Explosive first half helps Hawai’i to blowout win at Northern Illinois

Now THAT’S more like it.

Behind a balanced offensive attack and opportunistic defense, the University of Hawai’i football team stepped on the gas and never looked back during a 56-21 victory at Northern Illinois (0-7, 0-3 Mountain West) on Saturday.

The Rainbow Warriors (2-6, 1-4 Mountain West) leaned on the legs of DeVon Rice and Cam Barfield early and often, getting 200 total yards and four rushing touchdowns from the Bishop Gorman duo. Barfield found the end zone for the first time this season while tallying 70 yards receiving and another 58 on the ground and Rice chipped in 71 rushing yards and three touchdowns across 12 carries for Hawai’i.

The improved ground attack opened up the air for Micah Alejado and the UH receiving core as the offense posted a season-high 504 total yards on the way to the program’s first 50+ point performance under fifth-year head coach Timmy Chang.

Hawai’i got off to a quick start, finding paydirt on the team’s opening possession for just the second time in eight games this year as Rice rumbled into the end zone from three yards out to cap off the 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive.

NIU answered right back with the help of blown coverage as QB Taron Dickens delivered a 49-yard touchdown strike to a wide-open DeAree Rogers to tie the game up, 7-7. Hawai’i hit back quickly with the help of a fantastic 46-yard catch from Audric Harris, setting up the Rainbow Warriors on the doorstep of the redzone before Alejado hit redshirt TE Frank Abreu for a 13-yard touchdown reception four plays later to give a 14-7 advantage to the visitors through 15 minutes of action.

Dickens and Rogers hooked up again at the start of the second quarter, connecting for a 25-yard touchdown to tie things up at 14 with 13:46 left in the opening half.

Then, Hawai’i decided to take it to another level.

DeVon Rice rushed through a massive hole untouched on the way to a go-ahead 33-yard touchdown and Cam Barfield set the Rainbow Warriors up on the very next drive by taking a screen pass 62 yards to the doorstep of the end zone before pushing in from a yard out two plays later to help Hawai’i double-up the Huskies, 28-14, with just over five minutes left before halftime.

Jeremiah Hughes grabbed his third interception in the past two games on the next drive, giving UH’s offense one more chance to add on before the break. Alejado hit Harris again for a 40+ yard gain to put Hawai’i on the NIU 23-yard line as the two-minute timeout hit and then connected with Abreu on an incredible toe-tap touchdown grab to send the Rainbow Warriors into the locker room with a new season high in points in just 30 minutes of action.

After a shanked punt by NIU set Hawai’i’s offense up at the Huskies’ 35-yard line, redshirt freshman WR Titan Lacaden helped the visitors convert on a third-and-6 with a 22-yard catch-and-run to set up first-and-goal for the offense. Rice did the rest, wrapping up his hat trick of touchdowns to extend the lead to 28 for the Rainbow Warriors.

Hawai’i added on once more before the end of the third as Alejado hit a wide-open Josiah Fetui for a 44-yard touchdown, the first score of the sophomore’s college career.

Elijah Porter gave a chance for the home fans to cheer in the fourth frame, extending out to break the plane for a three-yard touchdown run with 8:55 left to play and end a run of 35 straight points by Hawai’i.

True freshmen closed out the fantastic day for the Rainbow Warriors as RB TJ Fo’ilefutu rumbled into the end zone from six yards out for his first career touchdown to push UH over the 50-point mark and DB Kydel Stone wrapped up the game with his first career interception on the final defensive drive.

Alejado completed 22-of-32 passes in the victory for Hawai’i, eclipsing the 300 passing yard mark for the third time this year with 323 yards through the air and three touchdowns along with a late interception.

Audric Harris needed just two catches to lead the receiving room with 90 yards. Hawai’i finished the day with 12 different players recording a catch, tying a season-high for a single game. Frank Abreu set a new career-high with 31 receiving yards and two touchdowns across three catches.

Julian Smith and Wynden Ho’ohuli each forced fumbles for the UH defense while Hughes and Stone each snagged interceptions, setting a new season-best of four total takeaways by the unit.

Elijah Palmer led the defense with eight tackles (six solo) while sophomore DT Ozzy Pollard added a season-high six total tackles (three solo) in the victory.

Hawai’i enters a much-needed bye week after enduring through a five-game gauntlet, returning to action next on November 7 with a matchup on the road against UTEP.

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