Blaze Soares had a senior moment he won't soon forget.

Soares, a senior outside linebacker from Castle High, got his first career interception and junior safety Mana Silva picked off his team-leading fifth pass of the season to lead the Warriors' defense to what head coach Greg McMackin called "the best game they've played" in last night's 24-6 win over New Mexico State.

Hawai'i gave up a season-low 244 yards and did not allow an offensive score by the Aggies. NMSU picked up just 10 first downs and was held to just 2 of 12 on third-down conversions.

"I think what's happening is our newer, younger players have realized how to play the game," McMackin said. "That was evident on the defensive side of the ball today. They got turnovers, they reached a lot of the goals that we really worked towards."

Last night was the first time since the 2007 season opener against Northern Colorado that UH shut out an opponent in the first half and the first time since a 24-0 win at Idaho in 2005 that a UH defense did not allow a score.

After the Warriors went ahead 17-0 on a 38-yard Scott Enos field goal early in the second quarter, UH's defense appeared to create its first turnover of the game after a fumble by NMSU's Kyle Hipp. On the play, outside linebacker R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane stripped Hipp and defensive end Fetaiagogo "John" Fonoti eventually recovered. However, an official review found that Kiesel-Kauhane was out of bounds when he batted the ball to keep it in play, and NMSU kept possession. But four plays later, Silva intercepted a Jeff Fleming pass to give UH possession at its 5-yard line.

"We were in man coverage and I didn't relay the signal over so I knew there was an open guy so I just tried to run over there," Silva said. "(Fleming) just lobbed it up because the line was bringing the pressure and it worked out."

Fonoti said the key was stopping the Aggies' rushing attack, which entered averaging more than 138 yards per game.

"We knew that their backs were pretty good and they would try to run the ball so we just had to stop the run and adjust once they had to start passing," Fonoti said.

Late in the third quarter, the Warriors got their second takeaway on the Soares interception. On second-and-14 from the Warriors' 36, Fleming was hurried by Fonoti, and Soares picked off the pass at the 27 and returned it 21 yards to the UH 48.

"I'm very stoked! It was a blitz, we had great penetration by our D-line and linebackers," Soares said. "I was just replacing the guy. The quarterback had to get the ball off quick and I was right there. I was actually praying, don't drop it."

Soares said he was thinking "pick-6.

"I was heading straight for the end zone," Soares said. "Once I saw Spencer (Smith) make a key block for me, I was going to cut it back in, but I got pushed out from behind. But whatever, I'm satisfied with the pick, it was awesome."

Despite their first winning streak since season-opening wins over Central Arkansas and Washington State, Soares said the Warriors will remain in "playoff mode.

"We've got three more games," Soares said. "Right now we're in the quarterfinals."