Dickerson gets it going

The return man gets the first punch in against Idaho

Hawaii's special teams got some rare recognition before the Warriors' game against Idaho last night, and the group responded by setting the tone for a blowout victory.

The kickoff coverage unit was introduced before the game and the return crew got the night off to a rousing start, as Ross Dickerson took back the game's opening kick to the house.

Dickerson's 100-yard goal-line-to-goal-line sprint sent the Warriors off to a 68-10 Western Athletic Conference win over the Vandals at Aloha Stadium.

The return gave the nation's second-highest scoring offense a head start and the Warriors scored touchdowns on each of their first six possessions.

"We knew we had a chance to return one, but I didn't know it would be on the opening kickoff," UH head coach June Jones said. "The kids executed the return that we wanted. They blocked it correctly and Ross did the rest."

If Jones didn't have an idea it would happen, one person on the unit did.

"Timo (Papilla) called it," special-teams player Rustin Saole said, referring to his fellow reserve linebacker and another contributor in the kicking game. "He said we were taking it to the house."

With the fans still settling in, Dickerson fielded the kick near the right hash mark, veered to his left and burst through a hole in the Vandals' coverage. He followed his blockers to the sideline, then sprinted untouched to the end zone.

"We just executed the game plan and things just seemed to work out," Dickerson said. "We got it to the house, so everybody had a key block."

Dickerson, the reigning WAC special teams player of the week, entered the game first in the WAC and 13th in the nation in kickoff returns with an average of 28.1 yards per attempt.

The touchdown return was UH's first since Dickerson went the length of the field in his debut as a Warrior against Appalachian State in 2003.

"We've been close all year," UH special teams assistant Dennis McKnight said. "The kids up front have been busting their butts and we were fortunate tonight. Every guy got their guy and Ross made a great run.

"(Dickerson's) not the fastest guy in the world, but a great returner hits it north and south and that's what he did tonight."

Dickerson's dash moved him past Darrick Branch into fifth place in career kickoff-return yards and spooked Idaho into keeping subsequent kickoffs on the ground. He also contributed a big play on offense in the third quarter, breaking loose over the middle for a 50-yard completion from Colt Brennan to set up UH's seventh touchdown of the night.

The UH coverage team made its mark as well after getting its moment in the spotlight before kickoff.

"It's a big thrill because they've worked hard, they deserved it and they earned it and (head coach June Jones') the type of coach who knows that," McKnight said.

On a night when UH defenders seemed to one-up each other with big hits, Saole got into the mix by drilling Idaho returner Raymond Fry at the Vandals' 20 on a third-quarter kickoff return.

"I was kind of nervous coming out," Saole said of having his name called as he ran out of the tunnel. "I was taking all the energy from the crowd and my teammates, I was just ready to come out and just play.

"We know what we can do and we have the faith we can do it. Every game no matter if we're up or down we're going to keep coming at you."