Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Friday, December 13, 2024 77° Today's Paper


Sports BreakingTop News

GAME DAY BLOG: Hawaii rallies over UNLV to clinch bowl berth

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

Hawaii running back Fred Holly III carries the ball during the first quarter against UNLV.

9:25 p.m.

Behind Chevan Cordeiro, Hawaii scores 22 points in a row to defeat UNLV, 35-28, and clinch a berth in the Hawaii Bowl.

Read the game recap here.

9:20 p.m.

In what is becoming the Miracle of Salt Lake Boulevard, Chevan Cordeiro throws his third TD (in three possessions) to boost UH to a 35-28 lead with 1:25 to play.

This time, Cordeiro goes 68 to John Ursua.

The Warriors have scored 22 points in a row since Cordeiro entered.

9:10 p.m.

Two drives, two TD passes for Chevan Cordeiro.

After UH makes a dramatic midfield stop on fourth-and-1, Cordeiro guides the Warriors down the field. Cordeiro hits JoJo Ward who makes an over-the-shoulder catch with his tippy toes just inside the end zone. It’s tied at 28 with 4:23 to play.

8:55 p.m.

Chevan Cordeiro comes off the sideline to throw a 64-yard scoring pass to JoJo Ward and then fires a 2-point pass to John Ursua to close UH to 28-21 with 11:42 to play.

8:40 p.m.

The Rebels parlayed Cole McDonald’s second pick into a 21-yard scoring drive and a 28-13 lead with 14:21 to play.

Armani Rogers, playing for the time in seven games, threw a 16-yard scoring pass to Evan Owens for the TD.

8:30 p.m.

The Warriors stop Lexington Thomas for no gain on fourth-and-1, the third second-half drive the Rebels have failed to score.

8:25 p.m.

Cole McDonad goes 3 yards on a keeper for a touchdown to close UH to 21-13 with 4:46 left in the third quarter.

McDonald set up the scoring play with two fourth-down completions.

7:35 p.m.

Ryan Meskell’s FG from 41 yards closes UH to 21-6 at the intermission.

In the first half, UNLV rushed for 158 yards and controlled the clock for 17 minutes, 3 seconds.

7:25 p.m.

Lightning stikes twice.

Lexington “Lightning” Thomas goes 45 yards up the middle for a TD to extend UNLV’s lead to 21-3 with 2:22 to play in the first half.

7:05 p.m.

Lexington Thomas is stopped — and then unstopped — as he scoots 12 yards for a TD and a 14-3 UNLV lead with 7:29 left in the first half. UH has no answer for the Rebels’ multiple running game.

6:45 p.m.

Backup tight end Noah Bean catches a 9-yard scoring pass from Max Gilliam caps a 17-play drive and gives UNLV a 7-3 lead with 18 seconds left in the first quarter.

6:27 p.m.

Ryan Meskell converts a field goal from 36 yards to give UH a 3-0 lead with 8:04 left in the first quarter.

6:20 p.m.

Warriors open with a revised line: LT Ilm Manning, LG J.R. Hensley, C Kohl Levao, RG Solo Vaipulu, RT Joey Nuuanu-Kuhiiki

6 p.m.

The Hawaii coaches are honoring Vince Manuwai with shirts with his No. 65 and name on the back.

Pregame

For senior night, these things are at stake for the 6-5 Warriors:

> A winning 13-game regular season.

> The Pineapple Trophy.

> A berth in the Hawaii Bowl.

OK, OK, there’s a little holdup on that one. The Mountain West said the bowl invitations will wait until Dec. 2. And that teeny tiny fine print indicates that UH, despite a Hawaii Bowl tie-in for a winning regular season — it says so right in the UH release — isn’t a for-sure thing. It is but it isn’t, I guess.

UNLV’s top offensive threat is running back Lexington “Lightning” Thomas. He earned the handle after Spectrum analyst called him “Lightning” during a 2016 telecast.

--
More UH football coverage

By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Terms of Service. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines. Having trouble with comments? Learn more here.