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San Diego State beats UH

The Hawaii football team hasn’t had a lot of success at San Diego State through the years, which didn’t help the Warriors’ chances of ending the nation’s longest road losing streak in tonight’s Mountain West matchup at Qualcomm Stadium.

With that said, UH was unbeaten in conference play, but that ended after two games as San Diego State scored a touchdown on the opening drive en route to a  20-10 win that extended UH’s losing streak to 16 games on the road.

They haven’t won one away from Aloha Stadium since beating Idaho in 2011 and don’t have a victory at San Diego State since 1988, a streak of seven games.

Hawaii dropped to 1-1 in West division play and 2-5 for the season. San Diego State is 3-1 in league action and 4-3 overall thanks in part to talented running back Donne Pumphrey, who rushed for 182 yards and two touchdowns to secure the victory.

Up by a touchdown to start the fourth quarter, the Aztecs went on a nice march that resulted in a first-and-goal thanks to a 42-yard pass from San Diego State quarterback Quinn Kaehler to Chase Favreau. But a bad snap and a personal foul penalty killed the drive at the UH 13 to set up a 31-yard field-goal attempt that Donald Hageman hooked wide left with 11:47 left in the fourth quarter.

On the ensuing offensive series, banged up UH quarterback Ikaika Woolsey tried to go deep on a third-down play and was picked off by Aztecs defensive back Damontae Kazee at the San Diego State 33 with 9:44 remaining.

That’s when Pumphrey made his presence felt with a beautiful 47-yard run that gave San Diego State a first-and-10 at the UH 15. Three plays later, he was stopped a yard short of first down, forcing Hageman to attempt a 23-yard field goal that he knocked through to make it 20-10 with 6:33 left in the game.

The UH offense turned the ball over again on the ensuing offensive series that pretty much sealed it for the Aztecs. Woolsey, who completed 17 of 31 passes for 174 yards and one touchdown, tried to go deep, but the underthrown pass was picked off by Malik Smith. From there, the Aztecs ran out most of the clock, rushing for 52 yards on 10 plays before turning it over on downs with only seconds left.

Hawaii had a 102-yard kickoff return by Keelan Ewaliko called back on a holding penalty to start the third quarter. To make matters worse, UH running back Steve Lakalaka couldn’t pick up a yard on a third-and-1 as the San Diego State defense forced a three-and-out to start the second half.

Neither team had a first down on its first three possessions after intermission as the Aztecs began their second drive at their own 8 with 10:28 left in the third. From there, San Diego State converted back-to-back first downs to set up at its own 35. Kaehler completed a 32-yard pass to Larry Clark for a first down at the UH 32.

Two plays later, Kaehler completed a 26-yard touchdown pass to Lloyd Mills as Hageman added the PAT to make it 17-7 San Diego State with 5:32 remaining in the third quarter. The drive was 92 yards on eight plays.

On the ensuing series, Hawaii put together a couple of first downs of its own, then converted a fourth-and-10 at the San Diego State 25 to put the Warriors into scoring position. Facing a big third-and-3, Woolsey scrambled for a first down to the San Diego State 12. Lakalaka picked up 4 on first down, then none on second to set up another big third down.

Woolsey tried a middle screen, but the pass was incomplete, setting up a 26-yard field goal by Tyaler Hadden, who drilled it, to cut the Aztecs lead to 17-10 with 14 seconds left in the third quarter. The drive was 70 yards on 16 plays to keep UH in the game.

The Aztecs scored first as they marched 86 yards on 10 plays, converting two third downs along the way, to set up a 10-yard touchdown run by Pumphrey as Hageman added the PAT to give his team a seven-point advantage with 9:44 left in the first quarter.

After forcing a quick three-and-out, the Aztecs set up shop at UH’s 47. They picked up a first down, but decided not to go for a 46-yard field goal three plays later. On the fourth-and-2 snap, Aztecs running back Marcus Stamps picked up 4 yards to keep the drive alive.

Later, facing another fourth down, this time the Aztecs opted for the field goal and Hageman didn’t disappoint, hitting a 36-yarder to give San Diego State a 10-0 advantage with 3:08 left in the first.

Hawaii finally moved the ball into San Diego State territory, but a holding penalty killed the drive. But fortunately for the Warriors, the Aztecs’ Billy Vaughn fumbled the punt right into the hands of UH’s Quinton Pedroza, who recovered it at the Aztecs 28.

The San Diego State defense held on third down, forcing a 39-yard field-goal attempt by Hadden, who hooked it left to keep the score at 10-0 with 9:29 left in the half.

San Diego State took over at its own 21, and once again went on a sustained drive, converting a key third down along the way to keep the chains moving. Facing second-and-6 at the Hawaii 46, Kaehler was called for a fumble, but it was reversed by the replay official. The Aztecs were eventually forced to punt with 5:10 left in the second quarter.

Neither team did much until Hawaii took over at its own 34 with a little more than a minute left. Woolsey quickly led the Warriors into Aztecs territory with three consecutive completions with 38 seconds remaining.

The Warriors moved to the Aztecs 39 with 11 seconds on the clock when Woolsey lofted a Hail Mary pass that Marcus Kemp caught off the deflection for a touchdown as Hadden added the PAT to make it 10-7 with five seconds left before intermission. Hawaii would get no closer.

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