Warriors not focused Here's a news flash: Contrary to what you may have been led to believe, Hawaii has not yet qualified for the ConAgra Foods Hawaii Bowl.
on bowl bid
A win tonight would clinch
a berth, but San Jose State is
too good to look pastBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comSure, the Warriors (6-2, 5-1 WAC) are 27-point favorites to accomplish that mission tonight at Aloha Stadium by beating San Jose State (4-5, 2-2). With a victory over the Spartans, UH also clinches consecutive winning seasons -- something it hasn't done since 1990.
But the media and fan buzz this week has centered on the past (last Friday's 31-21 upset at Fresno State that featured a furious UH rally and a flying hand tool) and the probable future (who will the Warriors host on Christmas?).
Coach June Jones and his players insist they are more concerned about tonight's game against the visitors from the Bay Area. They promise not to come out flat.
"The record's not indicative," Jones said. "They can move the ball. If you give them any reason to get excited, they can do it. They're just as potent an offense as we are. It's San Jose State this week and that's what matters now."
If Screwdrivergate and the bowl game blather weren't enough, there was also talk about UH sophomore quarterback Tim Chang's future Heisman Trophy campaigns.
Not by Chang. And if visions of Christmas week bowl game per diems are dancing through the heads of him and his teammates, they're doing a good job of hiding it.
"We're all about playing San Jose State," Chang said. "The bowl game's just a perk at the end, a bonus, a reward for a good season. The season's not over yet. Hopefully, there will be a reward for us waiting at the end, but we're not counting on it yet."
Anyone who doesn't think the Spartans are capable of an upset on the road only needs to look back to Sept. 21, when San Jose State was a 35-point underdog at Illinois, but won 38-35.
"We got in at night, got up early to play," coach Fitz Hill said. "The kids kept believing in themselves and each other. It was something we tried to move forward on and laid a foundation for where we're taking the program. It was good for recruiting and good for attention for the institution."
The Spartans went on to win their first two WAC games, but reality set in three weeks ago at Ohio State with a 50-7 loss. San Jose State has lost its last three games by a combined 147-39 (including 81-15 in the second halves). It could be paying for a treacherous schedule; this is the seventh of eight road games for the Spartans in a 13-game season with no bye weeks.
"Our lack of depth hurts us. It's just we get worn down and people get tired during the season," senior receiver and return man Charles Pauley said. "Injuries come and go and the second string is not like the first string, and big plays happen now and then against us. The most big plays wins the game."
Hill's weary team was spared contact drills this week, but the Spartans were scheduled for three practice sessions in Hawaii after arriving Thursday night.
San Jose State is second in the nation with 28 takeaways, but has made too many turnovers and other errors of its own to win lately, Hill said.
"Hawaii has a great football team. But we're not in a situation where we're really worried about the opponent," Hill said. "We're more concerned what we can do and do well. We feel like we have a chance, but we have to play close to perfect without mistakes. We've proven we can do it."
As often happens in the WAC, tonight's game matches two explosive offenses.
Chang, the reigning conference offensive player of the week, seems to get better with every game. He leads the league and is fifth in the nation in total offense, and those who wanted a meaner, harder Chang got that at Fresno. He took the hits and took charge in a 22-point fourth quarter that reminded fans of the gritty Nick Rolovich.
"They'll play a lot more cover two (zone) and not as much cover-free," said Chang, who will take on a secondary that includes free safety Gerald Jones, who is third in the nation with six interceptions. "We just have to find pukas in the zone."
Jones is confident his offense can do that. The receivers, led by senior Justin Colbert, who has three consecutive 100-plus yardage games, are becoming more consistent.
"Assignment-wise, offensively we're the best we've been since we've been here," Jones said. "That's a reflection on guys having been here three or four years. The first couple years one or two guys knew what we were doing."
San Jose State quarterback Scott Rislov has been sacked 19 times, but has already thrown his way into the Spartans record book. At Ohio State, he completed 36 of 44 passes, setting school marks for completions and percentage. But the effort went for only 265 yards and one touchdown.
The Warriors need to be as sure tacklers as the Buckeyes were against the Spartans' slippery receivers. Pauley is a triple threat; in addition to being Rislov's favorite target, he leads the nation in kickoff returns (he's scored on two) and is dangerous on punts as well.
