Nevada surging as Hawaii swoons
POSTED: Saturday, October 31, 2009
RENO, Nev. » Hawaii and Nevada have tended to use just about all 60 minutes to decide their meetings.
The last three encounters between the Warriors and Wolf Pack came down to late-game drama, with Hawaii pulling out three straight wins.
» In 2006, the Warriors defense protected a 41-34 lead by stopping the Pack on four plays from the UH 3-yard line.
» Dan Kelly provided one of the defining moments of Hawaii's Sugar Bowl run in 2007 with his “;Iceman”; field goal(s) in the final seconds of a 28-26 win.
» Last year, Greg Alexander stunned the Pack with a touchdown pass to Malcolm Lane with 20 seconds left to lift the Warriors in a 38-31 thriller.
The folks who make their living forecasting college football games have no such expectations for the series' latest entry.
As of yesterday afternoon, the sportsbook at the Grand Sierra Resort — where the Warriors are spending the weekend — listed Hawaii as a 28-point underdog entering today's Western Athletic Conference meeting with the Wolf Pack at Mackay Stadium.
The wide spread illustrates the divergent paths Hawaii (2-5, 0-4) and Nevada (4-3, 3-0) have followed since the season's opening weeks.
Hawaii hasn't tasted a win since a 2-0 start, with struggles in all three phases contributing to the program's longest losing streak since 1998. Nevada, meanwhile, righted itself after losing three straight to begin the season, winning its last four behind one of the nation's most explosive offenses.
The Wolf Pack have averaged 612 yards in total offense during the winning streak to rise to second in the country. The Pack also lead the nation in rushing offense thanks to the combination of running backs Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott chewing up yards between the tackles and quarterback Colin Kaepernick exploiting the perimeter.
“;I think this is the best offense we've faced, I really do,”; Hawaii head coach Greg McMackin said. “;They've got all kinds of talent to run the football, they've got excellent receivers and Kaepernick has really improved himself as a passer.”;
Where Kaepernick's dual-threat ability stretches defenses and tends to dominate the highlights, the Pack's production begins with a beefy offensive line.
“;They are the best O-line we've seen as far as just knocking guys off and finishing blocks and being relentless,”; UH defensive line coach Dave Aranda said.
On the other side of the ball, UH quarterback Bryant Moniz will throw into a Nevada defense that ranks next to last in the country in pass defense. But the impact of the Pack's ability to put up points extends to its defense, as the Pack picked up shootout wins the past two weeks.
“;I think they have no fears on defense because they know their offense can put up points,”; Moniz said. “;They can play a little more aggressive, try to go for interceptions, take a lot of risks.”;
Moniz retained his starting job after being cleared coming off of a mild concussion he suffered in last week's loss to Boise State.
The Warriors have struggled to find the end zone in WAC play, averaging 13.8 points in four conference losses. They've been held to single digits in two of their last three games as the big-play potential exhibited early in the season has largely evaporated.
In their first three games, the Warriors had 12 pass plays of 30 yards or longer, with three going for touchdowns. They have only four such plays since and no downfield touchdowns. Their average of 6.2 yards per pass attempt in WAC games is second-lowest in the league.
While moving the chains can help contain the Nevada offense, keeping pace with the Pack — and creating a chance to continue the trend of tight finishes in the series — could hinge on the Warriors' ability to pick up yards in chunks.
“;Bryant's doing a good job, but we're not helping him in other areas,”; offensive coordinator Ron Lee said. “;We're dropping a lot of balls, we're not getting a lot of big plays. We're going to need that, we're going to need some big plays.”;
WAC football
Hawaii (2-5, 0-4 WAC) at Nevada (2-4, 0-3)
When: Today, 10:05 a.m.
