---

Hawaii tries for elusive victory in Reno

The Warriors can clinch a winning road mark by beating the Pack, who struggled last week

SPARKS, Nev. » Hawaii and Nevada lost football games to perennial Western Athletic Conference powers Fresno State and Boise State last week.

The reactions this week of the losing coaches has been different, though.

Wolf Pack coach Chris Ault said he was "embarrassed" by Nevada's 49-14 defeat at Boise that knocked it out of the WAC's unbeaten ranks.

While UH coach June Jones blamed lack of execution, especially by quarterback Colt Brennan, for the 27-13 loss to the Bulldogs, he sounded like he was proud of his team as it got on the buses after practice at chilly Sparks High School,, where the Warriors tuned up yesterday for today's game against the Wolf Pack.

"We've had a great week of practice. These guys really hang together and they are one as a group. When you do that, it gives you a chance to play good football," Jones said. "Win, lose, or draw I'm not going to change my feelings about them. They practice hard and act professionally, and they're going to get better because of it."

Some of that sounds like a senior night speech, but the Warriors (3-5, 3-3 WAC) have at least four more games, including today's. They need to win them all to finish with a winning record for the fifth year in a row. It's also a big game for Nevada's (4-3, 3-1) postseason hopes.

The Warriors and Wolf Pack are similar in some ways, but for different reasons. Both are known more for offense, but Nevada has a stronger running game, and Hawaii is among the nation's top passing teams. They both enjoy great home-field advantages and potential distractions for visitors; Reno has cold weather and casinos, Hawaii has heat and beaches.

The Warriors have lost both of their games here. That, their status as a rebuilding team, and the possibility of wind, cold, rain andor snow helps make the Warriors 5 1/2-point underdogs.

Running back Nate Ilaoa shrugged off the nay-saying the way he bounces off tacklers, but he acknowledged Reno as a tough place to be a visiting football team.

"Every game is big for us. Unfortunately the situation we're in, we're forced to treat these games bigger than they are. It's a big game anyway, it's Nevada and they're tough over there," he said. "We're going to have to make sure we're extra prepared for whatever. The weather, or the team that they're bringing in."

Said Jones: "We still have to take it as every game is a new game. And we're not worried about the next three, we're worried about this one."

Nevada's record and bowl hopes are better than Hawaii's, but you wouldn't know it after the loss to Boise State -- a team the Wolf Pack used to beat up on in their pre-WAC days.

"We were climbing the mountain, and now we have slipped," Ault said at his weekly news conference. "We have taken two steps backward. It was one of the most embarrassing games I have ever been a part of. We did not stand up and play the way we should have played. It makes me sick to my stomach. I can't stand to look at (the film)."

The Wolf Pack committed six turnovers in the loss.

"We have to bounce back," said linebacker Roosevelt Cooks. "The season is pretty much over if we don't. I want this season to be remembered. I don't want to go out a loser."

Jones sounds like Mr. Positive in comparison.

"We have some young players in key positions and they're going to get better every week," he said.

Here's what to look for today as Nevada runs its longest-in-the-nation streak of games not being shut out in to 300 and UH tries to complete its five-game road schedule with a winning record:

When Hawaii Has The Ball

The passing combination of Brennan to Davone Bess is one of the nation's most prolific, and Brennan is just a sophomore and Bess a freshman. They have connected for nine passing TDs.

Ryan Grice-Mullen and Chad Mock have also been brilliant in recent weeks at receiver, and Ross Dickerson has been dependable. Jones plans to mix 6-foot-3 Jordan Slye into the lineup behind Mock at left wideout. Some feel Ilaoa was underutilized at running back, especially in the red zone, last week.

"Of course I'd like to run the ball more," Ilaoa said. "But you can't just look at the outcome of everything and say, 'Oh that wasn't the play to run.' Every play's meant to score in the red zone for us. We don't run plays just to throw incompletes. Everything's designed to score."

Brennan has been inconsistent at times and Tyler Graunke will spell him at some point today. Jones said it won't necessarily be in the red zone, from where the Warriors failed so miserably against Fresno State.

