Strong helps Nevada pull away for 34-17 victory over Hawaii

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Carson Strong passed for 395 yards and two third-quarter touchdowns and Nevada pulled away after halftime to beat Hawaii 34-17 in Mountain West Conference play on Saturday.

The Wolf Pack (5-1, 2-0) scored first on a Brandon Talton 23-yard field goal midway through the first quarter, but the lead lasted just one play after Dae Dae Hunter took a first-down handoff and raced 75 yards to the end zone for Hawaii (3-4, 1-2). Nevada went up 10-7 on Toa Taua's 6-yard TD run with 12:58 left in the second quarter, but again the lead lasted one play after Hunter took a first-down handoff 81 yards for a TD. The Wolf Pack answered with a 10-yard TD run by Taua for a 17-14 lead. Both teams added field goals before halftime.

Strong took over in the third quarter for Nevada, throwing scoring passes of 28 yards to Romeo Doubs and a 3-yarder to Tory Horton, as the Wolf Pack upped their avantage to 34-17 with 2:25 left in the period. Strong completed 34 of 54 passes. Cole Turner had 12 catches for 175 yards.

Hunter rushed for 174 yards and the two long TDs on just eight carries — all in the first half — for the Rainbow Warriors. Brayden Schager completed 22 of 39 passes for 205 yards and four interceptions.

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