LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) – Ryan Mouton intercepted a pass by Chase Holbrook in the
second quarter and ran for a 91-yard touchdown that handed Hawaii a 13-point advantage over New Mexico State and the Warriors continued to a 42-30 victory in Aggie Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
Hawaii (5-5, 4-3 Western Athletic Conference) neutralized early offensive attacks by NMSU (3-6, 1-4 WAC), and the Warriors claimed their first lead in the second quarter with a 1-yard TD rush by quarterback Greg Alexander for a 21-14 spread that NMSU never closed.
Hawaii secured the win late in the third quarter with a 3-yard TD rush by Daniel Libre that put the Warriors up 42-24.
Libre shattered his rushing average of 34.1 yards per game as he finished with 88 yards and two touchdowns.
The NMSU offense relied on Chris Williams, who contributed three touchdowns, including an 83-yard third quarter TD catch-and-run, as he tied his career-high 221 yards receiving.
Williams opened the game with an 84-yard TD catch less than one minute into the game followed by a 23-yard scoring catch immediately after Hawaii’s Aaron Bain dropped a punt and NMSU recovered.
Bain kept the score close between Williams’ pair of scoring drives with a 17-yard TD catch in the first quarter.
A 29-yard NMSU field goal by Kyle Hughes and a 6-yard Hawaii TD catch by Kealoha Pilares brought the halftime score to 35-17.
Alexander and Holbrook anchored the offensive shootout as Alexander went 26-for-32 and 288 yards passing and two touchdowns, and Holbrook completed 24 of 38 for 394 yards and four TDs.
The defeat marked NMSU’s fourth consecutive conference loss.
Courtesy: Tim Barnett-Queen
