Thursday, October 25, 2001
UH, Fresno St. play Fresno State's Kendall Edwards is much more than a punt cover guy, and Hawaii's Nate Jackson is much more than a 168-pound walk-on.
with pieces missing
The Warriors and 18th-ranked
Warrior notebook
Bulldogs may be without key defenders
when they square off tomorrowBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comThey are important defensive players who are either out for sure (Edwards) or maybe (Jackson) as the 18th-ranked Bulldogs (6-1, 2-1 WAC) and Warriors (4-2, 3-2) tangle tomorrow at Aloha Stadium. The winner remains in the hunt for the conference championship.
Fresno State, coming off its first loss last Friday to Boise State, is a 412-point favorite. Both teams feature high-powered offenses, so the absence of Edwards and the effectiveness of an injured Jackson -- if he's available at all -- could affect the outcome.
Edwards was suspended for the game because of an illegal hit against Boise State last week on punt coverage. Now Fresno State has to face Hawaii's run-and-shoot -- the No. 2 passing attack by yardage in the nation -- without one of its better defensive backs.
"It causes a problem," FSU coach Pat Hill said. "He's one of our best football players."
The sophomore cornerback is among a three-man rotation the Bulldogs depend upon. The physical and fast Edwards has two interceptions this season. Sophomores Dee Meza and Juan Bautista are expected to step up in his place.
"That's definitely a setback," senior safety Vernon Fox told the Fresno Bee. "We're losing quality playing time from someone with experience that we expect to make plays. Losing Kendall is something we didn't need to happen this week."
As for the Warriors, they could have done without Jackson's motorcycle accident on Monday.
The senior safety went to practice yesterday, but with crutches and a heavily bandaged lower left leg. Witnesses to the accident said Jackson's leg was cut badly enough to nauseate the strongest stomach.
But Jackson, who is featured in the current ESPN The Magazine as one of college football's toughest players, is treating the injury with a shrug.
"I've got painkillers, but for me it doesn't even hurt, it's all right. It's got a lot of stitches, but I'll be all right. It's nothing that's going to stop me from doing what I love. I was just kind of mad that I might have let my team down this week," Jackson said.
Robert Grant, one of the Warriors' best athletes, starts if Jackson can't. Hyrum Peters and Leonard Peters (no relation) may also get time in passing situations.
"We have to play it by ear," Jackson said. "The way I am now I'll play, but we have to look at the long-term. It's no use to play if I can't perform at 100 percent."
That's one reason Tim Chang is not starting at quarterback for the fourth-consecutive week. Chang's sprained right wrist swells up the day after he throws. Chang said he can play, but Nick Rolovich has won three games in a row as his replacement.
Coach June Jones said Tuesday that Chang would still be the starter if healthy, but Rolovich is No. 1 for now.
"Rolo's been very competitive and stood in there and made the plays when we had to have them made," Jones said.
While the FSU secondary will miss Edwards, the Bulldogs still have safety Bryce McGill (three interceptions, 50 tackles), linebacker Maurice Rodriguez (54 tackles) and tackle Alan Harper (seven sacks) to lead a talented and deep defense.
They're a big reason Fresno State was able to climb into national prominence with early nonconference wins over Colorado, Oregon State and Wisconsin.
So is David Carr. The Heisman Trophy candidate has passed for 17 touchdowns and been intercepted only three times. Receivers Rodney Wright (50 catches, 700 yards, four TDs) and Bernard Berrian (41, 579, 5) are favorite targets.
All that is set up by powerful Paris Gaines, a 6-1, 225-pound load at tailback who has run over opponents for 636 yards and five touchdowns this fall.
Rolovich's top target is Ashley Lelie, who has four of his seven touchdown receptions in the past two games. But when Lelie draws extra attention, Justin Colbert, Channon Harris and Craig Stutzmann are more likely to get open. And they have lots of ways to do so.
"I think we can probably move the ball because we have lots of options off the routes we run," Rolovich said.
Still, UH will need more consistency from the running game than it got last week in its 36-15 victory over Tulsa. Thero Mitchell (42 yards on 15 carries), and Mike Bass (19 on six rushes) didn't need to have big games against the Golden Hurricane, but they need to at least give the Bulldogs something to think about tomorrow.
Berrian has returned a kickoff for a touchdown, but Hawaii could have the edge in special teams as the Warriors have improved in returns, coverage and kicking in recent weeks.
FSU kicker Asen Asparuhov made four field goals against Colorado State two weeks ago, including a 41-yarder to win it in overtime. But he missed tries of 44 and 46 yards last week while Hawaii's Justin Ayat blasted a successful 55-yarder.
What: Fresno State at Hawaii UH Football
Where: Aloha Stadium
When: 4:06 p.m. tomorrow
Records: 18th-ranked FSU is 6-1 and 2-1 in the WAC. UH is 4-2 and 3-2.
Series: FSU leads 18-14-1 (UH leads 11-8-0 at home).
Recently: 2000 -- FSU 45, UH 27; 1999 -- UH 31, FSU 24 (2OT); 1998 -- FSU 51, UH 12; 1997 -- UH 28, FSU 16; 1996 -- FSU 20, UH 0; 1995 -- UH 42, FSU 37.
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