Backup Leads Arizona Victory

Junior quarterback Keith Smith, who lost his job to Ortege Jenkins after suffering a shoulder injury last season, made a solid bid to regain his starter status Thursday night by leading No. 24 Arizona to a season-opening 27-6 victory over Hawaii at Honolulu.

Jenkins started, but was yanked after completing only two of eight passes for 14 yards.

Smith came in and passed for touchdowns of 17 yards to Jeremy McDaniel and seven to Dennis Northcutt. He wound up completing 17 of 22 passes for 218 yards. Northcutt caught eight passes for 91 yards, McDaniel eight for 90.

Chris McAlister gave Arizona the lead 16 seconds into the game, taking the opening kickoff 100 yards, and Kelvin Eafon scored on a five-yard run.