The Hawaii football team’s penchant for slow starts was once again a problem in a 44-20 loss to UNLV to open Mountain West Conference play at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Saturday.

UH was held to a single field goal in the first half for the third straight game, but unlike last week’s rousing comeback at home against New Mexico State, the Rebels had the firepower to go score for score with the Rainbow Warriors in the second half and UNLV reclaimed the Island Showdown Trophy that UH took away in last year’s home finale.

It was the third straight year UH (2-4 overall) dropped its conference opener, while second-year coach Timmy Chang dropped to 0-9 in games on the continent.

The home team has dominated the series, with 13 of the last 15 going that way.

But this time, former Kaimuki High quarterback Jayden Maiava, who assumed the starting reins last week, was an instrument of his home state’s downfall. Maiava was 11-for-21 passing with two touchdowns and also was a weapon on the ground with 32 yards on four carries.

UH trailed by 17 at halftime but got to within 30-20 with 12:47 to play in the game on Alex Perry’s 38-yard end zone grab from Brayden Schager.

However, UNLV countered with a Jacob De Jesus 3-yard option score on a pass from Maiava and finished the job with running back Donavyn Lester’s 22-yard effort with 5:37 left.

UH’s last-gasp drive reached the UNLV 1 but the Rebels were ruled to have come up with an interception in the end zone with 1:27 to go.

Schager was 22-for-35 for 313 yards and two touchdowns, but he was in scramble mode for much of the night as the pocket collapsed repeatedly. Senior receiver Steven McBride had his most productive game as a ‘Bow with six catches for 180 yards, including a 55-yard score in the third quarter on a tricky flea-flicker heave.

Linebacker Isaiah Tufaga led UH with 10 assisted tackles. His counterpart in the secondary, Jalen Smith, had 10 tackles in his first start.

UNLV (4-1), under first-year coach Barry Odom, scored 40 straight points in three straight games for the first time in program history.

"This game was not only important to our team and to our university, but also to Las Vegas,” Odom said in a post game statement provided by UNLV. “With conference play starting, the ability to continue the momentum we have built so far in our program, the importance of every single conference game, that's so huge for where we are trying to get to.

“This is the first time we have scored 40 points in three straight games, that's tremendous. We had a great offensive performance. We had six sacks and didn't give up any on the other side. That's complimentary football. When we can do that and play well in all three phases together, we've got an opportunity to continue to play winning ball … I'm proud of this team for what we've done now through five weeks."

UNLV rushed for 307 yards on 47 carries, an average of 6.5 per carry. Six Rebels posted 30 or more yards rushing, led by Donavyn Lester’s 98 yards and a score on 12 carries.

The ‘Bows gave up 27 first downs defensively and the offensive line was unable to protect Schager early as the Rebels notched five of their six sacks before intermission. The six sacks came from six different players and accounted for 46 yards lost by UH.

UH netted only 46 yards on the ground, with 43 by Tylan Hines, the sophomore who returned to the starting lineup after an injury absence.

UH trailed 7-0 after a quarter and 20-3 at halftime. For the season, UH has been outscored 66-17 in the first period.

The 'Bows have a bye next week, then host San Diego State on Oct. 14 at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.

Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.