LAS VEGAS >> The University of Hawaii football team has embraced the "move forward" theme this season.

But on a chilly night in Vegas, the Rainbow Warriors hit "rewind" in a mistake-saturated 41-21 loss to UNLV at Sam Boyd Stadium.

The Warriors stumbled, fumbled and bumbled to their seventh consecutive loss. Six days after firing Norm Chow as head coach, the Warriors learned fate’s cruel lesson: The more things change, the more they stay the same.

That the Warriors — 2-8 overall, 0-6 in the Mountain West — had only pride as incentive did not mean there was an expiration date on pain.

"Everything hurts," middle linebacker Julian Gener said. "Every loss hurts. We’re not immune to this. Every time we lose, it hurts."

It has been an emotionally charged week for the Warriors. A week ago, Chow was dismissed after his four-year record dropped to 10-36. That afternoon, Chris Naeole, who coached the offensive line, was promoted from associate head coach to Chow’s interim successor.

On Monday, Naeole addressed the team, imploring the players to strongly finish the remaining four games. On Tuesday, he retained the team captain’s title for left tackle Clarke, then added seven more co-captains. On Wednesday, Naeole promoted Ikaika Woolsey to No. 1 quarterback, supplanting Max Wittek, a USC transfer who started eight of the first nine games.

"I challenged those guys," Naeole said. "They didn’t meet the challenge this week."

There were several pulled strings that unraveled the Warriors.

Running back Paul Harris, who is recovering from sprains to both ankles, played at the speed of blur. He rushed for 190 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown, and averaged 9.5 yards per carry. But he also fumbled twice, the second was parlayed into Nikolai Bornand’s 31-yard field goal in the second half. He had not lost a fumble in 96 carries through the first nine games.

"Both (lost fumbles) are my fault," Harris said. "It’s a lack of ball security."

Dropped passes

Woolsey was 16-for-33 for 187 yards, but five of his passes were dropped. Dylan Collie, a sure-handed receiver who entered with one drop, could not handle three passes. He appeared to lose one in the setting sun on third down. He dropped another on fourth down.

"It’s going to happen," Woolsey said. "Sometimes somebody is going to drop the ball. Sometimes I’m going to throw interceptions. It is what it is. You can’t really dwell on it. I know I’m not perfect. No one is perfect. I’m not going to point fingers."

In the second half, the Warriors failed to sustain a drive when they could not convert on fourth-and-1. The Warriors used their "jumbo" formation, adding a sixth offensive lineman and fullback Justin Vele. But 235-pound Melvin Davis, who scored on two short runs earlier in the game, ran into a band of Rebels for no gain.

"It was messed up from the jump," Davis said. "(The Rebels) loaded the (tackle) box. … I should have gotten (the first down). Even though I’m not playing the blame game, I felt it was my fault no matter what. I should have gotten it."

And so it went for the Warriors, who failed to make defensive stops when they mattered most. The Rebels burned the Warriors twice with deep passes for touchdowns.

Rebels score

It was 7-all when the Rebels called three consecutive running plays. Then on first down from their 15, the Rebels opted to go deep. Aaron Criswell, a speedster, aligned in the slot. Safety Daniel Lewis moved up and tried to jam Criswell. But Lewis had a difficult angle, and missed the bump. Criswell then caught a pass in the seam, just beyond secondary help from a cornerback and safety, and completed the 85-yard touchdown.

"It was one of those things," defensive coordinator Tom Mason said.

After the Warriors closed to 17-14 in the third quarter, the Rebels started their ensuing drive at their 25. This time, Blake Decker threw long down the left sideline. Cornerback Nick Nelson soared a nanosecond too early as the ball sailed beyond his fingertips to wideout Devante Boyd, who sprinted the rest of the way for the touchdown.

"I jumped too early," Nelson said. "I should have taken an extra step."

The Rebels also produced a one-two combo at running back. Keith Whitely, a spin doctor, twisted his way for 124 yards. Lexington Thomas, who can dash 40 yards in 4.3 seconds, gained 120 yards.

There were concerns about Decker’s availability this week. Decker had missed two games because of a dislocated left (non-throwing) shoulder. Last week, he hurt his right shoulder, and sat out two practices. But Decker, who was never sacked by UH, relied on bootlegs, play-action and grittiness to complete 15 of 24 passes for 258 yards. Decker’s lone interception came on a pass that ricocheted off Nelson to safety Dany Mulanga.

