HONOLULU — The trophy case is empty.
Seconds after Wyoming set up in victory formation at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, Cowboys players sprinted across the field to pluck the Paniolo Trophy from a table and rush over to a few hundred yellow-clad visiting fans in the Diamond Head end zone to display their prize.
Hawaii freshman running back Tylan Hines was among the Rainbow Warriors who witnessed it.
“Definitely,” Hines said when asked if the game would be on in his mind for next season’s Mountain West meeting in Laramie. “As motivation, for sure.”
The 27-20 defeat Saturday night, the latest one-score setback in conference play for UH (2-7, 1-3 MWC), ensured a losing regular-season record and meant that all four of UH’s perpetual trophies with conference rivals are in enemy hands.
UH will have a chance to reclaim the Ninth Island Trophy against UNLV on Nov. 19 and the Tomey Trophy with San Jose State to end the season Nov. 26.
For now, Timmy Chang’s team will lick its newest wounds as it prepares for a road trip to Fresno State (4-4, 3-1).
“The fourth quarter, gotta make a play somewhere, get a stop,” Chang said. “Make a play on offense, special teams. I think that’s the difference in the game.”
The Cowboys (6-3, 4-1) broke open a 13-all game going into the fourth quarter with Dawaiian McNeely’s 61-yard run with 12 minutes to go and Andrew Peasley’s 4-yard quarterback keeper.
UH had 4:12 to make up a two-touchdown deficit and got one. Brayden Schager found Zion Bowens for a 20-yard strike with 1:40 left to cap a 75-yard drive. But Wyoming recovered Kyler Halvorsen’s onside kick attempt.
Running back D.Q. James, who averaged 12.8 yards per carry on 14 attempts, gained 3 yards on first down and broke through for 9 yards on second down to get the game-winning first down with his 179th yard. The Cowboys moved to run out the clock as they eyed the trophy across the field.
Wyoming finished with 365 yards rushing, the most UH allowed on the ground since Vanderbilt topped 400 in the season opener.
It was a 10-10 game at halftime, but the Cowboys steadily gashed the Rainbow Warriors. Chang acknowledged afterward there is a depth issue.
That overshadowed another strong defensive performance from freshman defensive back Peter Manuma, who continues to excel playing through the emotional pain of the recent death of his mother.
Manuma had two interceptions and a sack of Peasley, and a forced fumble. Per UH, he is the only player in FBS football this season with that combination of statistics in a game.
“(People) were telling me, ‘Good job. Good game,’ but my thoughts was, ‘My game wasn’t really good because we didn’t win,’” the Campbell High product said. “We can always be better. I can always play better. I can have more turnovers, give my offense more opportunities. It’s never good enough for me.”
Linebacker Logan Taylor recorded his second double-digit tackle game in two games since moving into the starting lineup, with 13.
Hines had his first 100-yard rushing game at 103 on 11 carries. Dedrick Parson had a first-quarter touchdown on a 22-yard catch from Schager, his first receiving touchdown of the season after 10 rushing scores.
Schager was not intercepted but had an erratic night with 23-for-45 passing for 205 yards. He was 11-for-27 in the first half.
“When we watch the film, we’re going to see missed opportunities in there that could’ve been better and definitely is going to change the outcome of the game,” Chang said.
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii.