Wyoming Rebounds With Win by Holding Off Hawaii, 28-22

HONOLULU — Randy Welniak passed for a touchdown and ran for another late Saturday night as 16-ranked Wyoming held off Hawaii, 28-22, in a Western Athletic Conference game.

Hawaii, 7-3 overall and 4-3 in WAC play, closed to within a touchdown in the fourth quarter and drove into Wyoming territory with 3 minutes left. However, Wyoming held on fourth and short yardage.

“It wasn’t pretty but it was a win,” said Wyoming Coach Paul Roach. “Hawaii just kept coming on. They didn’t bend--they came back strong.”

The victory capped Wyoming’s second season without a conference loss. The Cowboys (11-1, 8-0) had already clinched the WAC championship and a trip to the Holiday Bowl against Oklahoma State Dec. 30 at San Diego.

The Cowboys, who lost to Houston last week, 34-10, had 3 interceptions in the first half, leading to 13 points. Hawaii, which trailed 20-7 at halftime, closed to 28-22 on a 1-yard touchdown run by Hekoti Fakava and a 2-point conversion pass from Warren Jones to Billy Stephens with 9:53 left in the fourth quarter.

Hawaii linebacker Mark Odom set up the score by falling on a missed snap at the Wyoming 13-yard line.

Hawaii stopped the Cowboys’ next drive and then advanced to the Wyoming 42. On fourth and 4, the Cowboys stopped Fakava 2 yards short of the first down on a pass from Jones.

Wyoming’s winning score was set up by Eric Coleman, who blocked a punt by Kyle Ah Loo at the Hawaii 20. Six plays later, DeWaine Jones ran around the left side for a touchdown with 2:08 left in the third quarter. Welniak passed to Peter Gunn for a 2-point conversion.

Welniak was 10 of 20 for 92 yards. Gunn gained 50 yards in 13 carries.