Hawaii Steps Over NMSU, 58-13
HONOLULU (AP) — Colt Brennan is finding out how good Hawaii really is. The senior threw for 425 yards and six touchdowns as No. 16 Hawaii remained undefeated with a 50-13 victory over New Mexico State on Saturday night.
“I don’t think anybody has ever stopped us since I’ve been here. We stop ourselves,” Brennan said. “If we limit stopping ourselves, it’s scary how good we can be.”
The six TD passes gave Brennan 119 for his career, two shy of tying the record held by Brigham Young’s Ty Detmer, who played from 1988-91.
Brennan passed former Hawaii quarterback Timmy Chang for second on the list. He entered the game in fifth place and quickly passed Florida’s Danny Wuerffel (114) and Louisiana Tech’s Tim Rattay (115). “It’s never been about records or stats,” Brennan said.
“This year more than ever, it’s all about the ‘W.’ We want every win so bad.”
The Warriors (8-0, 5-0 Western Athletic Conference) have won 18 of their last 19 games, a school-record 12 straight conference games and matched the best start since 1973, when Hawaii was an NCAA Division II team called the Rainbows.
Ryan Grice-Mullen had 13 receptions for a career-high 195 yards and three TDs, including an 11-yard score that gave the Warriors a 36-13 lead and moved Brennan past Chang on the career list.
Brennan, who was 29-for-46, was intercepted on the game’s opening play by a lunging Davon House, then hit his next 10 passes in the quarter for 140 yards and two TDs.
The second scoring pass, a 20-yard rainbow to Grice-Mullen, put Hawaii up 13-0. Grice-Mullen also caught a short pass and sprinted untouched along the Aggies’ sideline for a 42-yard score to give the Warriors a 23-0 lead. Grice-Mullen said the offense is operating efficiently, but hasn’t peaked yet.
“It’s like second nature now. Now we just go out and have fun,” he said. Brennan said the Warriors have previously been operating with the throttle in neutral and playing to avoid mistakes.
“Our mentality is about to switch and it’s just about being on the full-on attack and let the dogs loose and just let it go,” he said.
Paul Young kicked a 34-yard field goal for New Mexico State just before halftime and also booted a 41-yarder to open the second half. But the Aggies (4-5, 1-3) would get no closer.
Aggies coach Hal Mumme said his team was “terrible.”
“When you make a poor effort against a great team, you end up with that kind of score,” he said.
Davone Bess added seven catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns for Hawaii. His 12-yard TD catch in the fourth tied a school record with 38 career scores.
“Once we got in the game, we were like a machine, he said.
Bess said the Warriors have to remain “humble and hungry,” and not get too caught up in the perfect record so far. “The moment we get bigheaded, that’s when things will go downhill,” he said.
The Aggies used a no-huddle offense all game, but was stymied by the Warriors’ blitzing defense.
New Mexico State threatened to score in the first quarter, but Adam Leonard intercepted a pass at the Hawaii 16. Hawaii’s defense also held the Aggies on fourth-and-4 from the Hawaii 7 late in the game.
Holbrook had success moving New Mexico State but the offense sputtered in the red zone. He was 37-for-52 for 328 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions.
Holbrook’s lone touchdown was a 19-yard pass to Wes Neiman in the third quarter.
Derek Dubois led the Aggies with eight catches for 106 yards in a game that featured nearly 1,000 yards of offense. The Warriors have a bye week before hosting Fresno State. Three of Hawaii’s four remaining games are at Aloha Stadium.
