Nick Rolovich took the field microphone as he was presented the trophy for winning the Hawaii Bowl on Saturday and yelled into it, delighting the crowd at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.

"Hawaii football," the coach said, "is back."

Back in terms of earning a major bowl bid, like the Rainbow Warriors did in 2007? Not yet. But back in terms of qualifying for and playing their best game in a bowl game? As a surprising 52-35 victory over Middle Tennessee displayed, that answer is yes.

In finishing Rolovich's first season at 7-7, Hawaii looked like a program on the come and not one that only scraped into a bowl game because not enough teams managed to finish 6-6.

The Warriors established a season high for points, gaining 500 yards and going 8 of 16 on third down while committing no turnovers.

"It makes me feel good," Rolovich said. "From the day I walked in the room and met with the team for the first time until today, the mindset change over 13 months ... I'm so proud of the team. They just love to play. That's what it's all about."

Leading the charge was quarterback Dru Brown, who efficiently shredded the Blue Raiders' defense. Brown completed 20 of 30 passes for 274 yards and four touchdowns and also running for a fifth score.

Brown scattered his throws among nine different receivers, even hitting offensive lineman Dejon Allen on a tackle-eligible play. That lost a yard, but it was one of the few plays that didn't work for Hawaii.

"It's always nice to end on a victory and send the seniors out right," Brown said. "But we can't get complacent and I don't think we will."

Brown helped the Warriors control the ball for 36:36 despite running one fewer play than Middle Tennessee. Hawaii displayed a much superior running game, getting 170 yards on 25 carries from Diocemy Saint Juste and outrushing the Blue Raiders 205-110.

The Warriors' ability to munch clock was particularly deadly on two long touchdown drives in the second half.

After Middle Tennessee (8-5) pulled within 38-28 on Brent Stockstill's 10-yard touchdown pass to Dennis Andrews with 7:51 left in the third quarter, Hawaii chewed up 6:36 on a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Brown finished it by hitting Meluisela 'Unga for a 12-yard strike over the middle and a 45-28 advantage.

And after the Blue Raiders reduced their deficit to 45-35 with 10:09 remaining as Stockstill found Ty Lee for a 13-yard touchdown pass, the Warriors sealed it with an 11-play, 84-yard march that consumed 6:33.

Brown flipped a 4-yard scoring strike to Dylan Collie, who barely stretched the ball over the goal line, for the clinching touchdown.

"We didn't stop the run and we knew that would be a key coming in," Middle Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill said. "We had a hard time getting off the field on third downs. We moved the ball, we just didn't get enough stops defensively."

Middle Tennessee actually outgained Hawaii 542-500, getting 432 yards from Brent Stockstill, the coach's son, on 30-of-51 passing with four touchdowns and two interceptions.

In fact, the Blue Raiders established a 14-0 lead just over five minutes into the game on a 20-yard scoring run by I'Tavius Mathers and Stockstill's 51-yard touchdown pass to Richie James.

But Middle Tennessee soon started turning the ball over, giving Hawaii short fields that it quickly cashed in for scores. The Warriors scored twice in 90 seconds late in the first quarter to tie it, starting a run of 28 straight points that changed the game for good.

Brown's 2-yard run gave the Warriors their first lead at 21-14, and Trayvon Henderson capped the spurt with a 68-yard interception return for a two-touchdown advantage with 7:30 remaining in the half.

That cast the die for the remainder of the game, with Hawaii keeping Middle Tennessee at bay by scoring when it had to.

"They're good at spotting people 14 points," Rolovich said of his team. "They weren't going to end this thing like that, though. I'm going to celebrate with Santa tonight."

NOTES: This is Hawaii's seventh appearance in the Hawaii Bowl, where it is 4-3, but its first since 2010. ... Middle Tennessee WR Richie James' 6-yard reception late in the first quarter was his 100th catch of the season. ... Blue Raiders QB Brent Stockstill (broken collarbone) started after missing the last three regular-season games following his injury in a Nov. 5 home loss to Texas-San Antonio.