HAWAII FOOTBALL
Warriors want fast start
WARRIOR GAME DAY
THE old joke whenever Hawaii lost at Fresno State was, "Well, we're going back to Hawaii, and you have to stay here." That won't do this time. Fresno State (1-4) is down and Hawaii (3-2) is favored to win. The Warriors turned the tough trick of winning at Fresno as underdogs in 2002, with current seniors Nate Ilaoa, Kenny Patton and Leonard Peters playing as freshmen.
HAWAII AT FRESNO STATE
Kickoff: 11:05 a.m.
TV: KFVE (Ch. 5)
Radio: 1420-AM
The line: Hawaii by 4
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But many more current Warriors have bad first-person memories of the horrific 70-14 loss at the Boneyard in 2004.
When Hawaii has the ball: There's a lot of talk among the Hawaii faithful about how June Jones has suddenly seen the light and added a running game to UH's pass-happy attack. Some don't seem to realize this isn't a philosophical change but a derivative of the success of the Warriors passing game. UH throws to set up the run, to get a lead and then eat up the clock. When Colt Brennan completes 20 of his first 22 passes (as he did in the first half against Nevada) the DBs are on their heels and Nate Ilaoa gets lots of yardage on the ground.
"Between 20 and 25 touches for the fullback is what I think," said Jones, when asked his ideal number of runs and short passes in one game.
The Warriors have jumped ahead early in all three wins this year, and will try to do the same today, passing to slotback Davone Bess (who leads the nation in receptions per game) and many others.
Brennan said he's especially wary of cornerback Marcus McCauley and linebacker Dwayne Andrews. McCauley may get the assignment of trying to stop Ian Sample, the UH wideout who has two touchdown catches in each of the last two games. Sample could be slowed by a tender hamstring.
"I remember them doing a really good job on the outside receivers and we had to work hard for what we got," Brennan said of last year's game. "And when we got down in that red zone they outworked us down there."
When Fresno State has the ball: Remember the last time Hawaii played a team that was supposed to stick to the running game to protect its young quarterback? That's right, the season opener at Alabama, when sophomore J.P. Wilson ended up passing for 253 yards in his first start.
Yes, the Bulldogs' staple is ground-pounding with star tailback Dwayne Wright doing the toting at a rate of 132.6 yards per game, seventh-best in Division I.
The Warriors plan to counter that at times by switching up their 3-4 defense with a 5-2 "Jumbo" scheme to get more beef up on the line -- this alignment replaces outside linebackers with more defensive ends, like David Veikune, making it even more useful considering UH's injury list at OLB.
"Every week we do it a little bit. A lot of it depends on down, time and distance. If those things are correct. I would anticipate that we will," Jones said.
Fresno State quarterback Tom Brandstater might be spelled by fellow sophomore Sean Norton today. They have capable targets in injured Paul Williams and Joe Fernandez.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Fresno State running back Dwayne Wright averages 132.6 yards per game.
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The Warriors are coming off a game in which they allowed 472 yards, but also came up with two big stops in the fourth quarter, including a decisive goal-line stand.
"Our defensive line rotating the six or seven guys gives us a lot of freedom in there to stay energized, with the high tempo. Hopefully, it will keep getting better and we play with that emotion," Jones said.
Special teams: It can be argued that special teams breakdowns cost Hawaii the FSU game last year, as Dane Porlas was called for roughing the punter, Kurt Milne threw an incomplete pass on a field-goal try, and Dan Kelly had another field-goal try blocked.
The Warriors have improved somewhat overall on special teams this year, despite problems with snapping and holding.
The Bulldogs have enjoyed a national reputation for excellence on special teams, but -- other than three kick blocks -- they've been less than ordinary this year.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Fresno State receiver Paul Williams has 16 catches for 149 yards and a touchdown.
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KEY MATCHUP
Fresno State FB Roshon Vercher vs. UH linebackers
Vercher has one carry for 1 yard this season. But the 5-foot-11, 245-pound senior is a vital cog in the Bulldogs running game, and has been so for four seasons. He's paved the way for 1,000-yard rushers in three straight years: Wendell Mathis, Bryson Sumlin and FSU's current stud, Dwayne Wright (in 2003 and probably again this season). In 2004, Vercher led the way for 503 rushing yards in the Bulldogs' 70-14 win over the Warriors.
Brad Kalilimoku, then a freshman, was thrown to the 'Dogs in that game, and he loved it.
"It was like real football. You just run straight downhill, old school. I enjoy just playing that. And they run the ball hard and I get to fill the gap hard. They brought it and I brought it," said Kalilimoku, who will likely play outside linebacker today.
Filling the gap and making the play are two different things, though, and Vercher often makes that impossible to do at the line of scrimmage.
