1. Wasted Return I
>> Situation: Hawaii 0, UNLV 0, 13:23 remaining first quarter, Hawaii ball, second-and-11 at UNLV 26
>> The Play: QB Dru Brown is flushed from the pocket and sacked by LB Jeremiah Valoaga for a loss of 19 yards.
>> Impact: Paul Harris returned the opening kickoff 75 yards, but Hawaii lost 20 yards on its first three offensive plays and put itself out of field goal range.
>> Brown: “I missed a lot of big plays. You can start with the first drive.”
2. Wasted Return II
>> Situation: Hawaii 21, UNLV 21, 13:43 remaining third quarter, UNLV ball, fourth-and-11 at own 22
>> The Play: PR John Ursua returns a punt 40 yards to the UNLV 30. But the play is called back due to holding by Damien Packer and Hawaii starts instead at its own 20.
>> Impact: Instead of starting the drive already in range for a go-ahead score, Hawaii was forced to punt after making one first down. UNLV went ahead with a field goal on its next possession.
>> Rolovich: “There was a ton of chances for us to win that football game.”
3. Kemp and Harris
>> Situation: Hawaii 31, UNLV 31, 9:45 remaining fourth quarter, Hawaii ball, first-and-10 at own 35
>> The Play: WR Marcus Kemp catches a Brown sideline pass 30 yards downfield but CB Darius Mouton appears to force a fumble which S Troy Hawthorne recovers. A replay review determines that Kemp fumbled out of bounds and Hawaii retains possession.
>> Impact: On the next two plays, Harris rushed for 28 yards and a 7-yard touchdown giving Hawaii the lead. Kemp caught four passes for 126 yards and Harris carried seven times for 94 yards.
>> Kemp: “I think it would definitely be hard (for Harris) to come off a 1,000-yard season and kind of go into splitting time with three backs. But I think he’s really responded well.”
4. Can’t Stop The Run
(Or Pass)
>> Situation: Hawaii 38, UNLV 31, 4:58 remaining first quarter, UNLV ball, first-and-10 at Hawaii 34
>> The Play: RB Lexington Thomas breaks tackles on a 34-yard touchdown run to tie the game.
>> Impact: UNLV’s physicality allowed it to pile up 535 yards in total offense, including 256 rushing yards. It also did not turn the ball over.
>> Rolovich: “They deserve a lot of credit for being physical. They’re a very physical team on the offensive front and the defensive front.”
5. Homecoming For Lotulelei
>> Situation: Hawaii 38, UNLV 38, 3:00 remaining fourth quarter, Hawaii ball, third-and-3 at own 40
>> The Play: RB Tau Lotulelei forces Brown to fumble. It is recovered by Mouton.
>> Impact: UNLV took over at its own 45, drove to the Hawaii 10 and got a 28-yard field goal by K Evan Pantels for the winning points. Maui High graduate Lotulelelei had seven tackles.
>> Lotulelei: “Our coaches told us the stats about (Brown fumbling). … We just wanted to play our hearts out. With playing your hearts out comes those types of plays — forced fumbles, interceptions.”