The UH defenders also need to monitor running back Lamar Ferguson. The 5-foot-5, 148-pound sophomore rushed for four TDs against Illinois.
"Defensively, we've got to let them know they're not going to run all over the field on us," Jones said. "With a team like this you've got to get turnovers and sacks. They're going to move the ball. They've proven they can do it against top teams. In order to dis-fuse them you've got to outscore them and get them to turn the ball over and put them in long-yardage situations."
Hawaii did an outstanding job of disrupting Fresno State last week, despite the absence of top sack man Houston Ala (his bad ankle might keep him out again tonight). Linebacker Chris Brown's move back to the defensive front on passing downs has helped, and the Warriors' cornerbacks, Abraham Elimimian and Kelvin Millhouse, are among the league's best cover guys.
"They like to play man and have pretty good chemistry back there. But we have the ability to score on any defense," Pauley said.
Jones knows that, and he isn't assuming Christmas at Aloha Stadium yet.
"Every team can outscore us," the UH coach said. "You can say what you want about Rice. They've outscored us three times. Cincinnati, San Jose, all of 'em can put the ball in the end zone. So we're going to have to play defense and keep pace."
When: Today, 6:05 p.m. Hawaii vs. San Jose State
Where: Aloha Stadium
Tickets: $21 sideline, $16 end zone, $12 students/seniors, UH students free (super rooter only). Available at Aloha Stadium, except for student tickets at Stan Sheriff Center. Also at Ticket Plus outlets or by calling (808) 526-4400.
TV: KFVE (Channel 5), delay at 10 p.m., with rebroadcast Sunday at 9 a.m. Also available live on Pay-Per-View. Call 625-8100 on Oahu or (866) 566-7784 on neighbor islands to subscribe.
Radio: 1420-AM.
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Probable starters
SAN JOSE STATE
Offense WR 1 Kendrick Starling 6-1 195 Jr. LT 78 Jeff Gordon 6-4 287 Jr. LG 70 Joseph Hayes 6-4 302 Jr. C 77 LaMons Walker 6-3 270 Sr. RG 66 Justin Arrington 6-1 296 Jr. RT59Tim Provost 6-6 295 Sr. TE 88 Marcus Helfman 6-5 241 Sr. QB 5 Scott Rislov 6-1 218 Jr. TB 8 Lamar Ferguson 5-5 148 So. WR 10 Charles Pauley 5-10 166 Sr. WR 11 Jamall Broussard 5-9 177 Jr. DEFENSE DE 44 Chip Kimmich 6-4 257 Sr. DT 54 Larnell Ransom 6-2 251 Fr. DT 69 Kinji Green 6-2 278 Fr. DE 56 Philip Perry 6-1 242 Jr. LB 35 Onyeka Ossai 6-1 213 Jr. LB 9 Paul Okumu 6-0 234 Jr. LB 20 Luke LaHerran 6-1 233 Sr. CB 34 Trestin George 5-8 170 Fr. CB 22 Melvin Cook 5-10 197 Jr. SS 33 Josh Powell 6-2 194 So. FS 38 Gerald Jones 6-0 196 Jr. SPECIALISTS PK 13 Nick Gilliam 5-7 188 Sr. P 39 Michael Carr 5-11 201 Sr. LS 88 Marcus Helfman 6-5 241 Sr. SS 78 Jeff Gordon 6-4 287 Jr. H 16 Beau Pierce 6-3 229 So. KR 10 Charles Pauley 5-10 166 Sr. PR 10 Charles Pauley 5-10 166 Sr.