UH's linebackers -- especially inside guys Adam Leonard and Solomon Elimimian -- will have to find a way to deal with Vercher AND Wright, sometimes on the same play.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING |
|
A |
Yds |
Avg |
TD |
| Nate Ilaoa, UH |
48 |
396 |
8.2 |
3 |
| Colt Brennan, UH |
27 |
60 |
2.2 |
2 |
| Dwayne Wright, FS |
125 |
663 |
5.3 |
7 |
| Tom Brandstater, FS |
21 |
68 |
3.2 |
1 |
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PASSING |
|
A |
C |
I |
Yds |
TD |
| Colt Brennan, UH |
203 |
145 |
5 |
1,862 |
18 |
| Inoke Funaki, UH |
11 |
6 |
0 |
128 |
0 |
| Tom Brandstater, FS |
147 |
75 |
6 |
774 |
5 |
|
RECEIVING |
|
Rec |
Yds |
Avg |
TD |
| Davone Bess, UH |
41 |
499 |
12.2 |
4 |
| Nate Ilaoa, UN |
24 |
274 |
11.4 |
1 |
| Paul Williams, FS |
16 |
149 |
9.3 |
1 |
| Joe Fernandez, FS |
12 |
142 |
11.8 |
1 |
|
TACKLES |
|
S |
A |
Tot |
FL/S |
| Adam Leonard, UH |
28 |
18 |
46 |
2/1 |
| Leonard Peters, UH |
20 |
15 |
35 |
1/0 |
| Jake Patek, UH |
11 |
10 |
21 |
0/0 |
| Solomon Elimimian, UH |
12 |
6 |
18 |
.5/0 |
| Kenny Patton, UH |
13 |
5 |
18 |
0/0 |
| Dwayne Andrews, FS |
21 |
21 |
42 |
4/0 |
| Josh Sherley, FS |
15 |
19 |
34 |
1/0 |
| Ahijah Lane, FS |
18 |
11 |
29 |
.5/.5 |
| Alan Goodwin, FS |
19 |
9 |
28 |
1/0 |
| Marcus McCauley, FS |
22 |
3 |
25 |
1/0 |
| Marlon Brisco, FS |
13 |
6 |
19 |
5/3 |
HAWAII
3-2, 1-1 WAC
PROBABLE STARTERS
OFFENSE |
| X |
84 |
Jason Rivers |
6-2 |
192 |
Jr. |
| H |
7 |
Davone Bess |
5-10 |
195 |
So. |
| LT |
70 |
Tala Esera |
6-4 |
308 |
Sr. |
| LG |
65 |
Hercules Satele |
6-2 |
288 |
Jr. |
| C |
64 |
Samson Satele |
6-3 |
298 |
Sr. |
| RG |
55 |
John Estes |
6-2 |
290 |
Fr. |
| RT |
72 |
Dane Uperesa |
6-4 |
310 |
Sr. |
| Y |
82 Ross Dickerson |
5-10 |
198 |
Sr. |
| Z |
3 |
Ian Sample |
5-10 |
196 |
Sr. |
| QB |
15 |
Colt Brennan |
6-3 |
196 |
Jr. |
| RB |
4 |
Nate Ilaoa |
5-9 |
254 |
Sr. |
|
DEFENSE |
| DT |
67 |
Mike Lafaele |
6-0 |
302 |
Jr. |
| DE |
98 |
Melila Purcell |
6-5 |
276 |
Sr. |
| DE |
91 |
Ikaika Alama-Francis |
6-6 |
285 |
Sr. |
| STUB |
12 |
Karl Noa |
6-4 |
238 |
Jr. |
| MAC |
44 |
Adam Leonard |
6-0 |
236 |
So. |
| BUCK |
41 |
Solomon Elimimian |
6-0 |
224 |
So. |
| WILL |
33 |
C.J. Allen-Jones |
6-1 |
224 |
So. |
| CB |
24 |
Kenny Patton |
6-0 |
188 |
Sr. |
| FS |
42 |
Leonard Peters |
6-1 |
211 |
Sr. |
| SS |
31 |
Jake Patek |
6-0 |
202 |
Jr. |
| CB |
19 |
C.J. Hawthorne |
5-11 |
161 |
Jr. |
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SPECIALISTS |
| P |
25 |
Kurt Milne |
6-0 |
205 |
Sr. |
| PK |
86 |
Dan Kelly |
6-3 |
202 |
So. |
| PR |
38 |
Myron Newberry |
5-8 |
164 |
Jr. |
| KR |
89 |
Malcolm Lane |
6-1 |
181 |
Fr. |
|
82 |
Ross Dickerson |
5-10 |
198 |
Sr. |
| SS |
48 |
David Farmer |
6-0 |
231 |
So. |
| LS |
57 |
Jake Ingram |
6-4 |
268 |
So. |
| Hold |
11 |
Inoke Funaki |
5-11 |
195 |
Fr. |
SCHEDULE
| DATE |
OPP. |
RESULT |
| Sept. 2 |
at Alabama |
L, 25-17 |
