By Lance Tominaga, ESPN Honolulu Web Editor.
When the University of Hawaii plays Utah State tomorrow, the Rainbow Warriors will attempt to snap a five-game losing streak to the Aggies. UH, in fact, hasn’t beaten Utah State since 2010, when Greg McMackin was the Rainbow Warrior head coach. A five-game streak isn’t that horrible, but the losses themselves were demoralizing. In their last four meetings, the Aggies have outscored Hawaii, 176-41. (That’s a 33.8-point average margin of victory.
Here’s a (painful) look back at the last five UH-USU games:
Nov. 5, 2011 – UTAH STATE 35, HAWAII 31: The Rainbow Warriors had this game in hand, leading by 21 points in the second half. But the Aggies rallied for 28 second-half points, stunning Hawaii and the 30,301 fans inside Aloha Stadium. UH QB Bryant Moniz was the star of the game early on, and led Hawaii with 227 passing yards, 75 rushing yards and four total TDs. But the Hawaii offense could only muster three points in the second half, and Aggies RB Robert Turbin’s one-yard TD with just 14 seconds left in the game gave the visitors the victory.
Nov. 2, 2013 – UTAH STATE 47, HAWAII 10: Hawaii arrived in Logan, Utah with an 0-7 record, and they would leave 0-8. This game was never close. The Aggies scored on five of their first six drives of the game, and led 23-3 at halftime. The Rainbow Warriors’ lone TD of the game came early in the third quarter, when QB Sean Schroeder connected with WR Keith Kirkwood for a 33-yard score. Schroeder finished the game with 213 yards but threw three INTs. In case you’re wondering, Hawaii would finish the season 1-11, avoiding a winless campaign with a win over Army in the 2013 finale.
Nov. 1, 2014 – UTAH STATE 35, HAWAII 14: This game started close – the score was tied, 14-14, after the first quarter – but Utah State held Hawaii scoreless the rest of the way en route to a decisive win at Aloha Stadium. Aggies QB Kent Myers, making his first career start, went 14-15 for 186 yards and three TDs. His counterpart on the Rainbow Warriors, Ikaika Woolsey, passed for a career-high 356 yards and a TD, but was sacked six times.
Nov. 18, 2017 – UTAH STATE 38, HAWAII 0: When was the last time the Rainbow Warriors got shut out? Here’s your answer. Hawaii capped a 1-7 Mountain West Conference campaign with a dismal outing in Logan. The UH defense couldn’t stop the Aggies’ ground attack, giving up 311 rushing yards (8 yards per carry). Diocemy Saint Juste was Hawaii’s most effective weapon, finishing with 122 yards on 28 carries. For the defense, Solomon Matautia and Jahlani Tavai combined for 28 total tackles.
Nov. 3, 2018 – UTAH STATE 56, HAWAII 17: UH QB Cole McDonald passed for 331 yards and 2 TDs, but it wasn’t nearly enough, as the No. 18-ranked Aggies blitzed Hawaii for 27 first-quarter points and never looked back. It was USU’s eighth straight win and the Rainbow Warriors’ fourth consecutive loss. The Aggies did most of their damage on the ground, finishing with 426 rushing yards. McDonald’s two TD passes came in the third quarter – a 54-yard play to John Ursua and a 38-yard Score to Devan Stubblefield.
Can Hawaii snap their losing streak to the Aggies tomorrow? The oddsmakers don’t see it happening, listing Utah State as 5.5-point favorites.
ESPN Honolulu (92.7 FM/1420 AM) will bring you all the action, starting with the “New Countdown to Kickoff” pre-game show at 7:00 a.m. Kickoff is set for 9:00.