DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hawaii's Mike Bass dove into the end zone to score the final TD of Saturday's game vs. Rice.
UH overcame lapses
The first half Saturday against Rice couldn't end fast enough for Hawaii, even though the Warriors dominated most of the first two quarters of their 41-21 victory.
UH nearly squandered a 24-0 lead it built in the first 24 minutes of the game, as the Owls scored three touchdowns (including two on Hawaii fumbles).
"When we came in at halftime, everyone was unnerved, including me," Hawaii coach June Jones said yesterday in his weekly news conference. "A lot of people thought, 'Here we go again.' "
That was a reference to UH's penchant for poor second quarters this season. In four games, the Warriors have been outscored 76-23 in the second period. (The rest of the time, UH has a 112-56 edge in scoring.)
"But we addressed it as coaches, we talked about it. We won the first half, and if they don't score again we win," Jones said. "We came out in the third quarter and we still weren't quite there, but when we blocked the kick (Abraham Elimimian's block of a Rice field goal attempt) it kind of took off and went the other way again."
The key was keeping Rice's running game at bay. The Owls' spread option is always among the nation's leading ground-gaining units. But the Warriors held Rice to 186 yards rushing -- and no points in the second half. It marked the first time UH held a team scoreless in the second half since it beat Texas-El Paso 33-3 in 1999.
"That was the best defense I've seen anyone play against Rice," Jones said.
He especially praised linebacker Ikaika Curnan, who had a career and game high 10 tackles.
"He was all over the place," Jones said.
The other outside linebacker, Chad Kapanui, also played well. But Jones declined to say if Kapanui had earned another start.
"He's a good player, but he played because they run the option," Jones said.
Kapanui could start if Keani Alapa, who started the first three games, doesn't recover quickly from a thigh injury. Lincoln Manutai, who has shuttled back and forth between outside and middle linebacker, is another option.
Running man: Tim Chang achieved career highs in pass attempts (70) and completions (42) on Saturday. But when Chang ran seven times for a career-high 32 yards, Jones was happy to see his junior quarterback pull the ball down at some opportune times.
On most of the runs, Chang slid or ran out of bounds before he could get hit. But he smelled the goal line once and lowered his shoulders but was stopped at the 1.
Jones said he prefers discretion over valor when it comes to his quarterback.
"Slide," he said. "I'm not interested in losing him."
Players of the week: Boise State quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie, Nevada linebacker Logan Carter and Fresno State defensive back Nate Ray were named the Western Athletic Conference offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week, respectively.
Dinwiddie completed 27-of-38 passes for 285 yards and four touchdowns with one interception in a 33-17 win over Wyoming.
Carter made 12 tackles including one sack and returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown in Nevada's 12-9 win over SMU.
Ray scored on a 70-yard fumble return on the first play of the game in the Bulldogs' 42-16 win over Portland State.
Hawaii's nominees were Chang, Curnan, and Elimimian.
