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Brennan shows all-around game in rout

Sep 16, 2007 - 10:00 AM LAS VEGAS (Ticker) -- Colt Brennan has made his name slinging the ball all over the field. On Saturday, he used his legs.

Brennan accounted for five touchdowns - including three short rushing scores - and threw for 308 yards, leading No. 24 Hawaii to a 49-14 victory over the UNLV Rebels.

After going three-and-out on their first possession and falling behind 7-0 midway through the first quarter, the Warriors (3-0) scored 42 unanswered points over the next 2 1/2 quarters, highlighted by a pair of one-yard rushing TDs by Brennan.

"I think he is excellent," UNLV coach Mike Sanford said. "There are some really good players that are up for the Heisman Trophy and I think he is excellent and very productive. He is a very efficient quarterback and I give them credit."

The senior's first score wrapped up an 11-play drive to tie the game at 7-7 and his second one-yard TD run four minutes later capped another 11-play drive to place the Warriors ahead, 14-7.

Sandwiched between his two passing TDs to Ryan Grice-Mullins and Jason Rivers was Brennan's third rushing score from three yards out, tripling his previous career high. He did not throw an interception and was sacked just one time.

"We knew how good he was coming in," UNLV linebacker Beau Bell said about Brennan. "We didn't expect him to run out of the pocket so much."

Playing just three quarters, Brennan completed 26-of-32 passes for 298 yards, setting an NCAA record by passing for more than 200 yards and a touchdown for the 29th straight time, but saw his streak of 14 games with at least 300 yards passing come to an end. He did, however, extend his streak of throwing for at least two TDs to 21 games.

"I wanted to make a statement," Brennan said. "There was no way I wasn't going to come out and play this game. They'd have to cut my leg off for me not to come out and play." The win may be a feather in the cap for Hawaii, who dropped four spots in the rankings last week after being pushed into overtime by Louisiana Tech, 45-44. The Warriors easily dispatched the Rebels, who provided a scare to then-No.5 ranked Wisconsin last Saturday, 20-13.

The victory gave Hawaii its first 3-0 start under coach June Jones and it is the first time since 1992 the Warriors have won their first three games in a season.

Travis Dixon went 18-of-35 for 189 yards with a TD and an interception for the Rebels (2-1), who fell to 4-19 all-time against a ranked opponent.