Highlights, key plays and photos from BYU’s 38-34 loss to Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl
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BYU quarterback Zach Wilson (1) drops back to pass during the second half of the team’s Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game against Hawaii, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. Eugene Tanner, AP
SALT LAKE CITY — BYU’s rollercoaster 2019 season came to an unceremonious end Tuesday night, as the Cougars fell 38-34 to Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl at Aloha Stadium.
Nick Mardner scored the game-winning 24-yard touchdown with 1:17 to play as the Rainbow Warriors rallied to win after leading by as many as 14 points in the first half.
Here’s three key takeaways that defined the game for BYU:
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BYU running back Lopini Katoa (4) runs with the football during the first half of the team's Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game against Hawaii, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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Hawaii quarterback Cole McDonald (13) hands off the football to running back Miles Reed (26) during the first half of the team's Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game against BYU, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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BYU quarterback Zach Wilson (1) loses the football on a hit by Hawaii defensive back Eugene Ford, right, as Wilson tried to leap into the end zone during the second half of the Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. Hawaii recovered the football in the end zone for a touchback. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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Hawaii defensive lineman Manly Williams, front, recovers a BYU fumble in the end zone for a touchback in the second half of the Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. Hawaii defensive back Michael Washington is at right rear. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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Hawaii wide receiver Jason-Matthew Sharsh, left, quarterback Cole McDonald, center, and defensive back Eugene Ford (8) celebrate as McDonald holds the Hawaii Bowl trophy after the team's 38-34 win over BYU in the NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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Hawaii wide receiver Nick Mardner, right, runs into the end zone to score the go-ahead touchdown as BYU defensive back Hayden Livingston (22) defends during the second half of the Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. Hawaii won 38-34. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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BYU quarterback Zach Wilson holds the award after being name BYU Most Valuable Player in the team's Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game against Hawaii, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. Hawaii won 38-34. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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Hawaii quarterback Cole McDonald (13) runs with the ball as BYU linebacker Kavika Fonua (34) gives chase the second half of the Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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BYU offensive lineman Keanu Saleapaga (61) congratulates quarterback Zach Wilson (1), who scored a touchdown during the second half of the Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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Hawaii wide receiver Jared Smart (23) catches a pass for a touchdown next to BYU defensive back Troy Warner (1) during the first half of the Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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Hawaii running back Miles Reed (26) is tackled from behind by BYU linebacker Payton Wilgar, right, during the second half of the Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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BYU running back Lopini Katoa (4) is tackled by Hawaii defensive back Khoury Bethley (5) during the first half of the Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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BYU defensive lineman Zac Dawe (99) celebrates recovering a Hawaii fumble during the first half of the Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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Hawaii wide receiver JoJo Ward (9) reaches out to catch a pass during the first half of the team's Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game against BYU, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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Hawaii fans dressed up in their Christmas gear wait for the start of the Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game between BYU and Hawaii, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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A fan wears lau lau headgear before the Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game between BYU and Hawaii, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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The BYU mascot shows his spirit before the start of the Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game between BYU and Hawaii, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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BYU linebacker Payton Wilgar (49) leads his team onto the field for the Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game against Hawaii, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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BYU coach Kalani Sitake, center, watches during the first half of the team's Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game against Hawaii, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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Hawaii wide receiver Jason-Matthew Sharsh (3) catches a pass next to BYU defensive back Austin Kafentzis during the first half of the Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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BYU fans watch the first half of the team's Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game against Hawaii, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich watches during the first half of the team's Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game against BYU, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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Hawaii quarterback Cole McDonald (13) throws a pass as BYU linebacker Payton Wilgar (49) watches during the first half of the Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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The football is just out of reach of Hawaii wide receiver Jared Smart (23) as BYU defensive back Shamon Willis (29) and linebacker Kavika Fonua (34) defend during the first half of the Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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A BYU fan watches the first half of the team's Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game against Hawaii on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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Hawaii quarterback Cole McDonald (13) runs with the football during the first half of the Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game against BYU, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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Hawaii wide receiver Jason-Matthew Sharsh (3) scores a touchdown near BYU defensive back Hayden Livingston (22) during the first half of the Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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BYU quarterback Zach Wilson (1) drops back to pass during the second half of the team's Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game against Hawaii, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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Hawaii defensive back Eugene Ford (8) holds the trophy after the Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. Hawaii defeated BYU 38-34. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich holds the Hawaii Bowl trophy after the team's 38-34 win over BYU in the NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
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Hawaii defensive back Khoury Bethley (5) intercepts a pass intended for BYU tight end Matt Bushman (89) late in the fourth quarter of the Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, in Honolulu. Hawaii won 38-34. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner) | Eugene Tanner, AP
Turnover battle lost
BYU quarterback Zach Wilson had some highlights — he threw for 274 yards and rushed for 72 yards and two touchdowns — but he turned the ball over three times against Hawaii.
The first — an interception in the first quarter — led to the Rainbow Warriors taking a 14-0 lead. The second — a fumble at the goal line — led to BYU coming up without points on a third-quarter drive in a four-point game. And the final turnover — an interception to Khoury Bethley, his second of the game — ended the Cougars’ final drive.
Hawaii quarterback Cole McDonald threw for 493 yards and four touchdowns. Most of that production came in the first half, when he threw for 331 yards and three of those scores while completing 18 of 24 passes.
That helped counter a Rainbow Warriors running attack that netted just two yards. And while the BYU defense stiffened in the third quarter, holding Hawaii to minus-four yards in the quarter, McDonald got the passing game back on track in the fourth quarter, helping lead to the game-winning score in the final two minutes.
Three key possessions net just three points
BYU, which trailed throughout the first half, finally tied the game in the third quarter on a 2-yard Wilson touchdown run. The Cougars’ next three possessions all got inside the Hawaii 30, with two inside the Rainbow Warriors 5.
BYU scored just three points on those drives, a crushing blow in a one-score game.