Hawaii football team honors memory of Vince Manuwai

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Hawaii football players lock arms in memory of former Hawaii football player Vince Manuwai before the game on Saturday. Manuwai played as an offensive lineman at Hawaii and spent eight seasons playing with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Manuwai, who was 38, passed away Nov. 4.

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The UH football team honored the memory of former All-Western Athletic Conference offensive lineman Vince Manuwai with a green No. 65 on its helmets.

Manuwai, who died two weeks ago, graduated from Farrington in 1999 and was a three-year starter for the Rainbow Warriors before he was selected in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

He did not allow a sack in the final 35 games of his collegiate career.

A pregame ceremony including a moment of silence was held at midfield with his friends and family.

The green “65” was fitted on the left side of UH’s black helmet underneath the Hawaiian islands, which were also green.

UH coaches wore a black “Hawaii” T-shirt with Manuwai’s No. 65 on the back.

Wily comes up big win final ‘road’ game

UNLV defensive lineman Salanoa-Alo Wily knew weeks ago his final road game would take place at home.

Once the Rebels failed to become bowl eligible, it made Saturday’s trip to Aloha Stadium Wily’s final game on the road before closing his collegiate career next week in Las Vegas against Nevada.

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The 2015 Kahuku alumnus, who won a state championship as a sophomore and lost to Punahou in the state semifinals in his final high school game on the same field, finished with six tackles, including 11⁄2 tackles for loss, and was in on one of four Rebels sacks in Saturday’s 35-28 loss.

Wily is one of four players on the UNLV roster from Hawaii. Defensive back Luca Vartic, a Saint Louis alumnus, is injured and was not listed on the game-day roster.

Junior offensive lineman Nate Oishi (‘Iolani) and junior defensive back Soli Afalava (Kahuku) also made the trip.

Wily has made 33 tackles in 12 games with seven tackles for loss and two sacks.

Hawaii’s rivalry trophy case is full

Hawaii snapped a three-game losing streak against UNLV to claim the Island Showdown Trophy for the first time.

The trophy debuted last season and was awarded to UNLV after a 31-23 win over the Rainbow Warriors.

Saturday’s win by Hawaii was just its fifth in the last 14 meetings over the Rebels.

The ’Bows now own all three of their rivalry trophies.

UH earned the Paniolo Trophy against Wyoming in a 17-13 win on Oct. 6 and has held the Kuter Trophy since beating Air Force 34-27 on the road in 2016.

Thomas sets UNLV mark for 100-yard games

Lexington Thomas’ 45-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter gave him the UNLV record with his 18th 100-yard rushing game, passing Mike Thomas’ mark of 17 that had stood for 44 years.

Lexington Thomas, who also holds the UNLV record with 40 rushing touchdowns, finished with 129 yards on 28 carries.

He surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in a season for the second straight year, becoming just the third Rebel to do so.

Hawaii entered the game allowing 204.7 rushing yards per game, but held him to 28 yards on 13 carries in the second half.