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| Sept. 16 |
UNLV |
W, 42-13 |
| Sept. 23 |
at Boise State |
L, 41-34 |
| Sept. 30 |
Eastern Illinois |
W, 44-9 |
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| Oct. 7 |
Nevada |
W, 41-34 |
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| Today |
at Fresno State |
| Oct. 21 |
at New Mexico State |
| Oct. 28 |
Idaho |
| Nov. 4 |
at Utah State |
| Nov. 11 |
Louisiana Tech |
| Nov. 18 |
San Jose State |
| Nov. 25 |
Purdue |
| Dec. 2 |
Oregon State |
FRESNO STATE
1-4, 1-1 WAC
PROBABLE STARTERS
<
| h4>OFFENSE |
| WR |
1 |
Paul Williams |
6-2 |
210 |
Sr. |
| LT |
72 |
Bobby Leport |
6-5 |
285 |
So. |
| LG |
77 |
Ryan Wendell |
6-2 |
275 |
Jr. |
| C |
59 |
Kyle Young |
6-5 |
330 |
Sr. |
| RG |
66 |
Robin Kezerian |
6-3 |
300 |
Sr. |
| RT |
79 |
Chris Denman |
6-6 |
305 |
Sr. |
| TE |
85 |
Bear Pascoe |
6-5 |
260 |
So. |
| WR |
84 |
Joe Fernandez |
5-10 |
175 |
Sr. |
| QB |
7 |
Tom Brandstater |
6-5 |
220 |
So. |
| FB |
26 |
Roshon Vercher |
5-11 |
245 |
Sr. |
| TB |
32 |
Dwayne Wright |
6-1 |
220 |
Jr. |
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DEFENSE |
| E |
92 |
Marlon Brisco |
6-3 |
260 |
Sr. |
| T |
98 |
Louis Leonard |
6-4 |
330 |
Sr. |
| NT |
97 |
Jason Shirley |
6-5 |
330 |
Jr. |
| E |
11 |
Tyler Clutts |
6-2 |
245 |
Jr. |
| OLB |
43 |
Ahijah Lane |
6-1 |
225 |
Jr. |
| MLB |
51 |
Dwayne Andrews |
6-0 |
240 |
Sr. |
| OLB |
10 |
Alan Goodwin |
6-2 |
220 |
Sr. |
| CB |
17 |
Marcus McCauley |
6-1 |
205 |
Sr. |
| SS |
15 |
Josh Sherley |
6-0 |
205 |
Sr. |
| FS |
4 |
Vincent Mays |
5-11 |
205 |
Sr. |
| CB |
22 |
Damon Jenkins |
5-11 |
185 |
Jr. |
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SPECIALISTS |
| PK |
39 |
Clint Stitser |
6-1 |
200 |
Jr. |
| P |
35 |
Kyle Zimmerman |
5-11 |
200 |
Jr. |
| Snap |
90 |
Kenny Amendola |
6-1 |
240 |
Jr. |
| KR |
84 |
Joe Fernandez |
5-10 |
175 |
Sr. |
|
5 |
Marlon Moore |
6-1 |
185 |
Fr. |
| PR |
2 |
Clifton Smith |
5-8 |
195 |
Jr. |
| Hold |
16 |
Jordan Christensen |
6-3 |
190 |
Sr. |
SCHEDULE
| DATE |
OPP. |
RESULT |
| Sept. 1 |
at Nevada |
W, 28-19 |
| Sept. 9 |
Oregon |
L, 31-24 |
| Sept. 16 |
at Washington |
L, 21-20 |
| Sept. 30 |
Colorado State |
L, 35-23 |
| Oct. 7 |
at Utah State |
L, 13-12 |
| Today |
HAWAII |
| Oct. 21 |
at LSU |
| Nov. 1 |
at Boise State |
| Nov. 11 |
New Mexico State |
| Nov. 18 |
Idaho |
| Nov. 24 |
at LaTech |
| Dec. 2 |
at San Jose State |
OTHER KEY STATISTICS
| HAWAII |
CATEGORY |
FRESNO ST. |
| 25.2 |
First downs/game |
17.4 |
| 5.8 |
Rushing first downs/game |
8.4 |
| 19.0 |
Passing first downs/game |
7.4 |
| 0.4 |
First downs by penalty/game |
1.6 |
| 2.8 |
Turnovers lost |
1.4 |
| 1.4 |
Turnovers gained |
0.8 |
| 5-66 |
Interceptions-return yards |
0-0 |
| 38.0 |
Punting avg |
37.3 |
| 43-366 |
Penalties-yards |
23-163 |
| 12-9 |
Fumbles-lost |
4-1 |
| 49% |
Third-down-conversion rate |
39% |
| 22% |
Fourth-down-conversion rate |
56% |
