Joey Iosefa had gone 100 carries spread over six-plus games without celebrating a touchdown.
So attempt No. 101 was one to savor.
The University of Hawaii sophomore running back busted through a tackle on his way to his first scoring run of the season to help set the tone for the Warriors’ breakthrough 48-10 win over UNLV Saturday night at Aloha Stadium.
Rushing touchdowns have been rare this season, but the Warriors took command against the Rebels with two scores on the ground.
Iosefa’s 25-yard burst to the end zone capped the Warriors’ opening drive and Sterling Jackson also scored the first touchdown of his senior season in the second quarter to give UH a 14-0 lead.
“It feels great; my hat goes off to the O-line,” Iosefa said after emerging from a joyous locker room for the first time since the Warriors’ win over Lamar on Sept. 15.
“They did a great job outside blocking, making the holes for the backs to get through. It’s very exciting to get in the end zone.”
UH had scored just eight touchdowns on the ground through 10 games, fewest in the Mountain West Conference. They posted three on Saturday, with freshman Will Gregory accounting for the final score of the night.
Iosefa’s touchdown was his longest run of the season, and UH’s second longest as a team.
It was also a rumble to redemption for Iosefa, who lost a critical fumble in UH’s loss to Air Force a week earlier. He finished Saturday’s game with 107 all-purpose yards, gaining 56 on the ground and 51 on two receptions, including a 7-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown in the second quarter.
“This game was something where I had to make up for it,” Iosefa said, “to show Coach I’m confident carrying the ball. It’s something I’ve been working on this whole week.”
Iosefa, who missed four games this season due to injury, rushed for eight touchdowns in 2011, the last coming in the fourth quarter of UH’s win against Tulane 365 days ago. His touchdown reception was also his first since scoring the clinching TD against Colorado in last year’s opener. He also made a diving catch deep downfield for a career-long 32-yard reception in the third quarter.
“It should have been a touchdown,” Iosefa said with a smile.
Jackson carried the ball a season-high 17 times for 42 yards, with Iosefa serving as lead blocker on several occasions, and scored on a 1-yard run for this third career touchdown.
“I’ve just been trying to work to get to it,” Jackson said of the touchdown. “(Iosefa) was a great blocker and so was the O-line.”
Gregory returned from a one-game hiatus and got his first carry of the game in the fourth quarter with UH leading 41-3. He finished the game as UH’s leading rusher with 59 yards and scored on a 12-yard run with 1:31 left in the game.
