Dec 24, 2016; Honolulu, HI, USA; Hawaii Warriors quarterback Dru Brown (19) looks to make a pass against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders during the second quarter at Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union Field. Photo Credit: Marco Garcia-USA TODAY Sports
HONOLULU–Dru Brown threw for four touchdowns and ran for a fifth Saturday as Hawaii surprised Middle Tennessee State 52-35 in the Hawaii Bowl at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.
Brown, who completed 20 of 30 passes for 274 yards, collected two scoring passes in each half. The last one, a 4-yard toss to Dylan Collie with 3:31 left in the game, finished off an 84-yard drive that lasted 6:33 and gave the Rainbow Warriors (7-7) a 17-point lead.
Diocemy Saint Juste added balance to the Hawaii attack with 170 yards on 25 rushes. The Warriors, who wouldn’t have qualified for a bowl game if enough teams had finished with 6-6 records, got in by dint of a win in their regular-season finale against Massachusetts.
Brent Stockstill completed 30 of 54 passes for 433 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions for the Blue Raiders (8-5). Wide receiver Richie James caught nine passes for 175 yards and a score before leaving the game late in the fourth quarter with an apparent upper-body injury.
Middle Tennessee rolled to a 14-0 lead before the game was 5 1/2 minutes old. I’Tavius Mathers peeled off a 20-yard touchdown run with 12:09 left in the first quarter and Stockstill fired a 51-yard scoring strike to James.
But Hawaii responded with 28 straight points, taking advantage of short fields after turnovers. In a 90-second span late in the first quarter, Brown hit Meluisela ‘Unga for an 18-yard touchdown pass and Steve Lakalaka plunged over from the 1 to tie the score.
Brown’s 2-yard touchdown run with 11:43 left in the half gave the Rainbow Warriors their first lead of the day and a 68-yard interception return by Trayvon Henderson with 7:30 remaining capped the outburst.
The Blue Raiders pulled within 28-21 when Stockstill found Ty Lee for a 3-yard touchdown pass with 1:41 left, but Hawaii marched 55 yards in five plays to make it 35-21 at the half. Brown hit top receiver Marcus Kemp for his first catch of the day, a 39-yard scoring strike 22 seconds before halftime.
NOTES: This is Hawaii’s seventh appearance in the Hawaii Bowl, where it is 3-3, but its first since 2010. … Middle Tennessee WR Richie James’ 6-yard reception late in the first quarter was his 100th catch of the season. … Blue Raiders QB Brent Stockstill (broken collarbone) started after missing the last three regular season games following his injury in a Nov. 5 home loss to Texas-San Antonio.
