When it was over and the band was winding up and some of his teammates continued to celebrate, quarterback Dru Brown sat down.

He picked an empty, quiet section of the University of Hawaii team bench away from the revelry and gazed at all that surrounded him at Aloha Stadium, soaking in the atmosphere of his first NCAA Division I start.

“My father always told me to enjoy the moment, that it goes by fast, so that is what I was doing,” Brown said. “I wanted to take it all in while it was all still fresh.”

The scoreboard lights spelled out a 38-17 victory over Nevada and there would be much to savor on so many levels.

There was a solid performance by the sophomore junior college transfer who completed 15 of 18 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He also ran seven times for 31 yards.

All in all it was, perhaps, the best all-around showing by a UH quarterback since Sean Schroeder in 2013.

It was an effort that helped deliver a much-needed victory for a program that had not won a Mountain West game since 2014 and had lost 14 of its last 16 Football Bowl Subdivision games over a three-year span.

After the turbulence of a 1-3 start it also spoke to hope for the remainder of the season, the kind that UH hasn’t had much reason to cling to in recent years.

Offensive tackle RJ Hollis said, “Dru wasn’t nervous and was definitely in command out there. I like what I’m seeing from him.”

So, too, did the gathering of 20,792, who for one of the few times in recent Rainbow Warrrior history did not have reason to glance at the sidelines in the hope that somebody else was warming up while the offense stalled.

Players, too, seemed to relish the suggestion of stability that Brown has brought to the position.

“Since he got here (in the summer) all Dru has done is learn the system and take the opportunity that Rolo gave him and run with it,” said tight end Metuisela Unga, who made it easier Saturday night by hauling in two touchdown passes, the first of which was a one-handed grab.

“He knew it was (produce) or the next guy up gets a chance,” Unga said.

Brown said once Unga made that highlight reel catch in the second quarter he sensed that it was going to be a good night.

But seven completions in his first eight pass attempts was the initial indication both Brown and UH, a team that ranked 121st among 128 FBS teams coming in, would be OK.

In short order Brown’s quiet contemplation would be pierced by teammates calling his name, “Mr. Brown … Mr. Brown …” and fans chanting, “Dru … Dru … Dru.”

Brown would say that he hardly imagined that he would end up at UH. Coach Nick Rolovich admitted, “He took a chance on us.”

Saturday night looked to be but the first payoff on that for both of them.

With a smile, Brown shook his head, took one more glance at the scene around him, got up off the bench, grabbed his helmet and jogged off the field.

Until Saturday night the bench had pretty much been Brown’s position at UH. This time it would be a vantage point on how far he had come.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.