Another Sluggish Start
>> Situation: UNLV 7, Hawaii 0, 4:39 remaining first quarter, Hawaii ball third-and-3 at own 27
>> The Play: QB Dru Brown passes to RB Diocemy Saint Juste for a 2-yard gain, 1 yard short of a first down.
>> Impact: For the second of its first three possessions of the game, Hawaii was forced to punt without getting a first down. UNLV did not allow Hawaii to score in the first quarter.
>> UNLV coach Tony Sanchez: “There were times when the defense kept us in it in that first half playing really, really well.”
Three For Three On Threes
>> Situation: UNLV 7, Hawaii 0, 6:16 remaining second quarter, Hawaii ball fourth-and-5 at UNLV 14
>> The Play: K Alex Trifonovitch makes a 31-yard field goal.
>> Impact: Hawaii had missed four field goals and had not made one since the first game of the season. This was the first career made field goal for Trifonovitch, who made two more later in the game.
>> Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich: “For a guy, for a team that hasn’t hit a field goal since August, that kept us in the football game. And, for him to bang three of them, I think, that gives him a lot of confidence.”
From LB To QB
>> Situation: Hawaii 13, UNLV 7, 8:22 remaining third quarter, UNLV ball third-and-4 at own 48
>> The Play: QB Johnny Stanton throws a 52-yard touchdown pass to WR Brandon Presley.
>> Impact: UNLV retook the lead and would keep it the rest of the game. Stanton, who started the season as a linebacker and special teams player, completed 18 of 26 for 244 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for a TD. He replaced previous starter Armani Rogers, who had a concussion two weeks ago.
>> Stanton: “Obviously, I think tonight is a great win. But whether it was me or whether it was Armani, I would be just as happy.”
Century Man
>> Situation: UNLV 28, Hawaii 13, 11:46 remaining fourth quarter, Hawaii ball first-and-goal at UNLV 2
>> The Play: Saint Juste scores on a 2-yard run.
>> Impact: The touchdown capped a 10-play, 65-yard drive and made it a one-score game. Saint Juste ran for 111 yards on 20 carries for his sixth game this season with at least 100 rushing yards.
>> Saint Juste: “We had new (offensive linemen) in there, and I’m impressed with how they played.”
Last Chance
>> Situation: UNLV 31, Hawaii 23, 0:07 remaining fourth quarter, Hawaii ball first-and-10 at UNLV 23
>> The Play: Brown rolls out of the pocket to his left. His pass to WR Keelan Ewaliko in the end zone is high and falls incomplete.
>> Impact: Time expired and Hawaii’s record fell to 3-6 with its sixth loss in its last seven games.
>> Brown: “(The pass) felt really good coming off my hand. Then I kind of lost sight of it, and it went over (Ewaliko’s) hand. It was a tough pill to swallow. If if were 3 inches lower, Keelan probably comes down with it.”
