Hawaii beats UNLV on final play, 37-35


HALAWA — For the first time since 2012, the Hawaii football team has won back-to-back games.

Marcus Kemp hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Ikaika Woolsey with no time remaining as Hawaii rallied past UNLV, 37-35, in a Mountain West Conference game at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium Saturday night.

The Rainbow Warriors (4-8 overall, 3-4 league) fell behind early 14-0 before scoring 24 consecutive points, but trailed 28-24 with 4:51 to play after Kamehameha alum Maika Mataele caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Blake Decker to give the Rebels (2-10, 1-6) the lead.

Joey Iosefa put Hawaii back ahead 31-28 with his 1-yard touchdown run with two minutes remaining, but UNLV drove 75 yards in seven plays and reclaimed the lead on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Decker to Taylor Barnhill with just 15 ticks left on the clock.

Hawaii started its final drive from the UNLV 42-yard line. Woolsey completed a 22-yard pass to Donnie King on first down and two plays later, he connected with Kemp for the game-winning score.

Kemp finished with a team-high six receptions for 114 yards. Woolsey completed 13 of his 21 pass attempts for 229 yards and was intercepted once. Iosefa rushed for a career-high 219 yards on 35 carries and two touchdowns. He also threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Harold Moleni in the second quarter. Diocemy Saint Juste added 81 rushing yards on 11 carries. Hawaii rushed for a season-high 348 yards and finished with 578 yards of total offense.

Ne'Quan Phillips led the Rainbow Warriors on defense with a game-high 10 tackles, including two sacks.

UNLV threw for 423 of its 474 yards of total offense. Decker, who did not start due to a number of injuries, relieved Jared Lebowitz early in the fourth quarter and finished with 187 yards on 10-of-13 passing and three touchdowns. Lebowitz, who was making his first career start, completed 13 of his 30 passes for 212 yards and was intercepted once.

Kealakehe alum Peni Vea tied for a team-high nine tackles for UNLV.

The lead changed hands five times over the course of the game, including three times in the final two minutes.

The Rainbow Warriors have now won back-to-back games for the first time since 2012, when they beat UNLV and South Alabama to end the season.

The Rebels have now lost their last five games and nine of their previous 10. They conclude the season with a road game against rival Nevada Saturday in Las Vegas.

It was the 24th meeting between the teams dating back to 1969. Hawaii has won 10 of 12 games in Honolulu, including the past four and now leads the all-time series, 15-9.