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Colorado overcomes slow start to beat Hawaii 31-13

Sep 18, 2010 - 11:48 PM By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Sports Writer

BOULDER, Colo.(AP) -- Rodney Stewart rushed for two touchdowns and Tyler Hansen hooked up with Toney Clemons on a 73-yard touchdown toss as Colorado overcame a sluggish start Saturday to beat Hawaii 31-13.

The Buffaloes (2-1) trailed 10-0 at halftime and were booed off the field by the frustrated fans at Folsom Field. A loss in their home opener to Hawaii (1-2) on the heels of their 52-7 debacle at Cal a week earlier and surely the calls would have intensified for the firing of embattled fifth-year Colorado coach Dan Hawkins.

Stewart scored on runs of 7 and 2 yards sandwiched around a safety as the Buffs surged ahead 17-10 in the third quarter. Hawaii quarterback Bryant Moniz barely got the ball off to beat the blitz but running back Alex Green was tackled in the end zone by defensive back Anthony Perkins for the safety.

After Scott Enos' 32-yard field goal brought Hawaii to 17-13, Hansen ducked the pass rush and found Clemons alone on the right sideline for the long touchdown early in the fourth quarter that finally gave the Buffaloes some breathing room.

In the closing minutes, Clemons' tipped pass came down in Scotty McKnight's hands for a 21-yard touchdown.

Stewart finished with 106 yards on 22 carries and Brian Lockridge added 109 yards on 14 carries, marking the first time since 2002 that the Buffs had two 100-yard rushers in a game.

The Warriors led 10-0 at halftime and could have been 24-0.

Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith chased down Hawaii big-play receiver Kealoha Pilares (six catches, 117 yards) at the 3 after an 80-yard gain, and Perkins, who ran into nickel back Paul Vigo in a collision that sprung Pilares for his big gain, recovered a fumbled snap on fourth-and-goal inside the 1.

The Warriors got the ball at the Buffs' 3 again when Paul Richardson muffed a punt and Po'okela Ahmad recovered for Hawaii. Again, the Buffs held and Enos missed a 20-yard field goal.

They finally got it right the third time. After Jeramy Bryant recovered Stewart's fumble at midfield, Moniz found Pilares alone on the right side for a 7-yard TD and a 7-0 lead.

The Buffs were driving for the tying score when Mike Iltis, who replaced Keenan Stevens at center following the O-line's dismal showing last week, scooted the ball along the ground for an 18-yard loss, forcing a punt. The Warriors drove down and Enos nailed a 31-yarder as the first half expired.

Hansen finished 19 of 26 for 200 yards and two TDs. Moniz was 27 of 41 for 330 yards, a TD and an interception.

This was the first meeting between the schools in 85 years. The Warriors hadn't played a Big 12 team since facing Nebraska in 1978.