Friday, December 24, 1999

The Edge

A position-by-position comparison
to help you figure out which team
has the advantage come kickoff time:

Dan Robinson shattered the school record
for passing yards this season.

Quarterback

Hawaii: Dan Robinson is either very, very good or very, very average. It depends on the pass rush and whether his receivers are making the proper reads. He is rated No. 8 nationally in total offense, averaging 313.5 yards a game.
Oregon State: Jonathan Smith is not tall in stature at 5-foot-10, but don't let that fool you. He hasn't thrown an interception in his last 100 attempts and is second all-time in passing for Oregon State with 4,211 yards.

Edge: UH

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Offensive line

Hawaii: Tackles Kaulana Noa and Adrian Klemm are first team All-WAC. Without the benefit of a tight end, this group allowed only 24 sacks. The Rainbows are rated fourth nationally in passing offense.
Oregon State: The Beavers' offensive line is a competent one. Tackle Jason White and center Keith DiDomenico were honorable mention in the Pac-10. The front five yielded 33 quarterback sacks. Oregon State is ranked 14th nationally in passing.

Edge: UH

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Running back

Hawaii: The two-headed monster of Afatia Thompson and Avion Weaver produced a shade more than 1,000 rushing yards. More times than not, however, they are asked to sacrifice their bodies to protect the passer.
Oregon State: Ken Simonton is the man in Oregon State's one-back set. He carried the ball a workmanlike 276 times en route to being named second team All-Pac-10. He is OSU's career scoring leader with 184 points.

Edge: OSU

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Wideouts

Hawaii: Hawaii employs four wideouts on every play. The UH coaching staff maintains someone is always open, it's just a matter of finding him. How well first team All-WAC receiver Dwight Carter plays is a key.
Oregon State: This threesome is particularly dangerous when the running game is working. Play-action passes set up the big-play potential of flanker Roddy Tompkins who caught only 27 passes, but for 574 yards and five scores.

Edge: UH

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Kicking

Hawaii: Place-kicker Eric Hannum claims most of his problems this year were in his head. He hit 11 of 19 field goals and 35 of 41 PATs. Punter Chad Shrout averaged 41.5 yards and knocked down 12 inside the 20.
Oregon State: Place-kicker Ryan Cesca hit 6 of 11 field goals and all 35 PATs. His long is 43. Mike Fessler helped Oregon State finish seventh nationally in net punting. The Beavers returned no kicks for touchdowns.

Edge: OSU

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Defensive line

Hawaii: End Joe Correia was voted most inspirational after playing most of the year with a broken hand and a blown knee. Unfortunately, he was one of several lineman asked to forget the pain and produce on the field.
Oregon State: Tackle Shawn Ball is an honorable mention All-Pac-10. He had 51 tackles and two sacks. This is a good, if not flashy front that is asked to engage the offensive line that allows the linebackers to make big plays.

Edge: OSU

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By Barry Schwartz, Oregon State University
Linebacker Jonathan Jackson led the Beavers in tackles.

Linebackers

Hawaii: This is the key group for the Hawaii defense. All-WAC linebacker Jeff Ulbrich led the Rainbows in tackles with 169. Outside backers Robert Kemfort and Yaphet Warren are slowed by nagging injuries.
Oregon State: Jonathan Jackson and Darnell Robinson were honorable mention All-Pac-10. Jackson leads the team in tackles. Robinson has four sacks, four hurries, two picks and two recovered fumbles. Quick group overall.

Edge: UH

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Secondary

Hawaii: Cornerback Quincy LeJay led the league in interceptions with seven en route to being named first team All-WAC. He returned three of those for touchdowns. Safety Dee Miller is the best-kept secret in the league.
Oregon State: Freshman Dennis Weathersby is second team All-Pac-10 and is considered to be the best cover corner in the league. He had a team-high 17 breakups. The Beavers are ranked 9th nationally in pass defense.

Edge: OSU

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Coaching

Hawaii: What June Jones has done -- taking an 0-12 team and leading it to a bowl game -- is remarkable. He was named Coach of the Year by Sporting News and Sports Illustrated. He finished second in the AP balloting.
Oregon State: Head coach Dennis Erickson has won two national championships. He is 4-3 in bowl games, including a win at the 1988 Aloha Bowl during his tenure at Washington State. His spread offense is difficult to defend.

Edge: OSU

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Intangibles

Hawaii: At first glance, playing at home should be a huge advantage for the Rainbows. This will be their 10th game at Aloha Stadium this season. But so far, they are a rather average 5-4 on the islands.
Oregon State: Oregon State hasn't been to a bowl game since l965 and produced its first winning campaign in three decades. The Beavers have played the Rainbows five times, winning three.

Edge: UH