RENO, NEV. » As the clock struck "0:00" on Nevada’s 31-9 victory over Hawaii, an ROTC cannon boomed in Mackay Stadium.

It was symbolic of an evening in which the Rainbow Warriors’ Mountain West Conference opener ended with both a bang and a whimper.

Nevada entered with a third-string quarterback in the opening lineup. The Warriors exited 0-3 overall and facing a near future that will be shaped by medical-test results.

Quarterback Taylor Graham’s left arm was in a sling, running back Joey Iosefa’s left foot was in a medical boot, linebacker Julian Gener’s right elbow was in an ice wrap, and tight end Harold Moleni and defensive end Beau Yap were in a daze with concussion-like symptoms.

"We lost five guys in the first half," UH coach Norm Chow said.

Graham, Iosefa and Gener are scheduled for MRI tests today after the Warriors return to Honolulu.

"We’ll see what happens," Graham said of the injury to his nonthrowing shoulder.

Iosefa missed the first two games because of a fracture in his left foot suffered while training in July. He aggravated the condition on the first drive, and spent the second half on crutches.

Gener, who has been the Warriors’ most productive linebacker, was injured on a tackle.

"It kills us," Chow said of the injuries, adding, "We can’t use that as an excuse."

The Warriors’ woes extended beyond the medical charts. They gave up big plays on defense and failed to convert short passes on offense. They had no answers for edge rusher Brock Hekking, who was everywhere the Warriors did not want him to be, and tight end Kolby Arendse, who found pukas in the defensive coverage.

Hekking made three sacks, forced two fumbles (including one that Alex Bertrando parlayed into a 2-yard touchdown), intercepted a pass, and deflected a throw that was intercepted.

Arendse, known more for his blocking, caught scoring passes of 5 and 2 yards without a defender within spitting distance. Arendse eased the way for Tyler Stewart, a former UH recruit who was bumped up two places into the starting quarterback’s job. Cody Fajardo did not play because of a knee injury, and No. 2 Devin Combs suffered a season-ending knee injury last week.

Stewart was 14-for-20 for 202 yards and three touchdowns. Trailing 3-0, the Wolf Pack faced a third-and-13 situation on their first possession. The Warriors ran a stunt on the line and a blitz from the back side. Neither reached Stewart, who threw to Arendse, one of four potential targets on streak patterns. Arendse made the catch, then scooted along the right sideline for a 68-yard gain. Three plays later, Stewart and Arendse teamed on the 5-yard scoring pass for a 7-3 lead the Pack would not relinquish.

"That first long pass, we didn’t execute," UH defensive coordinator Thom Kaumeyer said. "Our pressure didn’t get there, and they made a play. That can’t happen."

Later, a bubble screen to running back Chris Solomon went for 57 yards, setting up Arendse’s second touchdown. Nevada had kept the bubble screen in the vault in their first three games.

"We got locked in," Kaumeyer said. "We didn’t have a very good game. That happens. That’s on me."

Nevada coach Brian Polian praised Stewart.

"There was a thought around here that you can’t win without Cody (Fajardo), and then when Devin (Combs) went down, well, forget it now," Polian said. "Then you can show them that when 85 guys can hang together, everybody does their job."

The Warriors had their chances.

On their opening drive, they advanced to the 13. But on third and 7, they gained 4 yards on Graham’s swing pass to slotback Scott Harding. Tyler Hadden kicked a 21-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

"We need to convert in the red zone," Graham said. "You can’t settle for field goals against a team like Nevada."

The Warriors failed to convert on two fourth-down plays in the first half. On fourth and 2 from the Nevada 28, Graham’s play-action pass sailed past tight end Clark Evans.

"I just didn’t hit him," Graham said.

On fourth and 11 from the Nevada 35, tight end Jordan Pu‘u-Robinson could not secure Graham’s high throw.

"You just can’t miss it," Graham said.

That proved to be Graham’s parting shot. On the previous play, a keeper, Graham was injured in the pileup. After the series ended, he went to the training room for further medical evaluations.

Sean Schroeder, who started 11 games in 2012, was summoned. Schroeder was 8-for-14 for 74 yards. But he was intercepted twice — the first on a deflection, the second after he was hit.

Jeremy Higgins, the third-string quarterback, was 5-for-11. But he fumbled on a sack, leading to Bertando’s scoop-and-score and, later, lost a fumble on a fourth-down sack.

Ikaika Woolsey, who practices as the scout quarterback, played UH’s final two drives — both ending with interceptions.

"I thought we came out ready to play," Chow said. "We made some mistakes on defense real early. We gave (Stewart) some confidence. Other than that quarterback, (Nevada is) a seasoned, old football team, and (it) played liked it."

The Warriors, meanwhile, sabotaged drives with penalties. An apparent touchdown was nullified because of a holding infraction. There also were three offsides penalties following first downs.

"All of sudden it’s first and 15," Chow said. "That has nothing to do with the other guys. It’s all about us."