Associated Press
Eds: Utah St. 35, Hawaii 14. Updates with details. With AP Photos.
HONOLULU (AP) — Kent Myers passed for 186 yards and three touchdowns, and LaJuan Hunt ran for 150 yards as Utah State beat Hawaii 35-14 on Saturday.
Myers, a true freshman, was efficient in his first career start as the Aggies (6-3, 2-1 Mountain West) won their second consecutive game. He completed his first 12 attempts and finished 14 of 15. Myers threw touchdown passes of 6 and 70 yards to Hunter Sharp in the first quarter and connected with Ronald Butler on a 39-yard scoring strike in the second.
Butler had six catches for 79 yards and threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Hunt in the third quarter.
Zach Vigil had 12 tackles, including three sacks, and forced a fumble that Devin Centers returned 10 yards by for a touchdown.
Ikaika Woolsey passed for 356 yards and a touchdown for Hawaii (2-7, 1-3), but was intercepted twice by Utah State’s Frankie Sutera. Justin Vele’s first career touchdown pass and Diocemy Saint Juste’s 8-yard touchdown run provided Hawaii’s only scoring.
Hunt finished with 194 all-purpose yards and Sharp had 125.
Quinton Pedroza caught eight passes for 123 yards for Hawaii.
Each team capped its first two possessions with touchdowns and the score was tied at 14 after the first quarter. However, the Aggies went on to score 21 unanswered the rest of the way.
Myers had attempted only five passes prior to the game and had not seen action in any of the Aggies’ previous seven games.
Hawaii was penalized 13 times for 100 yards and Utah State was flagged 12 times for 96 yards.
Just before kickoff, Utah State announced that wide receiver/punt returner JoJo Natson and cornerback Daniel Gray were suspended for the game due to a violation of team rules. Natson has 39 receptions for 397 yards and two touchdowns and Gray has started in seven of the eight games he appeared in this season with 25 tackles and five pass breakups. Both players were slated to start Saturday.
Utah State has now won four of its last five to keep pace with Boise State in the West Division. Both teams are a half game behind division leader Colorado State (4-1).
Hawaii first-year defensive coordinator Kevin Clune previously served as linebackers coach at Utah State.
The Aggies now lead the all-time series with the Rainbow Warriors 8-6 and have won the last three meetings.
