John Mateer threw three touchdown passes in the first half and ran for two more in the second half, helping Washington State secure a 42-10 victory over Hawaii and become bowl eligible on Homecoming Saturday.
This was the third time this season that Mateer accounted for five touchdowns for the Cougars (6-1), who turned three turnovers into touchdowns and limited the Rainbow Warriors (2-5) to just two field goal attempts, scoring three points on their first two possessions.
After Hawaii missed a field goal, the Cougars went 75 yards down the field, with Mateer and Carlos Hernandez connecting for a 32-yard touchdown, marking the first of Hernandez’s career for a 7-3 lead.
Mateer then threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Mathers following a fumble recovery by Bryson Lamb, and another 9-yarder to Kris Hutson after an interception by Taariq Al-Uqdah, giving the Cougars a 21-3 lead at halftime.
Brayden Schager connected with Tylan Hines for a 17-yard touchdown pass on Hawaii’s first possession of the second half, bringing them within reach. However, the Cougars quickly answered with rushing touchdowns on their next three drives. Mateer scored on runs of 8 and 14 yards, and Leo Pulalasi added a 3-yard touchdown.
Mateer completed 23 of 27 passes for 295 yards, while Hutson led the receiving group with seven catches for 90 yards. Schager finished 20 of 30 for 196 yards.
