Hawaii receiver Pofele Ashlock gestures during the Rainbow Warriors’ 27-13 win over Air Force on Saturday. AP photo
HONOLULU (AP) — Brayden Schager threw two touchdown passes to Pofele Ashlock and ran for another TD to help the University of Hawaii football team beat Air Force 27-13 Saturday night, handing the Falcons their first Mountain West Conference loss of the season.
UH (4-7, 2-4) took 7-plus minutes off the clock with a 12-play, 75-yard opening drive that culminated when Schager hit Ashlock for a 5-yard touchdown, and the Rainbow Warriors led the rest of the way.
The Falcons (8-2, 5-1), who lost 23-3 against Army last week, fell into a tie with UNLV (8-2, 5-1) atop the conference standings. Air Force plays host to the Runnin’ Rebels for sole possession of first next week.
Schager scored on a 1-yard run with 2 seconds left in the second quarter that made it 13-3 when the PAT attempt was no good. Dylan Carson ripped off a 35-yard touchdown run about 2 minutes into the third quarter that cut the deficit to three points, but Hawaii answered when Ashlock caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Schager with 7:20 left before the fourth.
Jalen Smith forced a fumble by Jensen Jones that Meki Pei recovered for a 32-yard scoop-and-score that made it 27-10 with 11:09 to play.
Air Force converted three third downs and two fourth downs on a 20-play drive in the first half that took 11 minutes, 49 seconds off the clock that resulted in a 25-yard field goal by Matthew Dapore, who also kicked a 21-yarder that capped the scoring with 6:20 remaining.
The Rainbow Warriors converted eight of 13 third-down situations, two coming on the game’s opening possession on runs by backup quarterback Dalen Morris, an active duty service member in the Navy.
Schager completed his first 10 passes and finished 22 of 29 for 176 yards. Ashlock had a season-high 12 receptions for 67 yards.
Air Force entered the game leading the nation in rushing with 284.2 yards per game but was held to 201 on Saturday. UH safety Peter Manuma made 12 tackles and came up with the second of UH’s three interceptions in the fourth quarter.
The Rainbow Warriors next head on their final road trip of the season, taking on Wyoming on Saturday in Laramie, before returning home to close the regular season against Colorado State on Nov. 25.
Air Force0373–13
Hawaii7677–27
First Quarter
HAW–Ashlock 5 pass from Schager (Shipley kick), 7:58.
Second Quarter
AFA–FG Dapore 25, 3:11.
HAW–Schager 1 run (kick failed), :02.
Third Quarter
AFA–Carson 35 run (Dapore kick), 12:46.
HAW–Ashlock 19 pass from Schager (Shipley kick), 7:20.
Fourth Quarter
HAW–Pei 32 fumble return (Shipley kick), 11:09.
AFA–FG Dapore 21, 6:20.
A–12,742.
AFAHAW
First downs1718
Total Net Yards315297
Rushes-yards47-20129-121
Passing114176
Punt Returns0-00-0
Kickoff Returns2-390-0
Interceptions Ret.0-03-20
Comp-Att-Int3-9-322-29-0
Sacked-Yards Lost0-01-5
Punts1-31.04-24.75
Fumbles-Lost2-10-0
Penalties-Yards3-255-56
Time of Possession29:2630:34
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING–Air Force, Carson 13-87, Jones 14-56, Burk 7-20, Eldridge 6-19, Calvert 2-8, C.Harris 2-6, Johnson 1-4, Larrier 2-1. Hawaii, Schager 8-57, Cordero 8-43, Morris 5-12, Vaipulu 2-8, Bryant-Lelei 1-1, Sims 4-1, (Team) 1-(minus 1).
PASSING–Air Force, Jones 3-7-1-114, Brittain 0-2-2-0. Hawaii, Schager 22-29-0-176.
RECEIVING–Air Force, C.Harris 1-65, Engel 1-39, Q.Smith 1-10. Hawaii, Ashlock 12-67, McBride 5-54, Perry 2-28, Nishigaya 2-23, Panoke 1-4.
MISSED FIELD GOALS–Air Force, Dapore 27. Hawaii, Shipley 48.
Hawaii receiver Pofele Ashlock gestures during the Rainbow Warriors’ 27-13 win over Air Force on Saturday. AP photoToday's breaking news and more in your inbox
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