UNLV 29-27 Hawai’i (November 9, 2024) Game Recap

HONOLULU — Hajj-Malik Williams had a touchdown pass and a touchdown run to lead UNLV to a 29-27 victory over Hawaii on Saturday night.

The outcome remained in doubt until Williams raced 40 yards to Hawaii’s 15 on third-and-3 with 1:09 left.

Williams completed 13 of 27 passes for 175 yards and carried 19 balls for 122 yards for the Runnin’ Rebels (7-2, 3-1 Mountain West Conference). Jai’Don Thomas rushed 16 times for 109 yards while UNLV gained 290 yards on the ground. Ricky White III had seven receptions for 128 yards.

UNLV took a 10-0 lead on Caden Chittendon’s 41-yard field goal, followed by Williams’ 23-yard touchdown run.

Hawaii (4-6, 2-3) answered two plays later when Brayden Schager connected with Dekel Crowdus for a 74-yard touchdown to bring the Rainbow Warriors within three points. The Runnin’ Rebels added a safety and had a 12-7 lead after one quarter.

Hawaii got within two points at halftime on Kansei Matsuzawa’s 41-yard field goal.

Chittendon’s 32-yard field goal increased the UNLV lead to five early in the third quarter, but Schager answered with a 49-yard scoring strike to Jonah Panoke and Hawaii took a 17-15 lead.

Williams needed just four plays to get the Rebels’ lead back to five points – he connected with White for a 37-yard touchdown with 6:53 left. Matsuzawa’s 33-yard field goal in the final minute cut the Rainbow Warriors’ deficit to 22-20 heading into the fourth quarter.

Hawaii scored a total of three yards on two straight drives and had a chance to take the lead. Thomas followed with a 32-yard touchdown run to give UNLV a two-score lead with 6:03 to play.

Schager hit Panoke for a 5-yard touchdown, bringing the Rainbow Warriors within two less than two minutes later.

Schager totaled 282 yards on 14-for-35 passing with one interception for Hawaii.

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