The University of Hawaii football team posted its biggest win of the 2020 season last night at Aloha Stadium, upsetting the previously unbeaten Nevada Wolf Pack, 24-21. Despite missing tackles early on in the game, the UH defense managed to contain Nevada’s vaunted aerial attack, and the Rainbow Warrior offense made timely plays when it mattered most. UH is now 3-3 on the season. Here are some postgame notes:
♦ DEE-FENSE: The Rainbow Warrior defense had its best performance of the season, holding the Wolf Pack to a season-low 21 points. Nevada QB Carson Strong came into the game averaging 361 passing yards per contest; against Hawaii last night, Strong finished with 168 passing yards. Also, Wolf Pack receiver Romeo Doubs came into the game averaging 155.6 yards in receptions – tops in the country – but Hawaii held him to 1 reception for 10 yards. Nevada could only get into the red zone on three occasions during the game.
♦ SIMPLY CHEVAN: Offensively, the Hawaii attack was led by redshirt-sophomore QB Chevan Cordeiro, who finished the night with 308 total yards. Cordeiro was 26 for 32 for 246 passing yards and a TD. He also ran the ball 15 times for 62 yards and another score. The redshirt-sophomore now has 1,457 passing yards for the season and 2,748 for his career.
♦ CAN’T BE STOPPED: UH running back Calvin Turner continues to be a major contributor. Against Nevada, Turner had 28 rushing yards and 77 receiving yards. His 7-yard TD reception with under a minute left in the first half gave Hawaii a 10-7 lead. In addition, his 47-yard kickoff return late in the fourth quarter helped UH seal the win.
♦ MORE MUASAU: Hawaii DE Darius Muasau was all over the field against the Wolf Pack, recoding 14 total tackles (9 solo), including a sack and a tackle for loss. Safety Khoury Bethley contributed 11 tackles (10 solo) and 2 tackles for losses.
♦ BALL CONTROL: After committing three turnovers against San Diego State, Hawaii has now gone two straight games without a giveaway.
♦ NO LOSING STREAK: With the victory, Hawaii avoids losing three straight games. The last time the program had a three-game losing streak was during the 2018 campaign, when the Rainbow Warriors lost four consecutive games (BYU, Nevada, Fresno State, Utah State) in the latter part of the season.
♦ UP NEXT (MAYBE): UH returns to the road this week to take on San Jose State (4-0). The game will not be played in San Jose, however, as Santa Clara County health officials yesterday issued a three-week ban on contact sports in the county. Yesterday’s scheduled game between San Jose State and Boise State was canceled just hours before kickoff due to COVID-19 issues within the Boise State program. It was the second straight week that the Spartans’ game was canceled (SJSU was to have played Fresno State on Nov. 21).
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