WARRIOR FOOTBALL
GEORGE LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hawaii's Davone Bess caught seven passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday's game.
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UH enjoys its wild ride
Hawaii's offense is so proficient that some players are comparing the games to a day at the park
Hawaii has made its point -- and by doing so, its points -- with such regularity this season that the players are in some ways becoming numb to it.
"I think this system is on a roll now. We're so caught up in what we do and how we execute we don't even think about the scoreboard. It doesn't even matter to us," said Davone Bess, who caught seven passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday's 61-17 victory over Louisiana Tech.
The spectacular has become the routine for the Warriors, who have won seven in a row and scored more than 60 points in four of their last five games. Bess, a freshman All-American last year, leads the Warriors with 69 receptions, 841 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns.
"I was glad to see him play so well," coach June Jones said. "Some of the routes were a little different than what we've been running and he made a couple of big-time catches. He's just not getting as big numbers (as last year) because the ball's going where it's supposed to go."
Quarterback Colt Brennan's mastery of Jones' four-receiver system has spread the wealth -- and increased it to the point of making 40-point leads seem mundane.
"I can remember at one point I looked up and we were blowing them out 50-something to whatever it was, and I was just 'whatever.' I wasn't excited because those are our expectations, to have that many points, to have another 60-point game," Bess said. "Not to say it in a cocky way, but it's just the way the offense is clicking right now. It all starts with the coaches preparing us each week, giving us great looks from the scout team. Once we come into the game, it's almost like practice."
UH football (8-2, 6-1 WAC) is so much fun now, different players have compared the games to going to an amusement park or a day at the beach -- or another activity near and dear to many college students.
"It's almost like playing a video game because you're in control. It's just a matter of us executing the play," Bess said. "Because we know we're getting the ball, knowing where the defender's gonna go and what he's gonna do when Colt looks that way."
Of course, its unlikely you'll get your lip busted open playing Madden, as safety Jake Patek did the other night trying to make a tackle. He went back into the game after getting stitched up.
The UH offense gets the national notice, with Brennan leading the country in several categories and the Warriors No. 1 as a team in scoring, passing and total offense.
But the defense has allowed just 12.3 points in the last three games and is improving with each week.
"It was a real physical game, (the UH defense) really hit and the guys played really hard," Jones said. "At halftime I told them we need to get some turnovers and they went out and did what I asked (interceptions by Gerard Lewis and Myron Newberry) and gave our offense great field position.
Jones knows the Warriors can't let up with San Jose State (6-3, 3-2 WAC) and former UH coach Dick Tomey coming to town Saturday after nearly upending Boise State.
"He's done a fantastic job this year and they're going to come over with a lot of emotion and play their hearts out and he'll have them ready to play," Jones said. "We'll have to play better than we have to compete against them here next week."
It's hard to imagine that the Warriors can continue to improve significantly. But they also seem to have enough leadership where there won't be a letdown, either.
"This is a great group of kids and they've had a lot of success," Jones said. "They stay real focused and they're doing what they believe in. It's a good ride so far. Hopefully it can keep going. There's good senior leadership and good young players behind them."
Another D-lineman down: Backup nose tackle Kahai LaCount was scheduled to undergo an MRI today to determine if he suffered knee-ligament damage on the second-to-last play on Saturday. It is the second game in a row where a Warrior defensive lineman got hurt near the end of a blowout; Laupepa Letuli suffered a similar fate at Utah State and is expected to miss the rest of the regular season.
Backup offensive lineman Keith Ah-Soon appears to be OK after a scary moment late in Saturday's game. Ah-Soon lay close to motionless on the turf nearly 10 minutes after a violent collision. He eventually walked off the field and was diagnosed with a concussion.
Backup linebacker Erik Pedersen also suffered a concussion. He and Ah-Soon will likely return to practice this week.
Starting center Samson Satele missed a few plays at the start of the second half due to dehydration.
"I just had to get a little IV. Kind of drained, I have the flu," Satele said.
Poll vaulting: UH will have to wait at least another week for its first Top 25 football ranking since 2002.
The Warriors received the most voting points of teams that did not make the Associated Press Top 25 this week, and they received the second-most points of the unranked teams in the USA Today coaches' poll and the Harris Interactive BCS poll.
