Hawaii Holds Off New Mexico State 29-19 After a Wild Fumble Return
New Mexico State needed an 84-yard fumble return to tie this one, and that is about the only way it was going to happen. Hawaii led 16-0 early, never trailed, and won 29-19 to get to 1-2.
Devon Rice did the early damage. He ran in from 7 yards in the first quarter (the extra point failed) and from 11 yards early in the second, with a Sean Olvera-Harle field goal in between for 16-0. New Mexico State got a 2-yard run from James Jones and a 33-yard touchdown pass from Trey Hedden to TK King with 1:17 left in the half, but Olvera-Harle kicked a 42-yard field goal with 11 seconds left and Hawaii went to the break up 19-13.
Then came the third quarter. De'Marcus Peters took a fumble back 84 yards at 13:15 to make it 19-19 (the extra point was blocked, so it was not a lead). That was the only time all game the score was level. Olvera-Harle answered with a 33-yarder at 8:46, and Frank Abreu caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Tama Uiliata with 5:41 left to make it 29-19.
Yes, Uiliata is a receiver. He caught 10 passes for 107 yards and threw one pass, one completion, 7 yards, for the touchdown. Hawaii passed for 353 yards and rushed for just 67 on 26 carries. New Mexico State had 398 yards but threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. Hawaii lost one too, and that one went the distance for New Mexico State, six points on an 84-yard trip.
For fantasy, Uiliata's 27 points led everyone, ahead of Rice (20) and Hedden (17.6).