In the final regular-season game of his college career, Hawaii cornerback Rojesterman Farris II took a senior sprint.
Farris’ 100-yard interception return — the longest in the program’s history — sealed the Rainbow Warriors’ 52-31 victory over Army before 22,437 at Aloha Stadium.
The game started at 7:35 p.m., the latest home start in several years, and ended in Saturday’s final hour.
But it was a rousing parting celebration for 23 UH seniors, including Farris, as the Warriors improved to 9-4, the most victories during Nick Rolovich’s four seasons as head coach.
The Warriors also received a boost from fourth-year junior Cole McDonald, who replaced Chevan Cordeiro at quarterback late in the second quarter. Cordeiro appeared to have suffered an ankle injury. His right ankle was wrapped after that, and he did not play in the second half.
But McDonald wasted little time in making an impact. On his second play, he threw a 4-yard scoring pass to Jason-Matthew Sharsh to give the Warriors their first lead, at 24-17, with 2:40 left in the first half.
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And during a scoring duel in the third quarter — each team scored touchdowns on its first two second-half possessions — it was McDonald who kept the Warriors in control.
McDonald’s 20-yard scoring pass to Sharsh made it 45-31 with 3:51 to play.
McDonald was 19-for-29 for 250 yards and three touchdowns. It was a gritty appearance for McDonald, who missed a couple of practices with flu-like symptoms.
“He was sick for a couple days, sick for a couple practices,” quarterbacks coach Craig Stutzmann said. “He watched film from home. He was in contact. He’s played a lot of football games for us. He’s won a lot of football games. I’m not surprised he was able to come in and pick up right where he left off.”
Stutzmann said McDonald made an easy entrance.
“He knows what the game plan is,” Stutzmann said. “I knew he’d play. Nothing can hold him back. Him and Chevan. They’re really good football players.”
When Christian Anderson, Army’s third-string quarterback, was injured on the ensuing drive, Jemel Jones was summoned.
The Black Knights drove to the 7, from where Jones tried to throw into the end zone. But Farris intercepted, and raced along the right sideline to seal the outcome.
The Warriors now will head to Boise to play Boise State in next Saturday’s Mountain West Conference championship game.
The Warriors led 24-17 after a back-and-forth first half that proved to be hazardous to both starting quarterbacks.
Cordeiro suffered his injury when he was tackled at the end of a 12-yard scramble for a first down with 3:36 remaining in the first half.
On the ensuing drive, Army’s Kelvin Hopkins Jr. suffered an injury after sprinting and swerving 32 yards for a first down. Hopkins had entered the game at less than full health. He was helped to the sideline and did not play the rest of the way. With co-starter Jabari Laws unavailable because of an ailment, the Black Knights turned to their third-string quarterback, Anderson.
The Black Knights were true to their run-dominant, triple-option offense. All but three of their 36 first-half plays were runs. Their three passes — all by Hopkins — had extreme results.
On the game’s first play, Hopkins faked a handoff, rolled to his right and threw to Artice Hobbs IV, who raced for a 69-yard gain. Three plays later, Army went to its most basic play — the fullback dive — with Sandon McCoy barreling 3 yards up the middle for a 7-0 lead.
But Hopkins’ other two first-half passes proved to be disastrous. With Army up 17-10, Hopkins was flushed to his right. He then threw a pass that linebacker Solomon Matautia snagged at the 39. Matautia ran 14 yards to the Army 25. On the next play, Cordeiro and Cedric Byrd II collaborated on a 26-yard scoring pass to tie it at 17.
On the next possession, Army faced a fourth-and-2 at its 33. Hopkins faked a handoff to the fullback, moved to his left and located Camden Harrison alone in the left flat. But Hopkins’ pass sailed over Harrison, giving UH possession.
McDonald then finished a drive Cordeiro started to put the Warriors ahead, 24-17.