Hawaii Statistics
TEAM STATISTICS
|
HAWAII |
OPP
|
FIRST DOWNS |
260 |
213
|
Rushing |
55 |
83
|
Passing |
192 |
113
|
Penalty |
13 |
17
|
RUSHING YARDAGE |
1,057 |
1,462
|
Yards gained rushing |
1,198 |
1,677
|
Yards lost rushing |
141 |
215
|
Rushing attempts |
196 |
358
|
Average per rush |
5.4 |
4.1
|
Average per game |
105.7 |
146.2
|
Touchdowns rushing |
16 |
9
|
PASSING YARDAGE |
4,367 |
2,456
|
Att-Comp-Int |
435-312-7 |
343-183-11
|
Average per pass |
10.0 |
7.2
|
Average per catch |
14.0 |
13.4
|
Average per game |
436.7 |
245.6
|
Touchdowns passing |
47 |
19
|
TOTAL OFFENSE |
5,424 |
3,918
|
Total plays |
631 |
701
|
Average per play |
8.6 |
5.6
|
Average per game |
542.4 |
391.8
|
KICK RETURNS: No-Yds |
33-751 |
51-999
|
PUNT RETURNS: No-Yds |
20-131 |
7-50
|
INT. RETURNS: No-Yds |
11-254 |
7-43
|
FUMBLES-LOST |
18-12 |
18-10
|
PENALTIES-YARDS |
74-624 |
54-495
|
PUNTS-AVG |
15-39.0 |
43-39.4
|
TIME OF POSSESSION/GAME |
27:42 |
32:18
|
3RD-DOWN CONVERSIONS |
53/92 |
53/137
|
4TH-DOWN CONVERSIONS |
6/16 |
7/20 |
Rushing
|
|
G |
Att |
Net |
Avg |
TD |
Long
|
Ilaoa |
9 |
81 |
586 |
7.2 |
9 |
35
|
Brennan |
10 |
52 |
266 |
5.1 |
3 |
30
|
Mauia |
8 |
27 |
135 |
5.0 |
2 |
22
|
Funaki |
8 |
10 |
34 |
3.4 |
0 |
12
|
Farmer |
9 |
7 |
30 |
4.3 |
1 |
15
|
Graunke |
6 |
9 |
30 |
3.3 |
1 |
24
|
Seti |
3 |
3 |
2 |
0.7 |
0 |
1
|
Peoples |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1.0 |
0 |
9
|
TEAM |
9 |
5 |
-28 |
-5.6 |
0 |
0
|
Total |
10 |
196 |
1,057 |
5.4 |
16 |
35 |
Passing
|
|
G |
Att |
Comp |
Int |
Yds |
TD |
Long
|
Brennan |
10 |
380 |
275 |
7 |
3,753 |
43 |
63
|
Graunke |
6 |
42 |
31 |
0 |
486 |
4 |
62
|
Funaki |
8 |
12 |
6 |
0 |
128 |
0 |
58
|
Milne |
8 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0
|
Total |
10 |
435 |
312 |
7 |
4,367 |
47 |
63 |
Receiving
|
|
G |
Rec |
Yds |
Avg |
TD |
Long
|
Bess |
10 |
69 |
841 |
12.2 |
11 |
37
|
Dickerson |
10 |
48 |
636 |
13.2 |
6 |
50
|
Rivers |
10 |
44 |
676 |
15.4 |
8 |
62
|
Ilaoa |
9 |
44 |
596 |
13.5 |
4 |
60
|
Sample |
10 |
39 |
529 |
13.6 |
9 |
63
|
Grice-Mullins |
6 |
27 |
522 |
19.3 |
6 |
60
|
Mock |
10 |
18 |
256 |
14.2 |
2 |
46
|
Bain |
8 |
7 |
69 |
9.9 |
0 |
26
|
Mauia |
8 |
5 |
56 |
11.2 |
1 |
29
|
Farmer |
9 |
4 |
12 |
3.0 |
0 |
10
|
Lane |
7 |
3 |
120 |
40.0 |
0 |
58
|
Washington |
5 |
3 |
50 |
16.7 |
0 |
23
|
Seti |
3 |
1 |
4 |
4.0 |
0 |
4
|
Total |
10 |
312 |
4,367 |
14.0 |
47 |
63 |
Total Offense
|
|
G |
Plays |
Rush |
Pass |
Tot |
Avg
|
Brennan |
10 |
432 |
266 |
3,753 |
4,019 |
401.9
|
Ilaoa |
9 |
81 |
586 |
0 |
586 |
65.1
|
Graunke |
6 |
51 |
30 |
486 |
516 |
86.0
|
Funaki |
8 |
22 |
34 |
128 |
162 |
20.2
|
Mauia |
8 |
27 |
135 |
0 |
135 |
16.9
|
Farmer |
9 |
7 |
30 |
0 |
30 |
3.3
|
Peoples |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
2.0
|
Seti |
3 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0.7
|
Team |
9 |
5 |
-28 |
0 |
-28 |
-3.1
|
Total |
10 |
631 |
1,057 |
4,367 |
5,424 |
542.4 |
Scoring
|
|
TD |
FG |
1XP |
2XP |
Tot
|
Ilaoa |
13 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
78
|
Bess |
11 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
70
|
Kelly |
0 |
6 |
42 |
0 |
60
|
