WESTERN ATHLETIC ROUNDUP : Hawaii Gets Big Yardage in Victory Over UTEP

EL PASO, Texas —  Michael Carter passed for two touchdowns and ran for a score Saturday, leading Hawaii to a 41-21 victory over Texas-El Paso.

The Rainbows (7-1, 4-1 Western Athletic Conference) rolled up 637 yards, including Travis Sims’ 202 yards rushing, as they moved within one victory of earning an invitation to the Aloha Bowl.

Carter threw touchdown passes of 42 and 8 yards to Darrick Branch and ran 18 yards for another TD. Hawaii led 24-0 before the Miners (1-7, 1-5) scored on Shawn Gray’s 21-yard pass to Patrick Bailey with 8:53 remaining in the half.

The Rainbows scored on their first possession, capping an 80-yard drive with Brian Gordon’s 12-yard run on an option pitch.

The Miners marched to the Hawaii 23 on the ensuing drive, but Gray lost a fumble at the 28. Carter’s 42-yard scoring strike to Branch came four plays later to make it 14-0 with 6:19 remaining in the opening quarter.

Carter completed 10 of 17 passes for 168 yards without an interception.

The Rainbows made it 21-0 about four minutes later on Carter’s 18-yard run.

Sims had a 99-yard touchdown run nullified by a holding penalty, and the Rainbows eventually settled for Jason Elam’s 55-yard field goal. Elam’s 37-yard kick just before halftime made it 27-7.

Hawaii took the second-half kickoff and drove 67 yards, all on the ground, scoring on Calvin Melvin’s 4-yard run. Carter’s touchdown pass to Branch five minutes later made it 41-7.

The Miners scored twice in the final eight minutes. Ivory Durio’s 2-yard run with 7:48 to go capped an 80-yard drive, and safety Craig Pringle intercepted Rodney Glover’s pass and returned it 77 yards for a touchdown.