Graunke completed 9 of 11 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns, helping the Warriors improve to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the WAC.

The Aggies fell to 0-6 and 0-2.

Graunke entered on the Warriors' final possession of the first half after Brennan aggravated a sprained right ankle.

Brennan played in the first series of the second half, but left for good after that. He finished 19 of 25 for 219 yards and a touchdown.

Graunke completed his first pass, a 36-yarder to Davone Bess, in the first half. He then completed his next eight, with three going for touchdowns — to C.J. Hawthorne, David Farmer and Jason Rivers.

Graunke left after being intercepted in the fourth quarter. By then, the Warriors were comfortably ahead, 52-27, and Utah State's gritty quarterback, Leon Jackson III, was on the bench, being treated for an undisclosed injury.

Graunke scored on a 1-yard sneak to boost the Warriors to a 31-13 lead with five seconds remaining in a heated and controversial first half.

Graunke initially was ruled down at the 1, although JumboTron replays clearly showed he held the ball across the plane of the goal line. After reviewing the play, the replay official overturned the on-field ruling and gave Hawai'i the touchdown.

On the ensuing kickoff, UH's Ryan Keomaka and Mana Lolotai landed on the Aggies' sideline. When they tried to walk back onto the field, they were pushed by several Aggies. A flag was thrown as both teams jogged to their locker rooms. But USU coach Brent Guy vehemently argued the ruling, yelling at officials at the 20-yard line.

It was a unique end to a first half in which each team's best players — Brennan and USU receiver/returner Kevin Robinson — left with apparent injuries. Robinson was shaken up after carrying on an end-around. Brennan was hit on the right knee after releasing a pass. Brennan was taken to the locker room with five seconds remaining in the half.

The Aggies, who entered winless and as 41-point underdogs, surprised by leading three times — 3-0, 10-7 following Robinson's 100-yard kickoff return, and 13-10.

It was Robinson's second kick return for a touchdown this season. He has scored three of the Aggies' first 10 touchdowns this season.

But the Warriors quickly answered when Malcolm Lane, filling in for injured Ryan Mouton, fielded a kickoff that had bounced past a teammate. Lane broke right, then cut left, out-racing the rest of the Aggies for an 87-yard touchdown return, making it 17-13 with 11:26 left in the second quarter.

The Warriors extended their lead to 24-13 when slotback Bess juked a safety, then sneaked into the end zone to catch a 22-yard pass from Brennan.

The Warriors regained possession when defensive end Amani Purcell stripped the football from running back Dervin Speight. Defensive tackle Josh Leonard recovered at the UH 32.

The Warriors drove to the 40. While throwing to wide receiver Hawthorne, Brennan was struck on the right knee. After being treated on the field, he limped to the sideline.

Graunke entered, wasting little time, firing a pass to Bess, who was knocked out of bounds at the USU 1.