"It’s been one thing after another, and they mount up," Mason said.

Frustrating penalties

The Warriors’ frustration was manifested during the Rebels’ final touchdown drive. UH defensive tackle Kennedy Tulimasealii, who was named a co-captain, stopped Whitely for a 2-yard loss on a third-and-2 play. But then Tulimasealii was penalized for verbally celebrating.

"I’m not going to complain," Tulimasealii said, noting the officials "felt that was the best (call) at the time, and they made it."

The penalty extended the drive, and led to Whitely’s 7-yard touchdown. On the point-after play, linebacker Lance Williams received an unsportsmanlike penalty.

"That was bull(bleep)," Naeole said of the lack of restraint. "That’s very undisciplined. That was unacceptable."

Tulimasealii apologized, saying, "I’ve got to get back on the discipline."

The Warriors, meanwhile, were scheduled to return to Honolulu this morning. Saturday’s game was their sixth on the road this season. The final three are at Aloha Stadium.

Naeole said: "We’ll go watch the film, go back to the drawing board, and go back at it."

FIRST PERIOD

NEVADA-LAS VEGAS

>> Score: Xzaviar Campbell 3-yard run. Nicolai Bornand kick.

>> Drive: 8 plays, 87 yards, 3:31 elapsed time. Time: 10:19. Score: UNLV 7, UH 0

SECOND PERIOD

HAWAII

>> Score: Paul Harris 34-yard run. Rigo Sanchez kick.

>> Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 3:10 elapsed time. Time: 7:04. Score: UNLV 7, UH 7

NEVADA-LAS VEGAS

>> Score: Aaron Criswell 85-yard pass from Blake Decker. Bornand kick.

>> Drive: 4 plays, 96 yards, 1:50 elapsed time. Time: 2:31. Score: UNLV 14, UH 7

THIRD PERIOD

NEVADA-LAS VEGAS

>> Score: Bornand 31-yard field goal.

>> Drive: 15 plays, 72 yards, 7:00 elapsed time. Time: 7:54. Score: UNLV 17, UH 7

HAWAII

>> Score: Melvin Davis 1-yard run. Sanchez kick.

>> Drive: 5 plays, 79 yards, 1:51 elapsed time. Time: 5:56. Score: UNLV 17, UH 14

NEVADA-LAS VEGAS

>> Score: Devonte Boyd 75-yard pass from Decker. Bornand kick.

>> Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:12 elapsed time. Time: 5:44. Score: UNLV 24, UH 14

FOURTH PERIOD

nevada-las vegas

>> Score: Bornand 31-yard field goal.

>> Drive: 4 plays, 0 yards, 0:51 elapsed time. Time: 13:47. Score: UNLV 27, UH 14

HAWAII

>> Score: Davis 3-yard run. Sanchez kick.

>> Drive: 5 plays, 81 yards, 1:53 elapsed time. Time: 11:46. Score: UNLV 27, UH 21

NEVADA-LAS VEGAS

>> Score: Lexington Thomas 3-yard run. Bornand kick.

>> Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:37 elapsed time. Time: 7:09. Score: UNLV 34, UH 21

NEVADA-LAS VEGAS

>> Score: Keith Whitely 7-yard run. Bornand kick. 

>> Drive: 8 plays, 42 yards, 3:34 elapsed time. Time: 2:10. Score: UNLV 41, UH 21

TEAM STATISTICS

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

DEFENSIVE STATISTICS

TACKLES FOR LOSS-YARDS: HAWAII—KENNEDY TULIMASEALII 2-3, JAHLANI TAVAI 1.5-4, LANCE WILLIAMS 1-2, KA‘AU GIFFORD 1-1, JULIAN GENER 0.5-0. UNLV—TAU LOTULELEI 2-11, JEREMIAH VALOAGA 1.5-9, PENI VEA 1-2, MIKE HUGHES JR. 1-2, SONNY SANITOA 0.5-1.

SACKS-YARDS: HAWAII—NONE. UNLV—TAU LOTULELEI 1-9, JEREMIAH VALOAGA 1-8.

INTERCEPTIONS: HAWAII—JALEN ROGERS 1-(MINUS 3). UNLV—TIM HOUGH 1-0.

KICK BLOCKED: HAWAII—NONE. UNLV—NONE.

QUARTERBACK HURRIES: HAWAII—NONE. UNLV—NONE.