But referee Gary Lewis and his officials muscled in on the headlines in a seven-goal thriller packed with controversy.
Hawley took his tally for the season to 12 goals with a brilliant display of finishing.
But three times struggling Torquay came from behind to equalise, only for Carlisle to win it through skipper Kevin Gray seven minutes from time.
The arguments started after only three minutes, when Hawley looked well offside as he raced away on a Derek Holmes pass to score the opener.
The former Walsall youngster followed up with a glancing header from Simon Hackney's left-wing cross in the 15th minute and a 15-yard volley from a Holmes knockdown in the 64th minute.
Each time Torquay fought back.
Debutant Paul Robinson, trying to resurrect his career after big money moves to Newcastle and Wimbledon, fired home from eight yards on a Martin Phillips pass in the 13th minute.
Kevin Hill powered home an Ian Stonebridge flick on the stroke of half-time to make it 2-2.
And, after Hawley's hat-trick, Robinson made it 3-3 in the 78th minute.
Referee Lewis harshly called a handball against Carlisle defender Peter Murphy and Robinson's penalty was half-stopped by Keiren Westwood but the linesman ruled that the ball had just crossed the line.
Then as Torquay raged at a free-kick decision in the 83rd minute, Murphy whipped the ball into the goalmouth and centre-half Gray forced the ball home for the winner.
Lewis sent off furious Torquay head coach Leroy Rosenior and booked three Torquay players – Craig Woodman, Stonebridge and Darren Garner – in the closing stages.