Five big plays from UH’s win over UT Martin

1. Trucked

>> Situation: Tennessee Martin 0, Hawaii 0, 13:14 remaining first quarter, Tennessee Martin ball, first-and-15 at own 46.

>> The Play: RB Jaimiee Bowe blasts up the middle for 20 yards, the last 5 of them pushing S Damien Packer straight back.

>> Impact: It was the first half in a nutshell. Tennessee Martin shoved Hawaii around with 159 rushing yards while Hawaii had just 107 total yards. Hawaii was fortunate to trail just 17-14 at the break.

>> UH coach Nick Rolovich: “They probably were (more ready to play). They win the toss and they choose to receive, that says something. … We made plenty of mistakes to open the door.”

2. Barker

>> Situation: Tennessee Martin 24, Hawaii 14, 8:30 remaining third quarter, Hawaii ball, fourth-and-8 at own 29.

>> The Play: Rigo Sanchez’s punt goes off of Justin Jackson and is recovered by Ammon Barker, giving Hawaii the ball at the Tennessee Martin 25.

>> Impact: Two plays later RB Diocemy Saint Juste runs 24 yards for a touchdown, the first of three consecutive Hawaii scores.

>> Rolovich: “We needed it. The momentum swings were all over the place.”

3. Tavai

>> Situation: Hawaii 28, Tennessee Martin 24, Hawaii 14, 0:25 remaining third quarter, Tennessee Martin ball, third-and-6 at Hawaii 8.

>> The Play: LB Jahlani Tavai intercepts QB Troy Cook’s pass into the end zone that is bobbled by WR Ben Axline.

>> Impact: Instead of a Tennessee Martin touchdown, the play resulted in Hawaii with the ball at its own 20. Hawaii then scored as handoffs to RB Steven Lakalaka set up a 36-yard touchdown pass to TE Tui Unga. In the first half, Tavai recovered a fumble that set up Lakalaka’s 15-yard touchdown run.

>> Tavai: “I never had any turnovers before in my career. That was all because of our defense. If the other 10 people on our side weren’t going 100 percent, then I wouldn’t have made any of those plays.”

4. Hat trick

>> Situation: Tennessee Martin 36, Hawaii 35, 6:46 remaining fourth quarter, Hawaii ball, third-and-10 at own 37.

>> The Play: WR Marcus Kemp gets open deep and QB Ikaika Woolsey finds him. Kemp is caught by DB Joe Este, but rolls over him and extends the ball into the end zone for a 63-yard touchdown.

>> Impact: Tennessee Martin had just gone back in front on Londell Lee’s 79-yard punt return. But Kemp’s third touchdown reception of the game and ninth of his career accounted for the game’s final lead change.

>> Kemp: “I haven’t scored three touchdowns since the first game of my senior year (in high school). I’m grateful for (Woolsey) throwing it to me. I believe in Ikaika.”

5. Finally

>> Situation: Hawaii 41, Tennessee Martin 36, 2:32 remaining fourth quarter, Tennessee Martin ball, first-and-10 at Hawaii 39.

>> The Play: DE Makani Kema- Kaleiwahea breaks through for a sack of Cook and a 12-yard loss.

>> Impact: Hawaii had managed just one quarterback hurry and no sacks to that point. On the next play, S Trayvon Henderson sacked Cook again, for 7 yards. Tennessee Martin’s third and fourth and long desperation passes ended incomplete and then intercepted by CB Jalen Rogers.

>> Kema-Kaleiwahea: “I was going for the win.”