Saturday, November 19, 2022
By: Tanner Haworth
In a weekend where weather ruled over football fields across the continent, the Rainbow Warriors battled through the downpour to send off the seniors in a 31-25 victory over the UNLV Rebels. The ‘Bows ended the night in dramatic fashion with an emphatic 34-yard touchdown run from Dedrick Parson for the go-ahead score to keep the game out of grasp from the Rebels.
This win comes with Hawaii as an 11 point underdog at home, knocking the UNLV Rebels out of any bowl contention after the regular season, and the Ninth Island Showdown Trophy stays in Manoa.
Parson celebrated the win alongside 19 of his fellow seniors in the final home game for the University of Hawaii. Parson finished the night with 115 yards and a touchdown for an offense that’s finally found its groove in the last two weeks. Brayden Schager had his most gritty performance of the year, throwing for 202 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers.
Speedy senior receiver Zion Bowens led the team in receiving yards with 55 of his 60 yards coming off a long bomb from Schager. Super senior tight end Caleb Philips nabbed a touchdown in the back corner of the endzone in the third, the same spot as wide receiver Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala earlier in the first quarter.
Not much of a surprise to highlight Logan Taylor as the leader of the defense as he continues his, now, six-game streak of double digit total tackles as he finished with 11 on Saturday night. Taylor also grabbed an improbable interception as it bounced off the hands of a grounded UNLV receiver, this first career interception for Taylor.
Defensive linemen Andrew Choi and Jonah Kahahawai-Welch closed in on UNLV’s offensive line, with Choi finishing with half of a sack and a tackle for loss and Kahahawai-Welch grabbing a sack and two TFL’s. Super senior Penei Pavihi also had a sack and a TFL with his eight tackles as he played his final game in Manoa.
Next up for the ‘Bows will be a familiar face in Chevan Cordeiro and the San Jose Spartans. The Spartans are coming off a tough loss to the Utah State Aggies and their second straight loss.
Photos by: Grant Shishido
Photos by: David Croxford
