Nevada’s streak of opening-possession scores.

Nevada had scored on its first drive in each of its six games this season but went three and out last night. Vai Taua was held to two short runs and a third-down pass fell incomplete. It was the sixth straight game UH forced a punt on its first defensive series.

When the Warriors offense converted a Colin Kaepernick fumble into a touchdown pass from Bryant Moniz to Kealoha Pilares, it also marked the first time Nevada faced a deficit this season.

Nevada had averaged 26.5 points in the first half before being shut out going into the break last night.

Kaepernick picks are rare

The timely interceptions of Nevada quarterback Kaepernick by Richard Torres and Mana Silva were special by any measure, but were unprecedented against the Wolf Pack signal-caller this season.

Kaepernick came into the game ranked second among all FBS quarterbacks in lowest career interception percentage (1.79), with 19 picks in 1,062 attempts. He had only thrown three interceptions in six games, including none in his first three contests.

Kaepernick is now at 1.93 percent — still No. 2 behind Boise State’s Kellen Moore and ahead of TCU’s Andy Dalton.

Colt’s in the house

Colt Brennan came in from the mainland to watch last night’s game. UH’s record-breaking quarterback (2005-08) and Heisman Trophy finalist announced the Warriors’ entrance to the crowd, and he addressed the team Friday night.

"I told them two things," Brennan said. "One, when you play a Top 25 team you get a chance to be in a top 10 plays of the night on ESPN. And two, no one comes into our house and beats us."

Brennan and coach Greg McMackin shared a bear hug a few minutes after the game. "Hey, I told you we were going to win," Brennan said to McMackin.

Brennan, still looking for an NFL job after being released by the Redskins and Raiders before this season, said he had a good workout with the Houston Texans last week, but the team is not in the market for a quarterback right now.

Tormey beats former boss

Last night’s win gave UH special teams coordinator and former Nevada head coach Chris Tormey a victory over his former employer.

"It’s huge, not just for me but this whole program," Tormey said. "It shows we’re on the right track and it was a great effort by the defense in particular, and the offense stepped up and made some huge plays and on special teams we have some work to do."

The lapses in the kicking game Tormey referenced were a 44-yard punt return by Nevada’s Rishard Matthews, an 84-yard kickoff return by Mike Ball and an onside kick the Wolf Pack recovered late in the game.

But safety Mana Silva’s interception preserved the UH win.

"The difference between winning and losing is making plays when the game is on the line, and that’s what we did," said Tormey, who also coaches the UH safeties.

Scoreless in Hawaii

For the second time in a year, Nevada’s offense spent an entire half of football in Hawaii on vacation.

The Wolf Pack, who entered the game averaging 43 points a contest, were shut out in the first half for the first time since coming up empty against SMU in the 2009 Hawaii Bowl.

Nevada had scored on its opening drive each game this season, but couldn’t convert a first down through the first 10 minutes.

It took until 1:18 left in the third quarter for Nevada to erase its zero on the scoreboard.