Where: Mackay Stadium
TV: PPV, Dig. 255
Radio: KKEA, 1420-AM
Line: Nevada by 28
PROBABLE STARTERS
HAWAII
Offense
| Z | 7 | Jovonte Taylor | 5-9 | 170 |
| Y | 2 | Jon Medeiros | 5-9 | 185 |
| LT | 77 | Aaron Kia | 6-5 | 290 |
| LG | 64 | Ray Hisatake | 6-3 | 315 |
| C | 55 | John Estes | 6-3 | 300 |
| RG | 74 | Raphael Ieru | 6-2 | 315 |
| RT | 51 | Austin Hansen | 6-4 | 285 |
| H | 1 | Greg Salas | 6-2 | 200 |
| X | 21 | Kealoha Pilares | 5-11 | 200 |
| QB | 17 | Bryant Moniz | 6-0 | 190 |
| RB | 23 | Leon Wright-Jackson | 6-1 | 215 |
Defense
| DE | 98 | Liko Satele | 6-2 | 260 |
| DT | 92 | Rocky Savaiigaea | 6-2 | 305 |
| DT | 49 | Tuika Tufaga | 6-2 | 285 |
| DE | 58 | Fetaiagogo Fonoti | 6-2 | 255 |
| STUB | 59 | R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane | 5-11 | 225 |
| MLB | 50 | Mana Lolotai | 6-0 | 230 |
| BUCK | 53 | Blaze Soares | 6-1 | 245 |
| CB | 2 | Lametrius Davis | 6-0 | 190 |
| SAM | 9 | Spencer Smith | 5-11 | 205 |
| FS | 19 | Richard Torres | 5-8 | 175 |
| CB | 10 | Kawika Ornellas | 5-9 | 170 |
Specialists
| PK | 20 | Scott Enos | 5-9 | 180 |
| P | 31 | Alex Dunnachie | 6-3 | 235 |
| Snap | 45 | Luke Ingram | 6-5 | 210 |
| Hold | 11 | Inoke Funaki | 5-11 | 205 |
| KR | 7 | Jovonte Taylor | 5-9 | 170 |
| PR | 1 | Greg Salas | 6-2 | 200 |
NEVADA
Offense
| T | 74 | Steve Haley | 6-5 | 305 | |
| G | 62 | John Bender | 6-8 | 325 | |
| C | 63 | Kenneth Ackerman | 6-4 | 280 | |
| G | 75 | Chris Barker | 6-4 | 305 | |
| T | 73 | Alonzo Durham | 6-4 | 285 | |
| TE | 85 | Virgil Green | 6-5 | 240 | |
| Z | 82 | Tray Session | 6-3 | 175 | |
| X | 4 | Brandon Wimberly | 6-3 | 195 | |
| F | 14 | Chris Wellington | 6-1 | 190 | |
| RB | 34 | Vai Taua | 5-10 | 220 | |
| or | 7 | Luke Lippincott | 6-2 | 215 | |
| QB | 10 | Colin Kaepernick | 6-6 | 215 |
Defense
| E | 55 | Dontay Moch | 6-1 | 245 | |
| T | 93 | Zack Madonick | 6-1 | 285 | |
| T | 95 | Nate Agaiava | 6-2 | 285 | |
| E | 99 | Kevin Basped | 6-6 | 240 | |
| SAM | 52 | James-Michael Johnson | 6-2 | 240 | |
| MIKE | 36 | Mike Bethea | 6-2 | 245 | |
| WOLF | 33 | Brandon Marshall | 6-1 | 235 | |
| CB | 11 | Antoine Thompson | 6-1 | 195 | |
| SS | 25 | Mo Harvey | 6-3 | 210 | |
| FS | 49 | Jonathon Amaya | 6-2 | 190 | |
| CB | 28 | Isaiah Frey | 6-0 | 190 |
Specialists
| PK | Ricky Drake | 6-0 | 190 | |
| KO | Ricky Drake | 6-0 | 190 | |
| Punt | 48 | Brad Langley | 6-0 | 200 |
| LS | 40 | Jared Silva-Purcell | 5-11 | 200 |
| Hold | 15 | Luke Collis | 6-2 | 210 |
| PR | 34 | Vai Taua | 5-10 | 220 |
| KR | 5 | MIke Ball | 5-10 | 225 |
| 14 | Chris Wellington | 6-1 | 190 |