Sample |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
54
|
Rivers |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
48
|
Dickerson |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
42
|
Grice-Mullins |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
36
|
Mauia |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
18
|
Brennan |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
18
|
Forester |
0 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
15
|
Peters |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
12
|
Mock |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
12
|
Graunke |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6
|
Leonard |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6
|
Keomaka |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6
|
Farmer |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6
|
Total |
68 |
6 |
57 |
2 |
487 |
Punting
|
|
No. |
Yds |
Avg |
Long
|
Milne |
15 |
585 |
39.0 |
52
|
Total |
15 |
585 |
39.0 |
52 |
Punt Returns
|
|
No. |
Yds |
Avg |
TD |
Long
|
Newberry |
18 |
111 |
6.2 |
0 |
25
|
Hawthorne |
1 |
2 |
2.0 |
0 |
2
|
Patton |
1 |
18 |
18.0 |
0 |
18
|
Total |
20 |
131 |
6.6 |
0 |
25 |
Kick Returns
|
|
No. |
Yds |
Avg |
TD |
Long
|
Dickerson |
17 |
531 |
31.2 |
1 |
100
|
Patton |
5 |
98 |
19.6 |
0 |
35
|
Lane |
4 |
74 |
18.5 |
0 |
22
|
Fergerstrom |
3 |
15 |
5.0 |
0 |
12
|
Soares |
1 |
10 |
10.0 |
0 |
10
|
Mock |
1 |
12 |
12.0 |
0 |
12
|
Chopp |
1 |
4 |
4.0 |
0 |
4
|
Veikune |
1 |
7 |
7.0 |
0 |
7
|
Total |
33 |
751 |
22.8 |
1 |
100 |
Tackles
|
|
G |
UT |
AT |
Tot
|
Leonard |
10 |
48 |
36 |
84
|
Peters |
10 |
35 |
25 |
60 |
|
Elimimian |
9 |
25 |
24 |
49
|
M. Purcell |
10 |
25 |
15 |
41
|
Patek |
10 |
25 |
15 |
40
|
Kalilimoku |
10 |
15 |
15 |
30
|
Alama-Francis |
9 |
12 |
17 |
29
|
Newberry |
9 |
16 |
10 |
26
|
Lewis |
10 |
15 |
9 |
24
|
Patton |
6 |
13 |
5 |
18
|
Lafaele |
10 |
8 |
10 |
18
|
Martinez |
8 |
10 |
7 |
17
|
Lau |
10 |
9 |
8 |
17
|
Saole |
10 |
15 |
1 |
16
|
Paepule |
10 |
10 |
5 |
15
|
Noa |
9 |
9 |
6 |
15
|
Allen-Jones |
9 |
6 |
9 |
15
|
Keomaka |
8 |
12 |
2 |
14
|
Hawthorne |
10 |
12 |
2 |
14
|
Kafentzis |
6 |
8 |
6 |
14
|
A. Purcell |
8 |
6 |
5 |
11
|
Veikune |
10 |
7 |
2 |
9
|
Malala |
10 |
3 |
6 |
9
|
Soares |
8 |
8 |
0 |
8
|
Porlas |
10 |
6 |
1 |
7
|
Watson |
8 |
3 |
4 |
7
|
Savaiigaea |
6 |
6 |
0 |
6
|
Pedersen |
5 |
5 |
1 |
6
|
Wilson |
10 |
4 |
2 |
6
|
Fruean |
7 |
4 |
1 |
5
|
Galdeira |
8 |
3 |
2 |
5
|
Fergerstrom |
8 |
2 |
3 |
5
|
Thomas |
10 |
4 |
0 |
4
|
Kelly |
10 |
3 |
0 |
3
|
Clore |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2
|
Mock |
10 |
2 |
0 |
2
|
B. Satele |
5 |
2 |
0 |
2
|
Grice-Mullins |
6 |
1 |
0 |
1
|
Mauia |
8 |
1 |
0 |
1
|
LaCount |
9 |
1 |
0 |
1
|
Ilaoa |
9 |
1 |
0 |
1
|
Bess |
10 |
1 |
0 |
1
|
Rivers |
10 |
1 |
0 |
1
|
Funaki |
8 |
1 |
0 |
1
|
Rice |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1
|
Letuli |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1
|
Ieru |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1
|
Laeli |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1
|
Kiesel-Kauhane |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1
|
Total |
10 |
405 |
260 |
665 |
Misc.
