Bowl-bound Hawaii all smiles after beating WSU

HONOLULU – First-year coach Greg McMackin vowed to take Hawaii to the postseason, even with the Warriors off to a 1-3 start. On Saturday night, he delivered.

Greg Alexander threw for a career-best 315 yards and two touchdowns as Hawaii defeated Washington State 24-10 and accepted an invitation to its hometown Hawaii Bowl.

The victory was the third straight for the Warriors (7-5), who became bowl eligible for the third straight year and will play in the Christmas Eve game for the fifth time since 2002.

“There’s no way we weren’t going to go to a bowl game,” McMackin said. “I feel very humble, happy and proud.”

Greg Salas had seven catches for 131 yards, including a 19-yard TD reception on Hawaii’s opening series that capped a 10-play, 97-yard drive. On the touchdown, Salas caught the ball at the 10, shed a defender and plowed over cornerback Romeo Pellum at the goal line.

“He’s a stud,” McMackin said. “He’s a big-time player.”

Alexander, who finished 19-of-34 and recorded his first 300-yard passing game, also had 43 yards rushing. He hit a wide open Michael Washington for a 44-yard scoring hookup in the third quarter to give Hawaii a two-touchdown cushion that it wouldn’t relinquish.

“It feels good,” Alexander said. “The season is a marathon and we all knew that. Everybody stood together and we had a shot to do this. … And now we are going to the Hawaii Bowl.”

The Warriors took a 17-3 lead into halftime after settling for a 22-yard field goal by Dan Kelly, who earlier hooked a 27-yarder and later missed a 33-yarder in the fourth quarter.

Hawaii had first-and-goal from the 4 when Josh Leonard recovered a bobbled snap by Kevin Lopina. WSU was able to keep Hawaii out of the end zone with the help of a sack by Kevin Kooyman.

On a cool and drizzly night, the Warriors easily scored on their first two drives and took a 14-0 lead on Daniel Libre’s 2-yard TD. But Washington State’s defense toughened up and slowed down Hawaii’s scoring with heavy pressure on Alexander.

“They’re a good defense and they made some adjustments after those first two drives,” Alexander said. “It took us a while to get back into the end zone, but we got the win so everybody is smiling right now.”

For Washington State (2-11), the loss closed out its worst season since 1974, when the Cougars finished 2-9.

Dwight Tardy powered for a 1-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter to cut Hawaii’s lead to 17-10 and awaken the crimson-clad fans. The score was setup by a 17-yard run by receiver Brandon Gibson off a reverse.

But the Cougars, who were held to 196 yards of offense, would get no closer.

Tardy had 53 yards rushing. Logwone Mitz ran for 52 yards on 13 carries.

The Cougars managed just 76 yards through the air. Lopina, who played most of the first half, was 2 of 6 for 23 yards, while freshman JT Levenseller was 6 of 11 for 53 yards.

Washington State’s season was summed in one play in the fourth quarter. After blocking a 47-yard field-goal attempt, Devin Giles picked up the ball, danced around, broke the grasp of a tackler, backpeddled, danced around some more before pitching it to Chima Nwachukwu, who fumbled in front of the Cougars coach Paul Wulff.