HONOLULU — Stefphon Jefferson tied an NCAA record by scoring seven touchdowns to lead Nevada in a 69-24 win over Hawaii on Saturday.
Jefferson, a junior running back, carried 31 times for 170 yards as the Wolf Pack (3-1, 1-0 Mountain West) snapped a seven-game losing streak in Honolulu dating back to 1948. Jefferson scored on 3-, 2-, 1-, 5-, 3- and 1-yard runs and added a 55-yard scoring reception.
It was the fourth time a player had seven touchdowns in a game, the first since Oklahoma State’s Rashaan Woods did it in 2003.
Nevada racked up 575 yards of offense and had 30 first downs. It was 8 of 12 on third downs and 7 of 7 in the red zone.
After a three-and-out on their first drive, the Wolf Pack scored on their next five possessions to build a 34-17 halftime lead. Jefferson, who had 90 yards on 19 rushes at intermission, added a rushing touchdown in both the third and fourth quarters.
Hawaii’s defense came in allowing just 62.5 rushing yards per game, but gave up 355 to Nevada. The Wolf Pack averaged 6.3 yards per rush on 56 attempts. It was their 13th straight game with at least one 100-yard rusher.
Sean Schroeder’s 36-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Ostrowski pulled Hawaii within 20-17 midway through the second quarter, but Nevada scored 42 unanswered points until a Warriors touchdown in the game’s closing minutes.
Cody Fajardo completed 14 of 20 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns. He had 69 yards rushing and was not sacked.
Fajardo’s other TD pass was an 8-yarder to Zach Sudfeld in the third quarter.
Khalid Wooten had a 78-yard interception return for a score early in the fourth quarter, and Nick Hale closed out the scoring with a 52-yard run.
Brock Hekking recorded two of the Wolf Pack’s four sacks and forced a fumble.
Schroeder was 22 of 40 for 234 yards with two interceptions. Will Gregory ran for 92 yards and a touchdown for the Warriors (1-2, 0-1).
It was the most points ever allowed by Hawaii at Aloha Stadium and the most in a home game since 1950, when it allowed 74 against Stanford.
It was the first game in the Mountain West Conference for both teams. Hawaii, Nevada and Fresno State all departed the Western Athletic Conference for the MWC in July.
Nevada, which took a 9-8 lead in the all-time series, is the first visiting team to win between the schools since 2007, when Hawaii won in Reno. The 45-point margin of victory is the second-largest in series history. The Wolf Pack beat Hawaii 73-12 in 1948.
Nevada offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich played quarterback at Hawaii and served as the Warriors’ offensive coordinator the past three seasons.
Nevada 69, Hawaii 24
Nevada 14 20 21 14 — 69
Hawaii 3 14 0 7 — 24
First quarter
Nev—Jefferson 55 pass from Fajardo (Hardison kick), 6:41.
Haw—FG Hadden 22, 3:36.
Nev—Jefferson 3 run (Hardison kick), 1:17.
Second quarter
Haw—Hall 19 pass from Schroeder (Hadden kick), 13:46.
Nev—Jefferson 2 run (kick blocked), 11:08.
Haw—Ostrowski 36 pass from Schroeder (Hadden kick), 8:37.
Nev—Jefferson 1 run (Hardison kick), 5:35.
Nev—Jefferson 5 run (Hardison kick), 2:00.
Third quarter
Nev—Jefferson 3 run (Hardison kick), 10:34.
Nev—Sudfeld 8 pass from Fajardo (Hardison kick), 4:54.
Nev—Jefferson 1 run (Hardison kick), :14.
Fourth quarter
Nev—Wooten 78 interception return (Hardison kick), 12:47.
Haw—Gregory 4 run (Hadden kick), 6:22.
Nev—Hale 52 run (Hardison kick), 4:24.
A—31,417.
Nev Haw
First downs 30 20
Rushes-yards 56-355 34-144
Passing 220 234
Comp-Att-Int 14-20-0 22-40-2
Return Yards 135 0
Punts-Avg. 2-46.5 5-36.4
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 2-0
Penalties-Yards 2-24 6-45
Time of Possession 28:03 31:57
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Nevada, Jefferson 31-170, Hale 5-84, Fajardo 13-69, Combs 3-24, Knight 3-9, Team 1-(minus 1). Hawaii, Gregory 16-92, Poueu-Luna 1-36, Lister 7-21, S.Jackson 4-18, Ostrowski 1-4, Schroeder 5-(minus 27).
PASSING—Nevada, Fajardo 14-20-0-220. Hawaii, Schroeder 22-40-2-234.
RECEIVING—Nevada, Wimberly 4-35, Jefferson 3-76, Sudfeld 3-41, Turner 2-21, Arendse 1-39, Bradley 1-8. Hawaii, Ostrowski 7-99, — Davis 5-69, Gant 3-22, Harding 3-11, Hall 2-24, Lister 1-6, Cofer 1-3.
