Timmy Chang’s reunion with Reno was one of relief – relief for a different outcome, and for having an emotionally tinged game in his rearview.
The second-year Hawaii coach recorded the first road victory of his FBS career as the recently reeling Rainbow Warriors played inspired and held on for a 27-14 win at Nevada’s Mackay Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
UH (3-7, 1-4 Mountain West) won its first conference game of the year in a largely composed performance that belied the team’s struggles in its last two games. The Rainbow Warriors snapped a four-game losing streak and equaled their 2022 win total, with three games to play in 2023.
UH had been 0-for-10 in road games under Chang.
After a stellar performance by the UH defense that included a first-half shutout of the Wolf Pack (2-7, 2-3), the former Warriors quarterback hugged former players and staff members on Chris Ault Field. Chang spent five years as a receiver and tight ends coach there as his first FBS job before taking the head job at his alma mater in January 2022.
He improved to 2-for-2 against Nevada and Ken Wilson in his two seasons.
“I tell you what, when I was coaching for the Pack, (I was) all in with these kids and that’s why I’m hugging all of them,” Chang told Spectrum Sports afterward. “I hated playing the University of Hawaii, my alma mater and the state where I’m from. And now that I’m on the other side, this community has embraced me and my family. I told (Wilson) I hate playing this game.
“I love these kids, I watch them on film and the babies are grown up. I’m overwhelmed with emotion playing the game. In our profession, someone’s gotta win and someone’s gotta lose. I don’t like playing this game, but I’m … just grateful we got this win.”
The UH defense recorded six sacks among 10 tackles for loss and recorded two turnovers, while the ‘Bows were passable on offense and special teams for the first time in weeks.
Nevada redshirt freshman quarterback AJ Bianco, a Saint Louis School graduate from Lahaina and a onetime UH commit, attempted to rally the Wolf Pack in the second half with some effective, improvised keepers. But UH pressured Bianco effectively down the stretch and forced Nevada into turnovers on downs on its last three drives to secure the victory.
“Really high level,” Chang said of his assessment of the defense. “For them to get turnovers and stop an offense like that—Nevada’s been coming along, especially the last two games. … Coach Wilson’s going to get that thing going. We’re two programs just trying to claw out (of struggles).”
After abysmal performances against New Mexico and San Jose State—the latter was UH’s first time being shut out at home since 1998—the team was desperate for something good to happen. Nevada, meanwhile, was coming off victories against two teams that beat UH, San Diego State and New Mexico and was a betting favorite.
Yet UH came out with its most complete half of the season and led at intermission, 17-0, for the first time in 10 games of 2023.
The dormant UH rushing attack woke up with Landon Sims rumbling for 65 yards on 11 carries and, in a surprise, quarterback Brayden Schager aggressively looking to scramble and netting 49 yards on the ground.
Schager was 21-for-38 for 203 yards and two touchdowns, both to Pofele Ashlock, who had nine total grabs for 87 yards.
Kicker/punter Matthew Shipley became the first Hawaii player to have two field goals of 50 or more yards in the same game.
The Hawaii defense made things difficult for Nevada’s rushing attack in the first half.
The teams were in a scoreless stalemate for the first quarter; it was the first time in seven games that UH didn’t trail after a period.
Linebacker Isaiah Tufaga punched out the ball from behind Nevada quarterback Brendon Lewis early in the second, the second straight game he made such a play. Nickelback Elijah Palmer recovered the fumble.
It set up Shipley’s career-long 50-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
On its next drive, UH got the running game going behind Sims and short-yardage quarterback Dalen Morris punched in the touchdown from a yard for a 10-0 lead with under four minutes to play in the half.
With Lewis struggling, Nevada backup quarterback Bianco entered for the Wolf Pack late in the half.
UH stopped him and had a chance to add another touchdown in the final minute, but Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala dropped a wide-open over-the-shoulder catch just short of the goal line. UH made up for it with a first down keeper by Schager followed by the QB’s 26-yard bullet to Ashlock in the middle of the end zone.
It was UH’s defensive shutout in a first half since it beat Houston in the New Mexico Bowl to cap the 2020 season. The Wolf Pack was held to 69 yards in the half.
Bianco came out to start the second half for the Pack and it initially went much like the first half as Jalen Smith (team-high seven tackles) sacked him on third down and forced a punt.
Bianco generated yardage on keepers on his next drive, however, and found Dalevon Campbell on a 33-yard fade to the edge of the end zone. Sean Dollars burst in from 2 yards to get Nevada on the board with 9:27 left in the third.
UH’s offense misfired for the second straight drive but Peter Manuma’s pick of Bianco and 15-yard return to the UNR 5 set up a second TD strike from Schager to Ashlock.
Elijah Robinson, Meki Pei and Tufaga recorded back-to-back sacks of Bianco, but Steven McBride muffed the punt and Nevada recovered at the UH 29.
Defensive back Virdel Edwards II, usually a steady presence in the secondary, was assessed consecutive unsportsmanlike fouls after making a stop on a pass at the goal line, and was ejected.
Dollars scored on the next play from 7 yards and Nevada drew within 24-14.
Chang rolled the dice late in the third on fourth and 1 in UH territory, but the Warriors converted on a “Braddahly Shove” play. Shipley was summoned for another 50-yarder and his leg was true for a 13-point lead with 12:41 to play.
Bianco got the Pack in scoring position with his legs once again. Nevada went for it on fourth and goal from the 4. A false start backed up the Pack to the 9 and a pressured Bianco threw incomplete for the turnover on downs with 6:58.
UH went three-and-out, burned its last timeout and punted with 4:43 left.
Robinson got to Bianco for a second time and the QB threw incomplete on fourth and four.
The Wolf Pack’s final drive began with 1:39 left and Bianco was unable to advance the ball on some desperate heaves. Bianco finished 5-for-15 for 76 yards passing plus 63 yards rushing.
UH hosts No. 17 Air Force next Saturday at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. The Falcons (8-1) suffered a 23-3 home loss to Army on Saturday.