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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 9:37 p.m., Saturday, November 12, 2005

UH overwhelms Utah State, 50-23

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

The University of Hawai'i football team powered its way to a 31-point halftime lead and never looked back in a 50-23 victory over Utah State Saturday night at Aloha Stadium.

The Warriors improved to 4-6 overall and finished their Western Athletic Conference season with a 4-4 record. After a bye next week, the Warriors close the season with games against Wisconsin and San Diego State. The Aggies, in their first season in the WAC, fell to 2-7 and 1-5.

The Warriors scored 31 unanswered points to seize a 34-3 halftime lead.

The surge started when Daniel Kelly, who had struggled with his place-kicks, booted a field goal from 31 yards to give the Warriors a 6-3 lead with 6:19 left in the first quarter. Four of Kelly's line-drive kicks were blocked this season, but he had little problem with the elevation of his kicks last night.

The Warriors extended their lead to 13-3 when quarterback Colt Brennan and slotback Davone Bess teamed on a 6-yard scoring pass with 9:25 remaining in the second quarter.

Soon after, UH regained possession when outside linebacker Kila Kamakawiwo'ole sacked Leon Jackson, inducing a fumble. Safety Lono Manners recovered at the USU 21. Five plays later — aided by two pass-interference penalties against safety Andre Bala — David Farmer scored on a 1-yard run.

The Warriors increased their lead to 27-3 on Nate Ilaoa's 3-yard run, in which he escaped cornerback Jarrett Bush's attempted ankle tackle at the line of scrimmage. The touchdown was set up by Brennan's 57-yard pass to Ross Dickerson.

The Warriors then finished the first-quarter scoring with Brennan's 1-yard sneak with 6 seconds remaining.