"We have confidence in Tyler in any situation," Jones said.

"Anything that kind of mixes it up on the defense, I'm down for," Brennan said. "Tyler's a great football player, a great athlete. I've been hoping we get him in there so we can do some double passes and other fun stuff. My priority is making sure I get the job done, but I'm excited for him and his opportunity this weekend."

Like UH, Nevada is in the first season of using a 3-4 alignment as its primary defense. Cornerback Joe Garcia, who played against Brennan last year in junior college, is fourth in the WAC with seven pass breakups. He also has two interceptions.

When Nevada Has The Ball

The "pistol" offense has quarterback Jeff Rowe 4 yards behind the center (instead of the 6 in a normal "shotgun" formation), and running back B.J. Mitchell right behind him.

"(Ault) thinks he invented a new offense," Jones said. "But it's just a modified single-wing."

Ault likes it because it allows for passing and running. UH defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville doesn't like it because it comes in a variety of forms and spreads out his players.

"They stay in that pistol with three wides and one tight end and they'll always have just one back. Then they'll come and they'll have two tight ends, two wide receivers," he said.

Mitchell is behind only Fresno State's Wendell Mathis in the WAC in rushing. He averages 95.4 yards per game and has six TDs. Rowe is second only to Brennan in passing yardage with 265.9. Kamehameha graduate Caleb Spencer is the possession guy and Nichiren Flowers the deep threat.

Rowe likes to run, and Ault has mixed feelings about it. Sound familiar?

"Jeff is not a fluid runner," the coach said. "He's a great athlete and deceptively fast. We're working on him to get to that third read. I think he's confident enough that he sees he thinks he can get a first down and takes off."

The Hawaii secondary is re-juggled again, with Kenny Patton finally healthy and reclaiming his cornerback spot, Turmarian Moreland at the other corner, and Lamar Broadway and Lono Manners at safety. Moreland is second in the nation, averaging .67 interceptions per game.

Special Teams

A.J. Martinez, who took over kickoff return duties from Andre Taylor three weeks ago, also returned punts against Fresno State and will do so today, Jones said. Taylor did not make the trip.

"I'd never done it before. It's a new experience," said Martinez, who returned one punt for 13 yards last week. "I returned kickoffs in high school, but not punts. You never know where the ball's gonna go (on a punt), that's the biggest difference. That thing is up there and it goes left, right, back. You don't know what's going on with it."

UH kicker Dan Kelly is working on getting better elevation on his field goals after having one blocked (his second of the season) against Fresno State.

Ault said he might make major changes in Nevada's return game after lots of special teams problems against Boise State. Kick returner Kyle Sammons might be out of a job .

"It's pathetic," Ault said. "Not disappointing, it's pathetic. It's a combination of the guy returning the ball and the blocking."

Note: Sophomore quarterback Jack Rolovich is seeking a transfer, Jones said last night. Rolovich was the No. 2 quarterback for part of last season, but was not invited to fall camp and has not played this year.

Key Matchup

Hawaii inside linebackers Brad Kalilimoku and Solomon Elimimian vs. Nevada running back B.J. Mitchell

With four receivers, the Nevada offense spreads out the opposing linebackers -- much like Hawaii's does -- even though the Wolf Pack use a tight end.

That means more pass defense responsibility for the Warriors' outside linebackers, Tanuvasa Moe and Kila Kamakawiwo'ole, who also happen to be two of UH's leading tacklers and biggest defensive playmakers.

"They spread the slot out farther than anyone we've ever played. If we're on the right hash, the slot is clear on the other side of the other hash," UH defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said. "The outside linebacker has to play differently because the slot's so wide."

On the inside, Kalilimoku and Elimimian won't have help from them as usual in trying to stop Mitchell, one of the WAC's top running backs.

"When I last checked he was leading the league in rushing," Warriors inside linebackers coach Cal Lee said. "In my mind, that means he will be a challenge for us."

---