Sacks (No.-Yds.): M. Purcell 5-20, Alama-Francis 2-19, Kalilimoku 2-13, Veikune 2-12, Rice 1-13, Soares 1-12, A. Purcell 1-12, Lafaele 1-9, Noa 1-8, Fruean 1-3, Leonard 1-2. Total: 18-124.
Interceptions (No.-Yds.): Peters 3-101, Keomaka 2-52, Newberry 2-49, Lewis 2-33, Patton 1-19, Hawthorne 1-0. Total: 11-254.
Fumbles (Total-Forced-Recovered): Leonard 5-1-4, M. Purcell 3-3-0, Hawthorne 2-2-0, Patek 2-2-0, Elimimian 1-1-0, Paepule 1-1-0, Peters 1-1-0, Savaiigaea 1-1-0, Alama-Francis 1-0-1, Malala 1-0-1, Patton 1-0-1, Lau 1-0-1, LaCount 1-0-1, Wilson 1-0-1. Total: 22-12-10.
Blocked kicks: Allen-Jones, Thomas.
National News
Where Hawaii ranks nationally in the following categories:
TEAM
Rushing offense: 92nd, 105.7 yards per game
Passing offense: 1st, 436.7 yards per game
Total offense: 1st, 542.4 yards per game
Scoring offense: 1st, 48.70 points per game
Rushing defense: 78th, 146.2 yards per game
Passing defense: 106th, 245.6 yards per game
Total defense: 100th, 391.8 yards per game
Scoring defense: 63rd, 22.6 points per game
Turnover margin: 42nd, plus-0.20
Sacks allowed: 34th, 1.50 per game
COLT BRENNAN
Passing efficiency: 1st, 189.0
Total offense: 1st, 401.9 yards per game
Points responsible for: 1st, 28.20 per game
Passing: 3rd, 27.50 completions per game
Total passing yards: 3rd, 3,753
Passing yards per game: 2nd, 375.30
NATE ILAOA
Rushing: 72nd, 65.11 yards per game
Receptions per game: 40th, 4.89
Receiving yards per game: 44th, 66.22
Total receiving yards: 71st, 596
Scoring: 12th, 8.67 points per game
All-purpose running: 17th, 131.33 yards per game
Points responsible for: 67th, 8.67 per game
DAVONE BESS
Receptions per game: 7th, 6.89
Receiving yards per game: 16th, 84.10
Scoring: 50th, 6.80 points per game
Total receiving yards: 15th, 841
ROSS DICKERSON
Receptions per game: 44th, 4.80
Receiving yards per game: 54th, 63.60
Total receiving yards: 55th, 636
Kickoff returns: 3rd, 31.24 yards per return
All-purpose running: 38th, 116.7 yards per game
JASON RIVERS
Receptions per game: 70th, 4.40
Receiving yards per game: 41st, 67.60
Total receiving yards: 43rd, 676
IAN SAMPLE
Receiving yards per game: 95th, 52.90
Total receiving yards: 97th, 529
LEONARD PETERS
Interceptions: 65th, .30 per game
Passes defended: 65th, .90 per game
MYRON NEWBERRY
Punt returning: 72nd, 6.17 yards per return
DAN KELLY
Scoring: 76th, 6.00 points per game
Field goals: 92nd, .60 field goals per game
ADAM LEONARD
Total tackles: 47th, 8.40 per game
Solo tackles: 46th, 4.80 per game
MEL PURCELL
Sacks: 75th, 0.50 per game
Forced fumbles: 29th, 0.30 per game
Tackles for loss: 73rd, 1.00 per game
JAKE PATEK
Forced fumbles: 100th, 0.20 per game
CJ HAWTHORNE
Forced fumbles: 100th, 0.20 per game