Remember those green and white bumper stickers, some of which are still visible around the state, that say "June Would Throw"?

Well, it turns out June Jones, the University of Hawai'i football coach, might also run. Well, not himself, of course. After all, let's not get crazy here.

But on rare occasion actually let his team do it, which is what happened more than occasionally last night as the Warriors not only tried out new-look uniforms, but a semblance of a thunder and shock running game behind Reagan Mauia and Nate Ilaoa in barreling over San Diego State, 49-38.

In an effort to close out what became a 5-7 season on a winning note, the Warriors ran and kept running on a scale rarely seen in the Jones era and with uncommon success, too.

So much so that they ran more times than then Aztecs (39-37) and doubled San Diego State's ground yardage (262-133).

By the time the Warriors finally tucked this one away, they had the second highest number of carries in a regulation game in Jones' seven seasons at UH. Moreover, the yardage they amassed was the largest ground total in Jones' tenure, too.

"I don't know what the numbers were," Jones said afterward, "but I know we tried to do what we needed to do to win the game. We were able to run the ball against them."

It wasn't just what the Warriors did but who they did it with. Not only did Ilaoa finally get his a full day's work — 15 carries for 151 yards and a touchdown — but UH unveiled a warning for next season.

About the time that an Aloha Stadium gathering of 23,035 was getting used to the Warriors' combination of silver helmets, black jerseys with green numerals and silver pants, Jones sprung the evening's real surprise: Mauia, a converted lineman, on the disbelieving Aztecs. Call it a payback for Marshall Faulk.

Not content to throw hardly opened pages of the playbook at the 5-7 Aztecs, UH also threw the biggest thing it had: Mauia. Indeed, you knew this would be a season finale like few others when, in the first quarter, the Warriors put the ball in the hands of the 6-foot, 351-pound Mauia. And, then, went back nine more times in the course of the contest for a total of 56 yards and a score. Talk about your cruel and unusual punishment. What does it say when Ilaoa, who is listed at 248 pounds, is the "smaller" partner in a one-two running punch?

KKEA radio runs a "nuttiest play of the game" promotion and for about five seconds — the time it took Mauia to get up a full head of steam — this looked like a contender until Mauia began bowling over would-be tacklers like so many bowling pins.

By the time Mauia scored a third-quarter touchdown on a 10-yard run that brought his teammates to the sidelines in congratulations and fans to their feet in appreciation, it looked absolutely brilliant.

Said Jones: "I think everybody here saw what Reagan Mauia will be like next year when he loses 80 pounds."

If he does, you don't suppose they'll print new bumper stickers that say, "June Would Throw ... And, Maybe, Run, Too."

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.