University of Hawaii linebacker Isaiah Tufaga sacks Vanderbilt quarterback AJ Swann in the first half of the Rainbow Warriors’ 35-28 loss to the Commodores in both teams’ season opener on Saturday. AP photos
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt Commodores know they can be better. Coach Clark Lea also understands that the University of Hawaii is a much-improved team playing for an entire state right now.
AJ Swann threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns as Vanderbilt held off the Rainbow Warriors 35-28 Saturday following a long lightning delay before the season opener for both teams.
“It was a sloppy game, and we were fortunate to come away with a win,” Lea, the Vanderbilt coach, said. “The first credit goes to (Hawaii coach) Timmy Chang, who’s done a really nice job advancing that program. It’s a prideful team that was fighting for the state of Hawaii.”
Jayden McGowden returned a kickoff untouched 96 yards to put Vanderbilt ahead to stay at 14-7 midway through the first, and Swann threw a pair of TD passes to Will Sheppard. Swann found London Humphreys for a 32-yard TD and a 35-14 lead to start the fourth quarter.
Vanderbilt won a second straight opener in Lea’s third season at his alma mater, though UH scored twice in the fourth to force a thrilling finish.
The Rainbow Warriors’ Steven McBride (left) celebrates with fellow wide receiver Pofele Ashlock after a touchdown in the first half Saturday.
The second TD came with 4:49 left on a 1-yard keeper by reserve quarterback Dalen Morris to pull within 35-28 after the Rainbow Warriors forced a turnover on downs. Hawaii nearly recovered the ensuing onside kick, but Jalen Smith’s right elbow was out of bounds as he recovered the ball.
Vandy didn’t seal the win until De’Rickey Wright picked off his second pass of the game with 1:43 left.
The Rainbow Warriors have yet to win on the road against a Southeastern Conference team. They dropped to 0-5 in such games and 3-11-1 all-time against current SEC teams.
Coming off a 3-10 record in Chang’s first year at the helm of his alma mater, there’s not really anywhere for UH to go but up. The Warriors are also playing this season inspired and with heavy hearts in the wake of the devastating wildfires on Maui.
The Rainbow Warriors, routed 63-10 at home by Vanderbilt a year ago, took a 7-6 lead with Brayden Schager hitting Steven McBride on a 9-yard TD pass in the first quarter.
Vanderbilt immediately answered with McGowan’s kickoff return to put the Commodores ahead to stay.
Schager hit McBride again on a 45-yard TD pass on fourth-and-4, and Hawaii thought it scored on a fumble recovered in the end zone. The score was overturned on review with the ball ruled down at the 1. Tight end Greyson Murphy then was flagged for a false start.
Wright picked off Schager’s next pass in the end zone, getting a foot down for the interception.
“They had a chip on their shoulder, especially like how we (beat) them last year and they fully believed that they could beat us,” Wright said.
Schager started his second season in Chang’s offense completing his first eight passes for 86 yards before his first incompletion. Schager threw for 351 yards and three TDs, helping UH outgain Vandy 391-297 in total offense.
Vanderbilt previously announced a portion of ticket sales from this game would be donated to the Maui Strong Fund to help with recovery from the recent wildfires. Lea said they wanted to recognize everyone hurting from those fires, adding: “Obviously, our hearts remain with them.”
UH wide receiver Karsyn Pupunu, a native of Lahaina and graduate of Kamehameha Schools Maui, entered the game but did not record any statistics.
It will be a quick turnaround for the Rainbow Warriors as they prepare to take on Stanford on Friday at the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex.
HAWAII 7 7 0 14–28
VANDERBILT 14 7 7 7–35
First Quarter
VAN–P.Smith 21 run (run failed), 11:26.
HAW–McBride 9 pass from Schager (Shipley kick), 7:13.
VAN–McGowan 97 kickoff return (Skinner pass from Swann), 7:00.
Second Quarter
VAN–Sheppard 7 pass from Swann (Borcila kick), 14:56.
HAW–McBride 45 pass from Schager (Shipley kick), 13:03.
Third Quarter
VAN–Sheppard 1 pass from Swann (Borcila kick), 9:32.
Fourth Quarter
VAN–Humphreys 32 pass from Swann (Borcila kick), 14:48.
HAW–Ashlock 3 pass from Schager (Shipley kick), 11:20.
HAW–Morris 1 run (Shipley kick), 4:49.
A–21,407.
HAWAII – VANDERBILT
First downs 19 17
Total Net Yards 391 297
Rushes-yards 25-40 26-39
Passing 351 258
Punt Returns 0-0 1-27
Kickoff Returns 4-90 1-97
Interceptions Ret. 0-0 2-9
Comp-Att-Int 27-35-2 19-30-0
Sacked-Yards Lost 3-18 3-26
Punts 4-34.5 3-53.667
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 7-59 8-72
Time of Possession 31:22 28:38
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING–Hawaii, Sims 9-38, T.Hines 9-15, Morris 1-1, Schager 6-(minus 14). Vanderbilt, Smith 7-30, Kyle 1-13, Gillespie 6-13, McGowan 2-11, Humphreys 1-5, Alexander 2-2, Sherrill 1-(minus 4), (Team) 3-(minus 5), Swann 3-(minus 26).
PASSING–Hawaii, Schager 27-35-2-351. Vanderbilt, Swann 19-30-0-258.
RECEIVING–Hawaii, Ashlock 7-127, McBride 7-98, Morgan 5-33, Perry 4-51, Vaipulu 1-23, C.Hines 1-10, Cenacle 1-6, T.Hines 1-3. Vanderbilt, McGowan 6-72, Sheppard 6-68, Gillespie 2-17, Carter 1-41, Humphreys 1-32, Hoskins 1-13, Skinner 1-10, Ball 1-5.
MISSED FIELD GOALS–None.
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