WAC ROUNDUP : Hawaii Quarterback Runs Past Wyoming

Quarterback Michael Carter shredded Wyoming’s defense for 214 yards rushing and two scores in 33 carries as Hawaii opened the season Saturday with a 32-17 Western Athletic Conference victory at Laramie, Wyo.

“The way the defense was set up, it looked like they weren’t taking the quarterback,” Carter said.

After Wyoming had pulled to within 19-17 on a 45-yard field goal by Sean Fleming with 6:53 remaining, Hawaii moved to the Cowboys’ 40-yard line before bogging down.

But then offsetting penalties negated a Winston Haynes punt and on his second attempt Haynes tucked the ball in and ran 23 yards to the Wyoming 20. On the next play Carter, a sophomore making his first start, went around the right side and into the end zone to put the Rainbows ahead, 25-17.

Texas El Paso 35, New Mexico 19--Patrick Bailey ran for 115 yards and two touchdowns as Texas El Paso scored a WAC victory at El Paso, Tex.

Bailey led a Miners rushing attack that gained 349 yards and Mike Perez completed 11 of 20 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown.

Marcus Goodloe, implementing the Lobos’ new run-and-shoot offense, completed 16 of 33 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns, but was sacked five times and threw two interceptions.

Utah 12, Utah State 7--Bryan Rowley turned a deflected pass into a 46-yard gain, then lateralled to teammate Greg Hoffman for what proved the winning touchdown in a nonconference game at Salt Lake City.

Utah State was leading, 7-6, with four seconds left in the first half when Rowley grabbed the deflected pass from quarterback Frank Dolce at midfield, ran to the Aggies’ nine-yard line, and then tossed the ball back to Hoffman to complete the scoring play.

Dolce completed 22 of 35 passes for 270 yards.

Air Force 48, Weber State 31--Senior quarterback Rob Perez ran for two touchdowns and passed for another at Air Force Academy, Colo., as the Falcons beat the Division I-AA Wildcats.

Perez connected with Obasi Onuoha on a 60-yard scoring play-- Air Force’s first touchdown pass since the 1989 Liberty Bowl.

Colorado State 38, Arkansas State 24--Kevin Verdugo passed for two touchdowns and Brian Copeland ran for two more, powering the Rams to a victory at Ft. Collins, Colo.