In a display of thunder and more thunder, Nate Ilaoa and Reagan Mauia added a running game to the University of Hawai'i offense for the season's final game.

Ilaoa, 5 feet 9 and 248 pounds, scored two touchdowns and rushed for 151 yards on 15 carries. Mauia, 6 feet and 351 pounds, added another score and 56 yards for the Warriors, who defeated San Diego State, 49-38, last night at Aloha Stadium.

"That's the best thing," Ilaoa said of having two bruising backs. "It's good to be fast, but we don't have the offense for that. We have no fullback or tight end. We're just trying to pound that ball."

Hawai'i, which averaged 76.5 rushing yards per game before last night, accumulated 103 by halftime. It finished with 262, its largest rushing total since racking up 153 against Utah State on Nov. 12.

Hawai'i coach June Jones said he used the rushing game more than usual because of the "things (the Aztecs) were doing on defense."

Ilaoa became the first player to rush for more than 100 yards since Michael Brewster's 150 against Nevada on Oct. 9, 2004. He notched his first score on an 11-yard shovel pass from Colt Brennan in the third quarter. His second was on a 25-yard run in the fourth quarter.

The performance capped off a tumultuous season for Ilaoa, who entered the season out of shape.

"If I get this year back, I'm going to work hard in the offseason so I don't have to get in shape during the season," said Ilaoa, who is petitioning the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility after sitting out last season recovering from knee surgery.

Mauia, a converted defensive lineman who had 10 carries in the game, scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 10-yard run in the third quarter.

"I didn't think it was a touchdown at first," Mauia said. "I didn't know how I was supposed to feel."

Mauia was still picking up some pointers from Ilaoa as late as Friday night.

"At the meetings, he was asking how to hold the ball and tuck it away," Ilaoa said.

Mauia still had a lot of unanswered questions about his new position.

"Some of the terms they use offensively, I don't even know what they mean," said Mauia. He used "pick up the doggers" as an example: It means "if you see an outside guy who's going to blitz, you pick him up."

Ilaoa led the team in rushing with 643 yards. Mauia made his debut as a running back last week against Wisconsin, carrying the ball twice for three yards.

FAREWELL TO SENIORS

UH said good-bye to 14 seniors after last night's game: quarterbacks Kainoa Akina and Jeff Rhode; defensive end Nkeruwen "Tony" Akpan; defensive backs Lamar Broadway, Landon Kafentzis, Lono Manners and Turmarian Moreland; linebackers Ikaika Curnan, Adam Iloilo, Kila Kamakawiwo'ole and Tanuvasa Moe; offensive linemen Brandon Eaton and Derek Faavi; and defensive lineman Justin Faimealelei.

HOMEGROWN AZTEC

Senior defensive end Kurt Kahui, a Baldwin graduate, started for the Aztecs. He recovered a fumble in the first quarter on UH's opening drive, setting up San Diego State's first score on the next play. He finished with seven tackles. "It was hard to play, being in Hawai'i," said Kahui, who got to visit with his daughter Keani, who will be two this week. "I had butterflies early on, and I don't normally have butterflies. It was good to get that fumble and get rid of the butterflies."

END OF SERIES

San Diego State athletic director Jeff Schemmel said he has no plans "at this time" to add additional games with UH. Last night's game was the second and final of the non-conference series with the Aztecs, who left the Western Athletic Conference after the 1998 season. At the time, UH and SDSU were paired as designated "rivals" in the old 16-team WAC. Last night's game was their 26th meeting. Schemmel, who took over at SDSU this fall, said he hasn't ruled out possibly talking to UH in the future.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.