UNR loses at Hawaii, tumbles from Top 25
October 17, 2010 - 11:00 pm
HONOLULU -- UNR might never want to return to the islands after losing its sixth straight at Hawaii. By bolting for the Mountain West Conference next year, the Wolf Pack might never have to.
Bryant Moniz threw three touchdowns, Mana Silva intercepted a late pass, and Hawaii held on to upset No. 19 UNR 27-21 on Saturday night, spoiling the Wolf Pack's perfect season.
"We knew that they've never won here, and we wanted to keep that going," Moniz said.
The loss dropped UNR (6-1, 1-1 Western Athletic Conference) out of the AP Top 25 on Sunday. The Wolf Pack fell to 0-6 at Aloha Stadium and haven't won in Honolulu since 1948.
Surging Hawaii (5-2, 3-0) has won four straight to emerge as the top challenger to second-ranked Boise State for the WAC title.
"This one's sweet," Moniz said. "Nevada is ranked, undefeated season, leaving the WAC, we lost to them last year. I could go on and on."
Moniz threw two scoring passes to Kealoha Pilares in the first quarter and zipped an 11-yard TD strike to Royce Pollard with 5½ minutes left. But UNR answered with its own score to pull within six with 3:06 left, then recovered an onside kick.
With the Wolf Pack driving, the crowd in a frenzy and the clock winding down, Colin Kaepernick's pass was tipped into the hands of Silva to seal Hawaii's victory. It was Kaepernick's second interception of the night, and he also fumbled twice, both forced by Corey Paredes.