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Hawai‘i snaps five-game losing streak with 56-21 blowout win at Northern Illinois
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- Hawai‘i snaps five-game losing streak with 56-21 blowout win at Northern Illinois
Now that's more like it.
Behind a balanced offensive attack and opportunistic defense, the University of Hawai'i football team stepped on the gas and never looked back in a 56-21 victory over Northern Illinois (0-7, 0-3 Mountain West) on Saturday.
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The Rainbow Warriors (2-6, 1-4 Mountain West) snapped a five-game losing streak behind an explosive offensive performance, leaning on the legs of DeVon Rice and Cam Barfield early and often. The Bishop Gorman duo combined for four rushing touchdowns, with Barfield finding the end zone for the first time this season while recording 70 receiving yards and another 58 on the ground. Rice added 71 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries for Hawai'i.
The improved ground attack opened up the passing game for quarterback Micah Alejado and the UH receiving corps as the offense piled up a season-high 504 total yards. The Rainbow Warriors also surpassed the 50-point mark for the first time under fifth-year head coach Timmy Chang.
Hawai'i got off to a quick start, scoring on its opening possession for just the second time in eight games this season as Rice rumbled into the end zone from three yards out to cap a 12-play, 75-yard drive.
Northern Illinois answered with the help of a blown coverage as quarterback Taron Dickens delivered a 49-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open DeAree Rogers to tie the game at 7.
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Hawai'i responded quickly behind a spectacular 46-yard catch from Audric Harris, putting the Rainbow Warriors just outside the red zone. Four plays later, Alejado connected with redshirt tight end Frank Abreu for a 13-yard touchdown to give the visitors a 14-7 lead after the opening quarter.
Dickens and Rogers connected again early in the second quarter, this time on a 25-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 14 with 13:46 remaining in the first half.
Then, Hawai'i took its offense to another level.
Rice burst through a massive hole untouched for a go-ahead 33-yard touchdown run before Barfield delivered another explosive play on the Rainbow Warriors' next possession. Barfield took a screen pass 62 yards to the doorstep of the end zone before punching it in from a yard out two plays later, giving Hawai'i a 28-14 advantage with just over five minutes remaining before halftime.
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Jeremiah Hughes recorded his third interception in two games on Northern Illinois' next possession, giving the Rainbow Warriors another opportunity to extend their lead before the break.
Alejado connected with Harris for another gain of more than 40 yards, moving Hawai'i to the NIU 23-yard line ahead of the two-minute timeout. The sophomore quarterback then found Abreu for a spectacular toe-tapping touchdown catch, sending the Rainbow Warriors into the locker room with a 35-14 lead and a new season high in points after just 30 minutes.
Hawai'i picked up right where it left off in the second half.
After a shanked NIU punt gave the Rainbow Warriors possession at the Huskies' 35-yard line, redshirt freshman receiver Titan Lacaden converted a third-and-6 with a 22-yard catch-and-run to set up first-and-goal. Rice took care of the rest, scoring his third rushing touchdown of the afternoon to extend Hawai'i's lead to 42-14.
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The Rainbow Warriors struck again before the end of the third quarter as Alejado found a wide-open Josiah Fetui for a 44-yard touchdown pass, marking the first score of the sophomore's college career.
Northern Illinois finally ended Hawai'i's run of 35 unanswered points in the fourth quarter when Elijah Porter stretched across the goal line for a three-yard touchdown run with 8:55 remaining.
But the Rainbow Warriors weren't finished.
True freshmen helped put the finishing touches on Hawai'i's most dominant performance of the season. Running back TJ Fo'ilefutu powered into the end zone from six yards out for his first career touchdown, pushing UH past the 50-point mark, before defensive back Kydel Stone recorded his first career interception on Northern Illinois' final offensive possession.
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Alejado completed 22 of 32 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns, surpassing the 300-yard mark for the third time this season. He also threw a late interception.
Harris led Hawai'i's receiving corps with 90 yards on just two catches, while 12 different Rainbow Warriors recorded a reception, tying a season high. Abreu established a career high with 31 receiving yards and two touchdowns on three catches.
The defense also delivered one of its best performances of the season. Julian Smith and Wynden Ho'ohuli each forced a fumble, while Hughes and Stone recorded interceptions as Hawai'i established a season high with four takeaways.
Elijah Palmer led the Rainbow Warriors with eight tackles, including six solo stops, while sophomore defensive tackle Ozzy Pollard added a season-high six tackles, including three solo.
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The victory provided a much-needed breakthrough for a Hawai'i team that had struggled to find offensive consistency throughout its five-game losing streak. After scoring just 10 points in each of its previous two games, the Rainbow Warriors erupted for eight touchdowns and delivered their most complete offensive performance of the season.
Hawai'i now enters a much-needed bye week before returning to action Nov. 7 with a road matchup against UTEP.
