Rainbow Warrior Notebook

Penalties plagued both teams

Hawaii was hurt by 13 penalties for 100 yards in its 35-14 loss to Utah State. USU was nearly as bad in that area, being flagged 12 times for 96 yards.

But the Aggies overcame their infractions, including a scoring drive in which they were penalized for 25 yards and turned a first-and-30 at the Hawaii 48 into a touchdown three plays later.

The UH offensive line was penalized eight times for 60 yards, including six false starts.

Quarterback Ikaika Woolsey, who was flagged for intentional grounding, acknowledged there were too many penalties, but added, "It’s going to happen. … You have to fight through it."

The most deflating infraction was called when Gaetano DeMattei roughed the kicker on a punt from the Utah State end zone that Scott Harding returned 40 yards for an apparent touchdown that would’ve put UH within a score of the Aggies in the third quarter. USU retained possession and scored the final touchdown.

When told his team committed 13 penalties, UH coach Norm Chow voiced displeasure with the officiating.

"Don’t get me started," he said. "We told the referees before the game they do some illegal things."

Ewaliko comes close … again

For the second time in three games, freshman receiver Keelan Ewaliko looked like he might have a touchdown on an electrifying play.

Ewaliko, who had a kickoff return for a touchdown called back by a penalty at San Diego State, turned in UH’s longest reception of the season, but was called down just short of the end zone.

After a review, the spot was upheld and Ewaliko was denied his second touchdown of the season, the reception set up a tying score with 2:54 left in the first quarter.

Ewaliko was split wide to the right side of the formation and ran a deep post. He got behind the defender and ran down the pass from Ikaika Woolsey for the 54-yard completion, just his second catch of the season.

Fullback Justin Vele scored the first touchdown of his career two plays later on a 1-yard pass from Woolsey, but the Warriors wouldn’t reach the end zone for the remainder of the night.

Rough night for Phillips

Junior cornerback Ne’Quan Phillips recorded the first sack of his three-year career in the second quarter.

That was the good.

The bad was ugly: He was defending on the play on the first three of Utah State’s four offensive touchdowns.

Hunter Sharp eluded him twice in the first half, leaping over him on a 6-yard lob play and burning past him on a 70-yard go route.

Lastly, Ronald Butler got by him on a 39-yard strike from Kent Myers midway through the third quarter on a third-and-21 to make it 28-14. Phillips played sparingly from that point on.

Suite, Kamana-Matagi shine

After spotting Hawaii touchdowns on its first two drives, the Utah State defense held the Warriors scoreless over the final 47:54.

Part of that was due to the play of starting safety Brian Suite and defensive tackle Elvis Kamana-Matagi.

Suite, a 2010 Punahou alumnus who missed Utah State’s game here two years ago with an injury, tallied seven tackles, while Kamana-Matagi, a King Kekaulike graduate, was in on two.

"It’s something I’ll cherish forever," Suite said. "It brought back a lot of memories playing here."

Kamana-Matagi clogged up the middle of the UH offensive line, allowing his teammates to rush in for six sacks.

USU gave up 156 total yards on the first two drives and 298 the rest of the way.

TEAM STATISTICS

DEFENSIVE STATISTICS

UTAH STATE

HAWAII

TACKLES FOR LOSS-YARDS — USU, Vigil 3-31, Filiaga 1-11, Painter 1-10, Seefeldt 1-5, Hayes 1-2. Hawaii, Lataimua 2-4, Phillips 1-10, Yap 1-5, Nelson 1-3, Tulimasealii 1-2.
SACKS-YARDS — USU, Vigil 3-31, Filiaga 1-11, Painter 1-10, Hayes 1-2. Hawaii, Phillips 1-10.
INTERCEPTIONS — USU, Sutera 2-47. Hawaii, none.
KICKS BLOCKED — USU, none. Hawaii, none.
QUARTERBACK HURRIES — USU, Filiaga. Hawaii, none.

SCORE BY PERIODS

FIRST PERIOD

UTAH STATE
» Score: Hunter Sharp 6 pass from Kent Myers. Nick Diaz kick.
» Drive: 9 plays, 62 yards, 4:05 elapsed time. Time: 10:55. Score: Utah State 7, Hawaii 0.

HAWAII
» Score: Diocemy Saint Juste 8 run. Tyler Hadden kick.
» Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards, 4:30 elapsed time. Time: 6:21. Score: Utah State 7, Hawaii 7

UTAH STATE
» Score: Sharp 70 pass from Myers. Diaz kick.
» Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:47 elapsed time. Time: 5:34. Score: Utah State 14, Hawaii 7.

HAWAII
» Score: Justin Vele 1 pass from Ikaika Woolsey. Hadden kick.
» Drive: 6 plays, 82 yards, 2:35 elapsed time. Time: 2:54. Score: Utah State 14, Hawaii 14

SECOND PERIOD

UTAH STATE
» Score: Devin Centers 10-yard fumble return. Diaz kick.
» Time: 12:11. Score: Utah State 21, Hawaii 14.

UTAH STATE
» Score: Ronald Butler 39 pass from Myers. Diaz kick.
» Drive: 7 plays, 64 yards, 3:39 elapsed time. Time: 6:37. Score: Utah State 28, Hawaii 14.

THIRD PERIOD

UTAH STATE
» Score: LaJuan Hunt 44 pass from Butler. Diaz kick.
» Drive: 9 plays, 98 yards, 4:41 elapsed time. Time: 5:11. Score: Utah State 35, Hawaii 14.

FOURTH PERIOD
No scoring
» Attendance: 19,799

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

UTAH STATE

HAWAII