Third-down dramas for the Rebels

UNLV’s first touchdown didn’t come until the drive it converted its first third down.

That happened with less than five minutes left in the game.

UNLV’s offensive struggles included an anemic 0-for-13 on third downs through the first three quarters.

The Rebels were 1-for-15 in the game and needed Hawaii to insert its second-string defense before punching the ball into the end zone.

“Their defensive front mauled our offensive front pretty good,” UNLV coach Bobby Hauck said. “We did not win on their corners on third down in particular … and that was the difference in the game.”

Jerseys looking good

For Military Appreciation Night, Hawaii debuted its special “Wounded Warrior” patriotic jerseys.

The Under Armour-made jerseys were predominantly blue, with white helmets and numbers with red trim, and names like Courage, Duty, Integrity or Commitment on the backs of the various players.

“They were sweet, man,” said cornerback Mike Edwards, who had “USA” shaved into one side of his head. “It was huge, it was fun, and we got the ‘W,’ so that makes it even better.”

Until Dec. 9, UH will auction off the jerseys online at hawaiiathletics.com. The proceeds benefit the Wounded Warrior Project for injured U.S. military personnel.

Instead of the arm-in-arm team walk out of the Aloha Stadium tunnel at the game’s start as in previous contests this season, the Warriors ran out to their sideline in their new garb.

“Their uniforms were pretty flashy. They definitely came to play today,” said UNLV linebacker John Lotulelei, a Baldwin High alum.

Warriors sharp on third down

Hawaii’s fast start against UNLV coincided with a run of success on third down.

The Warriors entered the game last in the Mountain West Conference and 116th nationally in converting on third downs at 30.5 percent. But UH quarterback Sean Schroeder completed eight of 10 attempts on third downs in UH’s first five possessions and the Warriors were 9-for-11 overall over that span in taking a 21-0 lead.

“That’s the name of the game — stay on the field and move the chains,” Schroeder said.

UH converted its first third down, thanks to a UNLV offside penalty and made two more on its way to a touchdown on the game’s opening drive. Two more conversions led directly to scores on Sterling Jackson’s 1-yard run on third and goal and on a 7-yard pass to Joey Iosefa on a third and 3 for UH’s third touchdown.

UH finished the game at a season-high 52.3 percent (11-for-21).

The Warriors’ previous best was 43.8 percent (7-for-16) against USC in the season opener.

UH’s Hardingto the house

The outcome was all but assured when Scott Harding’s 69-yard touchdown on a punt return gave UH a 41-0 lead early in the fourth quarter.

But it was meaningful in that it helped erase some of the sting of last year’s meeting, when UNLV beat UH at Sam Boyd Stadium in Henderson, Nev.

In that game, a first-quarter punt bounced off Harding’s leg and was recovered by the Rebels, the first of many bad things to happen to the heavily favored Warriors in that 40-20 loss.

Harding’s touchdown was Hawaii’s first on a punt return since Michael Washington ran one back 80 yards against Northern Colorado in 2007.

Also, all three of Harding’s catches as a receiver Saturday were on third down and gave UH first downs.