UH FOOTBALL
Oregon State rolls past Warriors, 45-7
Advertiser Staff and News Services
CORVALLIS, Ore. — Jacquizz Rodgers ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns and Oregon State defeated Hawai'i 45-7 today.
For the third consecutive week, the UH starting quarterback did not finish the game.
Lyle Moevao completed of 20 of 34 passes for 268 yards and three scores for the Beavers (1-2).
Tyler Graunke, Hawai'i's third starter this season, completed 12 of 27 passes for 118 yards, but threw two interceptions. Graunke, who was hit hard on a play in the third quarter, left the game after the drive and had his right hand wrapped in ice.
UH coach Greg McMackin later said Graunke injured his thumb and his right wrist in the third quarter. He was replaced by Inoke Funaki, but the Warriors (1-2) had already fallen too far behind.
Graunke's thoughts were on the loss and not his injury after the game.
"This was pretty embarrassing and harsh," Graunke said. "They outplayed us today and we still got a lot ahead of us. We've got to keep our heads up."
The Warriors took a 7-0 lead, but after that it was all Oregon State.
"In the first half we took it in and scored and held them," McMackin said. "In the second half, they controlled all three phases of the ballgame. We have to learn from this. As far as our future goes, I still believe in my players and staff."
McMackin said he thought the Warriors "did wear down, and it was really surprising. I have conditioned this team more than any team I have ever coached, but we played tired. Most of it is that Oregon State outplayed us."
"We didn't finish at all. Our morale went down, our defensive speed went down as the game went on," Hawai'i linebacker Solomon Eliminian said. "At the same time, that's our job as a defensive unit, to stop them no matter what."
Graunke had emerged in Hawaii's victory against Weber State, rallying the Warriors from a 17-7 halftime deficit by throwing three second-half touchdown passes. He was named the Western Athletic Conference offensive player of the week.
Graunke had backed up Colt Brennan for the past three seasons, but was held out of the preseason because of academic issues.
Left tackle Keith AhSoon also left today's game after injuring his left knee in the first quarter.
The Warriors scored on their first series of the game on Kealoha Pilares' 16-yard run to make it 7-0.
Justin Kahut missed his second field goal after that, but the Beavers rebounded, tying it on Jacquizz Rodgers' 3-yard touchdown run.
Moevao found Shane Morales with an 8-yard scoring pass, then hit Sammie Stroughter with a 15-yard TD pass to make it 21-7 at halftime.
Jacquizz Rodgers had a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and After Kahut missed his third attempt, Oregon State tried Sean Sehnemm who connected on a 32-yarder to make it 31-7.
Moevao's 56-yard scoring pass to James Rodgers was his career longest and he added a 1-yard keeper in the fourth quarter to make it 45-7.