1. Turning Point
>> Situation: Middle Tennessee 14, Hawaii 0, 4:14 remaining first quarter, Middle Tennessee ball, second-and-10 at own 33
>> The Play: LB Ikem Okeke forces a fumble by QB Brent Stockstill. LB Jahlani Tavai picks up the ball and runs to the Middle Tennessee 18.
>> Impact: On the next play, QB Dru Brown threw a touchdown pass to TE Tui ‘Unga, the first of four consecutive Hawaii touchdowns, three after Middle Tennessee turnovers.
>> Okeke: “I knew I had a shot at (Stockstill). …. I got lucky enough to where it was just perfect timing. I hit the ball out, and saw my teammate picking it up and I tried to block for him.”
2. Wrestled Away
>> Situation: Middle Tennessee 14, Hawaii 7, 3:01 remaining first quarter, Middle Tennessee ball, third-and-9 at own 36
>> The Play: CB Jalen Rogers and WR Dennis Andrews tussle for Stockstill’s pass, and Rogers ends up with it for an interception.
>> Impact: Hawaii rode the momentum of another turnover into another touchdown.
>> Middle Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill: “We struggled early with their blitzes. The strip was a good play on their part. The first interception I thought was a simultaneous catch.”
3. Pick Six
>> Situation: Middle Tennessee 14, Hawaii 7, 7:30 remaining second quarter, Middle Tennessee ball, first-and-25 at own 46
>> The Play: S Trayvon Henderson intercepts Stockstill’s pass and returns it 68 yards for a Hawaii touchdown.
>> Impact: This was Hawaii’s fourth-consecutive touchdown. It outscored Middle Tennessee 35-7 in the last 19:09 of the first half.
>> Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich: “We asked (the defense) for three turnovers and they got three in the first half. Maybe I should start asking more often for them.”
4. Hard hit
>> Situation: Hawaii 28, Middle Tennessee 21, 0:48 remaining second quarter, Hawaii ball, second-and-10 at Middle Tennessee 36
>> The Play: A brief altercation ensues after a hard hit of Brown by LB Darius Harris on the Hawaii sideline resulting in a gain of 2 yards.
>> Impact: Both teams receive personal foul penalties that negate each other. But Hawaii ends up more inspired by the play, and two plays later Brown threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Kemp with 22 seconds left in the half.
>> Brown: “I’m not really sure what purpose it served. It kinda hurt. After that I knew everyone on the sideline would have my back.”
5. Fake punt
>> Situation: Hawaii 38, Middle Tennessee 28, 4:53 remaining third quarter, Hawaii ball, fourth-and-3 at Middle Tennessee 47
>> The Play: Makoa Camanse-Stevens comes on to the field late, pretending to be confused. The ball is snapped to him and he passes to Ammon Barker for 21 yards and a first down.
>> Impact: Hawaii converted again on fourth-and-3 later in the drive, Brown passing to Kemp for 17 yard to the Middle Tennessee 2. Then Brown completed his second touchdown pass to ‘Unga, expanding Hawaii’s lead to 45-28.
>> Camanse-Stevens: “We practiced it all week. … I felt everyone on our side executed. It was a good Hollywood performance by everybody.”
