Kapanui to get
more Rice
When Hawaii played Rice last year, Chad Kapanui got his first -- and so far, only -- career start, at outside linebacker. Kapanui responded with four tackles and helped the Warriors beat the Owls 33-28 by playing good assignment defense against Rice's option offense.
Kapanui, a 6-foot, 225-pound junior, said he has been told he will likely start Saturday to fill the same role as in last season's game.
"I think the plan is rotate me on both sides," Kapanui said. "I guess I did good against them last year. It's just alignment and assignment, pretty much. Against the option, it's assignment football and doing all your keys."
A good game by Kapanui this week could get him at least one more start, since current starters Keani Alapa and Ikaika Curnan have been less than dominant in UH's first three games.
"I've just been waiting for my shot," Kapanui said.
Lincoln Manutai is another reserve linebacker who could see more time in some defensive schemes. But he plays in the middle, where Chad Kalilimoku strengthened his hold on the starting spot Friday.
Ilaoa out for year: The worst was expected when slot receiver Nate Ilaoa was diagnosed with a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee after the Aug. 30 Appalachian State game.
It became reality yesterday when UH announced Ilaoa is out for the season in the Warriors weekly news release.
"It looks like he's done for the year," Hawaii receivers coach Ron Lee said.
Ilaoa underwent surgery to repair the tear last week while the Warriors were on the road losing to Southern California and Nevada-Las Vegas.
The 5-foot-9, 211-pound third-year sophomore caught two passes for 51 yards in the 40-17 season-opening victory against the Mountaineers.
Last year, Ilaoa caught 46 passes for 532 yards with three touchdowns. He also rushed six times for 56 yards and another score.
Gerald Welch started the past two games in place of Ilaoa, catching five passes for 46 yards. He was replaced by Se'e Poumele during Friday's game. Poumele caught four passes for 61 yards.
Coach June Jones was among those whom Poumele impressed, but no one has won the spot yet, Lee said.
"We have a lot of guys who can play there," he said.
Around the WAC: Nevada running back Chance Kretschmer, Tulsa linebacker Nick Bunting and San Jose State kick returner Trestin George were named the Western Athletic Conference players of the week.
UH nominated Kalilimoku for defensive player of the week. The senior from Roosevelt High School was in on a career-high 14 tackles against the Rebels.
Short yardage: Rice has beaten UH in both meetings between the teams at Aloha Stadium. ... Hawaii senior defensive end Travis LaBoy is the WAC's leading active player with 33 tackles for loss.
