As a cornerback, C.J. Haw-thorne is aware that there is little margin for error on the football field.

As a starting cornerback for the University of Hawai'i football team, Hawthorne is aware that there may be no room for errors.

As a result, Hawthorne played mistake-free pass defense in helping lead the Warriors to a 44-9 victory over Eastern Illinois last night at Aloha Stadium.

"I wouldn't say I justified anything," Hawthorne said. "But I feel like I got my opportunity to play and I made some plays."

Hawthorne got the first interception of his Hawai'i career in the third quarter of last night's game. It came off a tipped pass, and he dived to the turf to make the interception.

"I was just in the right place at the right time," he said. "Any one of us could have made that play."

One week earlier, Hawthorne lost his starting cornerback spot. He earned it back in practice during the week leading up to last night's game, but Hawai'i defensive backs coach Rich Miano said the two starting spots are not yet solidified. Kenny Patton started at the other cornerback spot last night.

"The game was flowing nicely, so there was no need to change those guys," Miano said of playing Patton and Hawthorne throughout the first half. "But then we put in the other guys in the second half and they did the job, too, so it just continues the cycle.

"There are five or six guys who are really close, and we'll keep rotating them for now."

RUNNING BACK MAUIA TAKES NIGHT OFF

Hawai'i reserve running back Reagan Mauia was not in uniform last night, but he said it had nothing to do with an injury.

"Coach told me just to rest for this game and be ready for the next one," said Mauia, who is considered the team's best blocking running back. "It's a long season, so I'm fine with it."

Starting offensive tackle Dane Uperesa left the game briefly in the first half because he was feeling sick, but returned later in the game.

"I've been sick for a couple of days this week, so my energy level wasn't that high," Uperesa said. "They put Keoni (Steinhoff) in for me, and that helped me a lot. When I went back in, I felt better."

Linebacker C.J. Allen-Jones had to leave the game in the second half with what appeared to be a shoulder injury. Reserve linebacker and special teams player Blaze Soares also left the game with a possible hamstring injury.

PANTHERS FIND SUCCESS IN RUSHING GAME

Eastern Illinois running back Vincent Webb rushed for 117 yards on just 11 carries last night, and most of it came in the first half. By halftime, he had 105 yards on nine rushes.

Webb, a 5-11, 206-pound senior, now has 3,503 yards in his career at Eastern Illinois. He is fourth on the school's career rushing list. Poke Cobb, who played from 1976-79, is No. 1 with 5,042.

"I was proud of the way our team played," Eastern Illinois assistant head coach Mark Hudson said. "I thought we ran the ball hard all game. But Hawai'i executed in all phases, and so in the (second half), we wanted to use some of our other players to give them some experience."

Ademola Adeniji took over at running back in the second half and contributed 84 yards on 16 rushes. The Panthers rushed for 234 yards in the game.

Also of note for the Panthers: