Hawaii Bowl, Hawaii vs Middle Tennessee: Highlights, score and recap
Check out the highlights, final score and more from Saturday evening’s Hawaii Bowl between Hawaii and Middle Tennessee.
Middle Tennessee opened Saturday evening’s game as the favorite and it showed through the first five minutes or so. The Blue Raiders raced out to a quick 14-0 advantage before Hawaii took advantage of “home field” and reclaimed the lead by scoring 28 straight points. It was clear the Hawaii Bowl was going to be one of the more high-scoring affairs of the bowl season.
Hawaii bounced back to go up 28-14 before each team added one more touchdown before halftime. The Rainbow Warriors looked like a completely different team and Dru Brown was impressive under center, combatting Middle Tennessee’s Brent Stockstill.
This was Stockstill’s first game back in three weeks and he didn’t look all that rusty, outside of an interception thrown right before halftime that was returned for six points.
The Rainbow Warriors were looking like the favorite through three quarters as they tacked on another touchdown on a Brown pass. He had three touchdowns through three quarters and was winning the duel with Stockstill.
It looked all but over when Hawaii took a 45-28 lead at the end of the third, but Middle Tennessee didn’t quit, striking back to pull within 10 points with about nine minutes to go. However, Brown put the nail in the coffin with another touchdown pass to push the lead to 17 once again with under four minutes in the game.
Brown had his best game of the year and did so in front of a Hawaii-heavy crowd.
Highlights
Three Stars
Dru Brown was impressive for Hawaii. The sophomore quarterback passed for 275 yards and four touchdowns, completing 19 of his 29 passes.
Diocemy Saint Juste surprised everyone with a breakout performance for Hawaii. The junior led all rushers with 170 yards on 25 carries including a 26-yard run.
Richie James seemed to be the top player for the Blue Raiders, along with Stockstill, catching eight balls for 162 yards and one touchdown. He also had seven carries for 52 yards and another TD.
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Next Season
Hawaii will open the 2017 season with an easier game than it had this season, hosting Western Carolina on Sept. 2. On the other hand, Middle Tennessee will open the season against Vanderbilt at home. That’s an opportunity for the Blue Raiders to make a name for themselves early on.