WAC Roundup: Moniz leads Hawaii to win

RUSTON, La. - Bryant Moniz threw for 410 yards and four touchdowns to lead Hawaii to a 44-26 win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday night in the WAC opener for both teams.

Royce Pollard caught 10 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns for Hawaii (3-2, 1-0). Moniz had passing scores of 27, 13, 9 and 6 yards.

Joey Losefa rushed for 99 yards on 16 carries for Hawaii.

Hawaii trailed only in the first quarter, but was able to build a 21-point lead in the third quarter when Richard Torres returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown. Tank Hopkins added another score when he returned a fumble 16 yards to give the Warriors a 41-13 lead.

The Bulldogs (1-4, 0-1) came no closer than 18 points.

Nick Isham threw for 305 yards, three touchdowns and had two interceptions. Quinton Patton caught seven of Isham's passes for 126 yards and a TD.

Mississippi 38, Fresno St. 28

FRESNO, Calif. - Jeff Scott ran for 138 yards and two second-half touchdowns and new starting quarterback Randall Mackey sparked Mississippi's dormant offense.

Brandon Bolden added two touchdown runs for the Rebels (2-3), who capped their first trip ever to California by earning their first win of the season against an FBS-level team.

Robbie Rouse ran for 123 yards and a touchdown and Derek Carr threw for 281 yards and a score for the Bulldogs (2-3), who were unable to get their first win ever against a Southeastern Conference team.

Virginia 21, Idaho 20 OT

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Idaho hung around and hung around against heavily favored Virginia and nearly pulled the upset.

And although Brian Reader's two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, allowing Virginia to escape with an overtime victory, Vandals coach Robb Akey was proud of how his team responded to the adversity of an early 14-0 deficit.

After the two teams traded touchdowns in overtime, Akey decided to go for the win on the road rather than kick a point-after and force a second overtime. Akey had no second thoughts about the decision. On the decisive play, Reader dropped back and was flushed from the pocket before lofting a pass toward a well-covered receiver.

San Jose State 38, CSU 31

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Jabari Carr hauled in a go-ahead TD pass from Matt Faulkner with 54 seconds remaining to help San Jose State snap a 16-game road losing skid.

The Spartans (2-3) have now won back-to-back games for the first time in three years.

Brandon Rutley rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns before limping off the field after spraining his left ankle in the third quarter.

The Spartans lost some of their steam without their powerful tailback, squandering a 31-17 lead in the second half.

New Mexico State 42, New Mexico 28

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Even a change in head coaches didn't do much for New Mexico as rival New Mexico State got three first-quarter touchdown passes from quarterback Matt Christian.

Christian finished 16 for 27 for 296 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 101 yards and another TD for NMSU (2-3).