Game Day blog: Hawaii defeats Nevada, 54-3, in chilly Reno
STEVEN ERLER / Special to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors wide receiver Jason-Matthew Sharsh eluded a tackle of Nevada Wolf Pack defensive back Tyson Williams during the first half of a game against the Nevada Wolf Pack on Saturday at Mackay Stadium in Reno.
STEVEN ERLER / Special to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors wide receiver Cedric Byrd II (6) scored the first touchdown on a catch during the first quarter of a game against the Nevada Wolf Pack played today at Mackay Stadium in Reno.
STEPHEN TSAI /STSAI@STARADVERTISER.COM
Quarterback Cole McDonald warms up before tonight’s Mountain West opener against Nevada in Reno.
FINAL
RENO >> Hawaii dominated every phase in a 54-3 clobbering of Nevada tonight at Mackay Stadium.
The Warriors entered 1-8 in games played here. But Cole McDonald completed 83.3 percent of his passes with four TD and third-string quarterback Justin Uahinui finished the drubbing with the first scoring pass of his UH career.
The Warriors also scored nine points on special teams. Andrew Choi’s block of a punt led to Justice Augafa’s scoop and score. A long snap sailed over the Nevada punter for a safety.
The Warriors are 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the Mountain West.
7:35 p.m.
The Warriors make it 54-3 as third-string quarterback Justin Uahinui fires a 14-yard pass to Robert Funkhouser with 3:42 to play.
7:25 p.m.
Worse came to worst for the Wolf Pack.
The long snap sails over punter Quinton Conaway for a safety. Hawaii extends lead to 47-3 with 9:20 to go.
>> Photo gallery of Hawaii playing at Nevada
7 p.m.
Cole McDonald’s fourth TD pass of the game — and third to Cedric Byrd — pushes Hawaii’s lead to 45-3 with 2:57 to play in the third quarter.
McDonald set up the TD when he slipped the football to Miles Reed for a 15-yard gain. Then, McDonald faked the handoff to Reed, and fired to Byrd, who was open on a post route.
McDonald is now 23 of 28 for 309 yards.
6:35 p.m.
The Warriors exited the intermission without missing a beat, forcing a three-and-out and then going 63 yards in five plays for a touchdown.
Cole McDonald’s third scoring pass, this time to Jason-Matthew Sharsh, makes it 38-3 with 11:03 left in the third quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
Ryan Meskell converts a field goal from 44 yards to extend UH’s lead to 31-3 with two seconds left in the first half.
Meskell is 5-for-5 in field goals kicked on fields at least 4,000 feet above sea level.
The drive was extended when the Warriors went into victory formation and appeared ready to take a knee. Instead, Cedric Byrd went around end for 29 yards.
6 p.m.
Nevada finally gets on the scoreboard on Brandon Tolton’s 36-yard field goal with 36 seconds left in the half.
Tolton, a true freshman, is 10-for-10 this season. Hawaii leds 28-3.
5:40 p.m
Miles “Bam Bam” Reed goes 10 yards up the gut on a draw to extend Hawaii’s lead to 28-0 with 5:33 left in the first half.
The drive was preceded by Kalen Hicks breaking up Nevada’s fourth-down pass at midfield.
5:30 p.m.
Andrew Choi blocks a punt, and Justice Augafa scores on the scoop-and-dash for a 21-0 UH lead.
5:25 p.m.
On a tandem play, UH right wideout JoJo Ward cuts inside, freeing Cedric Byrd to break free on the right outside to grab a 2-yard scoring pass from Cole McDonald.
The Warriors now lead 14-0 with 10:40 left in the first half.
FIRST QUARTER
Cole McDonald connects with Cedric Byrd on a 36-yard scoring pass to give the Warriors a 7-0 lead with 8:17 left in the first quarter.
McDonald is 4-for-4 for 62 yards and a touchdown.
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It’s snowing in Reno as Warriors begin second possession.
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PREGAME
True freshman Kaimana “Bubba” Wa‘a is expected to start at right guard for the Warriors.
True freshmen are not an unusual occurrence for the Warriors. Last year, Solo Vaipulu and Ilm Manning started as true freshmen.
Wa‘a’ uncle is former Kahuku High and Oregon State star Jeremy Perry.
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RENO, Nev. >> It promises to be chilly night when Hawaii and Nevada face off at Mackay Stadium.
The Rainbow Warriors have won here only once in nine meetings, with the lone victory coming on Dan “Ice Man” Kelly’s field goal in 2007.
The keys to the game:
>> Can the Warriors’ passing attack succeed in what promises to be cold — and maybe wet — conditions? Earlier in the day, there were snow flurries.
>> Can the Wolf Pack’s running game play well with a two-back rotation? Jaxson Kincaide has decided to redshirt with the intent of transferring. He will enter his name in the transfer portal. Nevada already has scratched his bio from the team roster. Toa Taua, the Pack’s leading rusher, has been hampered by a thigh bruise this season.
>> Will the Warriors get a boost with the return of defensive lineman Samiuela Akoteu, linebacker Jeremiah Pritchard and safety Ikem Okeke.
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For more, check out Stephen Tsai’s blog