HAWAII
Offense WR 18 Justin Colbert 5-8 170 Sr. WR 81 Clifton Herbert 5-8 170 Jr. LT 70 Wayne Hunter 6-6 299 Jr. LG 77 Shayne Kajioka 6-3 308 Jr. C 53 Lui Fuata 6-2 315 Sr. RG 65 Vince Manuwai 6-2 309 Sr. RT 69 Uriah Moenoa 6-3 327 So. WR 84 Britton Komine 5-9 184 So. WR 19 Jeremiah Cockheran 6-0 193 Jr. QB 14 Tim Chang 6-2 191 So. RB 24 Thero Mitchell 5-10 210 Sr. Defense LE 58 La'anui Correa 6-5 264 Sr. LT 97 Isaac Sopoaga 6-3 315 Jr. RT 92 Lance Samuseva 5-11 290 Jr. RE 1 Travis LaBoy 6-4 249 Jr. LB 44 Matt Wright 6-1 225 Sr. LB 54 Chris Brown 6-1 255 Sr. LB 10 Pisa Tinoisamoa 6-0 218 Sr. CB 37 Abraham Elimimian 5-10 173 So. SS 33 Hyrum Peters 5-8 188 Jr. FS 17 David Gilmore 6-0 197 Jr. CB 3 Kelvin Millhouse 6-1 205 Jr. Specialists P 49 Mat McBriar 6-0 221 Sr. K 47 Justin Ayat 5-11 205 So. LS 45 Tanuvasa Moe 5-11 218 Fr. PR 81 Omar Bennett 5-11 178 Sr. or 1 Mike Bass 5-6 158 So. KR 20 John West 5-10 180 Jr. or 6 Michael Brewster 5-6 176 So. H 7 Shawn Withy-Allen 6-4 219 Sr.
Schedules
SAN JOSE STATE
Aug. 31 Arkansas State W, 33-14 Sept. 7 at Washington L, 10-34 Sept. 14 at Stanford L, 26-63 Sept. 21 at Illinois W, 38-35 Sept. 28 Texas-El Paso W, 58-24 Oct. 5 at Southern Methodist W, 34-23 Oct. 12 at Ohio State L, 7-50 Oct. 19 at Nevada L, 24-52 Oct. 26 Boise State L, 8-45 Today at Hawaii Nov. 9 Louisiana Tech Nov. 16 at Tulsa Nov. 23 Fresno State
HAWAII
Aug. 31 Eastern Illinois W, 61-36 Sept. 6 at Brigham Young L, 32-35 Sept. 21 at Texas-El Paso W, 31-6 Sept. 28 Southern Methodist W, 42-10 Oct. 5 at Boise State L, 31-58 Oct. 12 Nevada W, 59-34 Oct. 19 Tulsa W, 37-14 Oct. 25 at Fresno State W, 31-21 Today San Jose State Nov. 16 at Rice Nov. 23 Cincinnati Nov. 30 Alabama Dec. 7 San Diego State
Per-game comparison
San Jose State Hawaii 26.4 Points 40.5 37.8 Points Allowed 26.8 352.3 Total Offense 515.9 94.9 Rushing yards 122.1 257.4 Passing yards 393.8 +0.22 Turnovers -0.50
Key players
Passing A C I Yards TD Scott Rislov (SJSU) 318 196 9 2,223 12 Tim Chang (UH) 336 187 10 2,588 14 Rushing A Yards Avg TD Lamar Ferguson (SJSU) 96 384 4.0 4 John West (UH) 30 283 9.4 5 Receiving Rec Yards Avg TD Charles Pauley (SJSU) 49 630 12.9 3 Justin Colbert (UH) 48 716 14.9 4 Scoring TD FG XP Pts Avg Nick Gilliam (SJSU) 0 8 26 50 5.6 Justin Ayat (UH) 0 10 38 68 8.5 Tackles S A Tot Avg FL/S Luke La Herran (SJSU) 29 47 76 8.5 1/1 Pisa Tinoisamoa (UH) 44 24 68 8.5 8/2
WAC standings
CONFERENCE OVERALL W L Pct W L Pct Str Boise State 4 0 1.000 7 1 .875 W6 Hawaii 5 1 .833 6 2 .750 W3 Fresno State 2 2 .500 4 5 .444 L2 San Jose State 2 2 .500 4 5 .444 L3 LaTech 2 2 .500 3 5 .375 W1 Nevada 2 2 .500 3 5 .375 L1 Rice 2 3 .400 3 5 .375 W1 UTEP 1 3 .250 2 6 .250 L1 Tulsa 1 3 .250 1 7 .125 W1 SMU 1 4 .200 1 8 .111 L1 Today
Nevada at SMU
Rice at Tulsa
Boise State at UTEP
San Jose State at Hawaii, 6:05 p.m. Hawaii time
UH Athletics
