Illinois Can’t Stop Hawaii : College football: The Rainbows’ spread offense is too much for Illini, who lose, 27-17.

The Hawaii Rainbows simply had too many options for Illinois on Wednesday night in the Thrifty Car Rental Holiday Bowl.

The Rainbows used their triple-option offense effectively in the second half to defeat the Illini, 27-17, before 44,457 at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

And with the victory comes a little more respect for the Western Athletic Conference, known for its entertaining offense but lack of defense.

On Tuesday, WAC co-champion Fresno State dominated USC to win the Freedom Bowl, 24-7.

On Wednesday, Hawaii (11-2) rushed for 287 yards and overwhelmed the Big Ten’s fourth-place team.

Hawaii’s play overshadowed a disappointing Holiday Bowl, which failed to draw at least 50,000 for the first time in its 15-year history. The lowest attendance before Wednesday was 50,200 in the 1980 game featuring Southern Methodist and Brigham Young.

Illinois (6-5-1) met an offense it couldn’t quite control. And the Illini seemed emotionally spent trying to figure it out.

Their frustration was best symbolized by senior quarterback Jason Verduzco, who was 26 of 34 for 248 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in his final game. A teary-eyed Verduzco lingered on the sideline after the game, at times embracing an Illini assistant coach.

Verduzco, at least, did not have to face the spread offense. Linebacker John Holecek did, and he was left shaking his head.

“You try taking away one thing, and then they exploit something else,” he said. “They come at you low and cut really well. We’re not used to that.”

Before the game, Coach Lou Tepper said the Illini had ample time to prepare for the fast-paced attack. But afterward, Holecek said his teammates were not ready for everything Hawaii tried.

“(Quarterback Michael Carter) did a good job reading our defense,” Holecek said.

Carter, a junior from Long Beach, gained 105 yards in 21 carries, and was six for 16 passing for 115 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Travis Sims, the Rainbows’ leading rusher, gained 113 yards in 29 carries and scored twice. Sims’ bursts up the middle proved effective in keeping Illinois honest.

“They just quit,” Sims said. “You could see it in their eyes.”

Illinois looked as if it was primed to stop the country’s second-leading rushing team when it held Hawaii to 89 yards in the first half. The Illini led, 10-7, after Verduzco threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to John Wright and Chris Richardson kicked a 19-yard field goal.

Bob Wagner, Hawaii coach, said he was not concerned. The offense tried some new wrinkles that were unsuccessful, so he knew what to do.

“Return to basics,” Carter said.

Hawaii took the lead for good at 9:29 of the third quarter on Sims’ second touchdown, a one-yard run in which he plowed into the end zone. Jason Elam’s extra point made it 14-10.

Elam’s 45-yard field goal with 1:04 left in the quarter gave Hawaii at 17-10 lead.

“They went back to the things that we worked on,” Tepper said of the second-half change.

It did not seem to matter. The Illini defense could not stop the Rainbows. Still, Tepper was not about to change his defensive look.

“It’s much better playing it through,” he said.

Carter said he was surprised that Illinois did not adjust. He said whatever defensive formation he saw, he had a counter.