UH Warriors Roll Over Lamar, 54-2

Hawaii was stellar on defense on Saturday. Photo by UH Athletics.

By Rodney S. Yap

The University of Hawai’i football team made head coach Norm Chow’s home debut a successful one as the Warriors routed Lamar, 54-2, Saturday at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium.

The Warriors (1-1) built a comfortable 28-0 halftime lead and only allowed a missed PAT return on their final touchdown for Lamar’s only two points of the game. UH extended its lead to 35-0 after Mike Ewards’ 95-yard kickoff return to open the second half and also scored on a blocked punt return for touchdown in the first half.

The Warriors held the Cardinals (1-2), of the Football Championship Subdivision’s Southland Conference, to 127 yards of total offense, the fewest for a UH opponent since 1987. UH forced three fumbles and did not commit a turnover in the game.

Quarterback Sean Schroeder threw for 150 yards and three touchdowns while running backs Will Gregory, John Lister, Joey Iosefa and Sterling Jackson combined to rush for 215 of the team’s 219 rushing yards.

The Warriors gained 369 yards of total offense.

Early in the first quarter, Gregory recovered a muffed Lamar punt return and on the very next play, Schroeder found Trevor Davis for a 16-yard touchdown.

Hawai’i extended its lead to 14-0 in the second quarter after Lister scored his first career touchdown from seven yards out. Schroeder and Davis connected with a 50-yard pass play setting up the touchdown.

Hawaii head coach Norm Chow does the “Warrior Walk” with the team from the parking lot. Photo by UH Athletics.

After a Lamar punt, the Warriors marched downfield on five plays, capped by an eight-yard touchdown pass play from Schroeder to Darius Bright.

On Lamar’s ensuing possession, the Warriors forced a three-and-out and on the punt, John Hardy-Tuliau blocked his sixth career kick and freshman Ne’Quan Phillips scooped up the ball and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown.

The Warriors dominated the start of the second half beginning with Edwards’ kickoff return.  UH forced a punt by Lamar and drove downfield before settling for a Tyler Hadden field goal. On the ensuing kickoff, George Daily-Lyles caused another Lamar turnover but the Warriors again settled for a Hadden field goal and a 41-0 lead.

Early in the fourth quarter, Schroeder threw his third touchdown of the game — a 9-yarder to Chris Gant and a 48-0 lead. The Warriors capped the scoring with Lister’s second touchdown run but on the PAT, holder Scott Harding mishandled the snap and Lamar’s Adrian Guillory returned it for two-points.

Prior to the game, the Warriors unveiled the “Warrior Walk,” a new tradition in which the team walks into the stadium through a section of the parking lot. The team was greeted by fans and entered the stadium followed by the band and cheerleaders.

Next week, the Warriors open Mountain West Conference play by hosting Nevada (2-1), Saturday, Sept. 22 at Aloha Stadium. Kick-off is 4:30 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on NBC Sports.