With no game of their own this weekend, many of the Hawaii football team's local players went back to their roots and kept a close eye on the big high school contests. Warriors use byes to
support alma maters
By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comSenior guard Vince Manuwai and junior defensive tackle Lance Samuseva, both Farrington graduates, planned to attend last night's Oahu Interscholastic Association semifinal game between the Governors and Castle's Knights.
"We don't get to too many games because of our schedule," Manuwai said. "I saw my first Farrington game in four years during the bye week. Me and Lance are going to go and check it out. I'm happy for the team, the school and the community. I don't think anybody expected them to be in this position to play for the championship. It's a credit to those guys."
There's also plenty of interest among the Warriors in tonight's Interscholastic League of Honolulu showdown between St. Louis and Kamehameha.
"I don't care if we win 1-0 or 2-0. The score doesn't matter. We just need that win to force a playoff," said former Crusaders and current UH quarterback Tim Chang.
Chang, who was part of St. Louis' 16-year stranglehold on the ILH championship, said he might not go to the game because he attended the Crusaders' two losses to Kahuku in the last two state championship games.
"I might be a jinx to them," he said.
Sophomore kicker Justin Ayat, a Kamehameha graduate, guaranteed a victory for his alma mater.
"Of course Kamehameha. I'll say 28-17."
Homecoming, Part II: Freshman backup offensive lineman Brandon Eaton and defensive line coach Vantz Singletary will get their home cooking next week when UH goes to Houston to play Rice.
Freshman reserve defensive back Omega Hogan, another Houston native, might make the trip, too. It would make sense, since Hogan has been running the scout team's option offense, simulating Rice's attack.
"My folks live 15 minutes from the stadium," Hogan said. "So even if I'm not there, they will be, rooting for the Warriors."
Eaton's family also lives near Rice's 70,000-seat stadium.
"They're a five-minute walk away," Eaton said.
Singletary said he'll take a brief break from the diet that has helped him lose nearly 100 pounds in one year and have some of his mother's sweet potato pie.
"Mom (Doloris Egans) makes a lot of pasty, bad stuff," he said. "I just have to watch the portions."
Schedule stuff: The Western Athletic Conference hasn't completed its schedule for next year yet, but this much is known: Southern Methodist drops off of UH's schedule in 2003 and 2004 as it is replaced by Louisiana Tech, which Hawaii did not play this season or last.
The Warriors have six road games: USC, UNLV, San Jose State, Louisiana Tech, Tulsa and Nevada.