Colleges
Rainbow Warriors bounce BYU to win Hawaii Bowl


ScoringLive staff
December 25, 2019, 12:44pm

  

Tue, Dec 24, 2019 @ Aloha Stadium [ 3:00 pm ]

Brigham Young

34

Hawaii

38

Final 1 2 3 4 T
Brigham Young 7 17 7 334
Hawaii 14 17 0 738
Cole McDonald 493 yd 4 TD
Zach Wilson 274 yd
Miles Reed 17 yd
Zach Wilson 72 yd 2 TD
Jared Smart 142 yd 2 TD
Matt Bushman 91 yd



HALAWA — Hawaii quarterback Cole McDonald threw for nearly 500 passing yards as three different receievers eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark on the season, but it was redshirt freshman Nick Mardner with the game-winning touchdown catch with 1:17 left in the game to propel the Rainbow Warriors past Brigham Young University, 38-34, in Tuesday evening's 2019 SoFi Hawaii Bowl at Hawaiian Financial FCU Field at Aloha Stadium.

Mardner entered the game with only three total receptions throughout all of 2019, but hauled in clutch back-to-back passes from McDonald for 38 and 24 yards to find the end zone.

BYU quickly drove 34 yards down the field in four plays before quarterback Zach Wilson was picked off by Khoury Bethley to seal up the victory.

"We was in a thirds coverage. I had the tight end vertical and he ran an over route and just kind of baited the quarterback a little. I knew he was coming to me and the quarterback was staring him down so when he made the throw I just happened to jump in front of the route and make a play," Bethley said.

It was Bethley's second INT of the evening.

McDonald finished 28 of 46 for 493 yards and four touchdowns.

Receivers JoJo Ward and Jared Smart each had seven receptions for 159 and 142 yards, respectively, helping to bring their season total over the 1,000-yard mark — joining Cedric Byrd II. The 2019 Rainbow Warriors became just sixth team in NCAA FBS history to have three different receivers end the season with more than a 1,000 yards.




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