Hawaii wide receiver JoJo Ward (19) runs the ball for a touchdown to tie the game against UNLV during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Honolulu. Hawaii would go on to defeat UNLV 35-28. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
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HONOLULU (AP) - Freshman Chevan Cordeiro came on in the fourth quarter and threw three touchdown passes to help Hawaii beat UNLV 35-28 on Saturday night and snap a four-game losing streak.
Cordeiro replaced starter Cole McDonald and, on the first play, threw a 64-yard touchdown pass to JoJo Ward and then hit John Ursua for the 2-point conversion to trim Hawaii's deficit to 28-21 with 11:42 to play. On UNLV's ensuing drive, Lexington Thomas was dropped for a 2-yard loss by Penei Pavihi on fourth-and-2 and the Rainbow Warriors possession near midfield. Cordeiro ran for a 17-yard gain on third-and-9 and then, two plays later on third-and-5, connected with Ward for a 20-yard TD to tie it with 4:23 left. Pavihi sacked Armani Rogers for a 3-yard loss on third-and-8 before Cordeiro hit Ursua in stride on the right sideline for a 68-yard touchdown less than three minutes later.
Thomas finished with 28 carries for 129 yards and two touchdowns for UNLV (3-8, 1-6 Mountain West).
Cordeiro was 4-of-5 passing for 153 yards. Hawaii (7-5, 4-3), which became bowl eligible with the win, had 190 of its 411 total yards in the fourth quarter.
UNLV defensive back Dalton Baker (33) can't stop Hawaii wide receiver JoJo Ward (19) from making a touchdown to tie the game during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Honolulu. Hawaii would go on to defeat UNLV 35-28. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
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Hawaii wide receiver Cedric Byrd (6) reacts after making the game winning touchdown against UNLV during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Honolulu. Hawaii defeated UNLV 35-28. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
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Hawaii wide receiver Cedric Byrd (6) celebrates with teammates running back Dayton Furuta (7) and wide receiver Devan Stubblefield (9) after he made the game winning touchdown against UNLV during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Honolulu. Hawaii defeated UNLV 35-28. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
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Hawaii running back Fred Holly III (21) gets pulled down by UNLV linebacker Bailey Laolagi (48) uring the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Honolulu. Hawaii defeated UNLV 35-28. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
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UNLV quarterback Armani Rogers (1) makes a pass against Hawaii during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Honolulu. Hawaii defeated UNLV 35-28. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
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Hawaii wide receiver JoJo Ward (19) makes a catch over UNLV defensive back Jocquez Kalili (26) and defensive back Evan Austrie (17) during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Honolulu. Hawaii defeated UNLV 35-28. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
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UNLV running back Lexington Thomas (3) runs the ball into the end zone during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Hawaii, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
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Hawaii quarterback Cole McDonald (13) scrambles through the UNLV defense trying to gain yards during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
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UNLV quarterback Armani Rogers (1) slides away from Hawaii defensive lineman Manly Williams (49) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
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Hawaii running back Fred Holly III (21) stiff arms UNLV defensive back Evan Austrie (17) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
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