RENO, Nev. (AP) — Cole McDonald threw four touchdown passes, including three to Cedric Byrd II, and Hawaii beat Nevada 54-3 on Saturday night in the Mountain West Conference opener for both teams.
McDonald completed 25 of 30 for 312 yards and Byrd had seven receptions for 87 yards. Jason Sharsh had nine catches for 123 yards — both career highs — and a score for Hawaii (4-1).
Byrd had TD receptions of 36 and 2 yards, Justice Augafa returned a punt blocked by Andrew Choi 2 yards for a score and Miles Reed scored on a 9-yard run to make it 28-0 with 5:33 left in the second quarter. After Brandon Talton's 36-yard field goal got Nevada (3-2) on the board with 36 seconds left in the first half, Byrd ran 29 yards on a trick play and then had a 7-yard reception to set up a 44-yard field goal Ryan Meskell to give the Rainbow Warriors a 28-point halftime lead.
Hawaii, which had lost seven of its last eight against the Wolf Pack, won at Nevada for just the second time in 10 all-time tries. It was the second-highest margin of victory in series history; the Rainbow Warriors lost 73-12 in Honolulu on Dec. 17, 1948.
Postgame notes – Hawai'i
-With its one made field goal in one attempt tonight, Nevada has made 14 consecutive field goal attempts dating back to last season.
-True freshman PK Brandon Talton was 1-for-1 in the game in field goal attempts, keeping him perfect on the year at 10-for-10.
-Sophomore RB Devonte Lee, who was sidelined with an injury to start the year, made his season debut and carried the ball once for four yards.
-Sophomore DT Dom Peterson's streak of consecutive games with a tackle for loss ended at five games.
-Junior DB Mar'Quette Jackson recorded a career-high seven tackles, besting his previous career best of five.
-Redshirt freshman Emany Johnson led the Pack defense with nine tackles, establishing a new career high.
-Junior DB Daylon Johnson, who also made his first career start, recorded a career-best six tackles.
-Junior DE Kameron Toomer recorded the first sack of his career in the fourth quarter. Junior LB Lawson Hall also recorded the first sack of his career in the first quarter.
-Sophomore TE Crishaun Lappin made his first reception of the season in the second quarter, giving Nevada its first third down conversion of the game.
-Senior WR Ben Putman returned the first kickoff of his career in the first quarter for 18 yards. He finished the game with five returns for an average of 17.4 yards per return.
-Junior defensive backs Daylon Johnson and Berdale Robins, along with true freshman WR Melquan Stovall, each earned the first starts of their careers.
-Nevada had its second punt of the season blocked during the second quarter. Nevada also had a punt blocked vs. Weber State.
-The all-time series between Nevada and Hawai'i is now 14-10 in favor of the Wolf Pack.
