Carrier rushes for 161 yards, 2 TDs to lead New Mexico to 35-23 win against Hawaii
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Kasey Carrier ran for 161 yards and two touchdowns as New Mexico beat Hawaii 35-23 on Saturday night.
It was the first win outside of the borders of New Mexico since 2007 for the Lobos (4-3, 1-1 Mountain West).
Carrier carried 35 times and scored on 23- and 1-yard runs to lead a New Mexico offense that compiled 442 yards, including 322 rushing. The Lobos, who have won two straight games and three of their last four, were 9 of 17 on third-down conversions and 3 of 4 on fourth downs.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Carrier, the reigning Mountain West Conference offensive player of the week, ran for a career-high 191 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Texas State last week.
The Warriors (1-5, 0-3) pulled to within 28-23 with 9:49 remaining on a 1-yard TD run by John Lister. But New Mexico got an insurance touchdown on B.R. Holbrook's 5-yard run.
The Lobos scored on each of their first three possessions to build a 21-0 lead in the second quarter.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}After Carrier opened the scoring with his 23-yard run, Hawaii fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Marquis Bundy recovered for the Lobos, who cashed in with a 6-yard touchdown run by SaQwan Edwards. Following a Hawaii three-and-out, New Mexico drove 66 yards in 14 plays, capped by Carrier's 1-yard TD run. The drive took seven minutes, 21 seconds.
Hawaii ran just three offensive plays until the 5:46 mark in the first quarter.
Hawaii got a 51-yard TD pass from Sean Schroeder to Scott Harding to get on the board with 5:55 left in the second quarter, and Tyler Hadden hit a career-long 49-yard field goal to get the Warriors within 21-10 at halftime.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Cole Gautsche's 76-yard third-quarter touchdown run put New Mexico ahead, 28-10. He finished with five carries for 104 yards.
Mike Edwards answered on the ensuing kickoff with a 100-yard return for a Hawaii TD. It was his second kickoff return for a score this season.
New Mexico held possession for 38:22 to Hawaii's 21:28. Holbrook completed 7 of 12 passes for 109 yards. The Lobos came in averaging just 48 passing yards per game.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Schroeder finished 20 of 42 passing for 272 yards and was sacked twice. Will Gregory led the Warriors' rushing attack with 99 yards.
In its four-game losing streak, Hawaii has allowed 1,301 rushing yards.
The Lobos last won outside New Mexico on Oct. 20, 2007, when they won 20-17 at San Diego State.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}It was the first meeting between the schools since 1998, when both teams were Western Athletic Conference members, and New Mexico beat Hawaii, 30-20, in Honolulu. Hawaii leads the all-time series 14-8, but New Mexico has won the last five games.