UH’s Cockheran
and Sopoaga could
miss another gameThe injured Warriors might not
play against Fresno State, but
slotback Chad Owens returns
The injury situation didn't look very good for Hawaii yesterday morning, four days before UH (2-3, 1-1 Western Athletic Conference) hosts Fresno State (3-3, 1-0) in a must-win football game at Aloha Stadium on Saturday.
Hawaii vs. Fresno State
When: Saturday, 6:05 p.m.
Where: Aloha Stadium
Tickets: $25 sideline, $22 south end zone, $17 north end zone (adult), $12 north end zone (students/seniors, age 4-high school), UH students free (super rooter only). Available at Aloha Stadium, Stan Sheriff Center, UH Campus Center and Windward Community College's OCET Office. Or call 800-944-2697 or etickethawaii.com on the Internet.
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: KKEA, 1420-AM.
Parking: Gates open at 2:30 p.m. Parking is $5. Alternate parking at Leeward Community College, Kam Drive-In and Radford High School.
Traffic advisory: 1420-AM is the official traffic advisory station and provides updates before each home game.
Bus: Roberts Hawaii School Bus will run shuttles to and from the stadium with pick-ups at six Oahu locations. Call 832-4886 for information and reservations.
Defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga and wide receiver Jeremiah Cockheran -- two key senior starters -- both sat out of practice and could miss a second consecutive game.
Sopoaga has a partially torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee that he suffered against Rice on Sept. 27. While the injury doesn't require surgery, Sopoaga said he's been advised to rest it at least one more week.
"I don't know. It's a little better. Kind of better than last week. I couldn't even walk straight then," Sopoaga said yesterday after observing practice. "I want to push myself to play this week, but the doctor said I probably won't be ready. Not for this game, but next week for sure. But I'll try for this week."
Cockheran, who leads the WAC with seven receptions and 107 yards per game, spent a good portion of yesterday's practice on an exercise bike. He's listed as probable and said he hopes to play Saturday, but coach June Jones isn't as optimistic.
"He's not looking very good right now. So we'll prepare for without him," Jones said.
The good news is that slotback Chad Owens is ready to return to action after a two-game suspension for missing a team flight Sept. 19.
"He's right on schedule, he was practicing last week," receivers coach Ron Lee said. "We haven't talked about (Owens reclaiming his starting position immediately), but I think he's in shape, his legs are well rested. We need his quickness and experience."
Here come the 'Dogs: Fresno State arrives tomorrow after bussing from Fresno, Calif., to Sacramento and flying to Hawaii from there.
Bulldogs coach Pat Hill said this is his youngest team.
"Forty-one out of the 60 on the traveling squad are freshmen and sophomores," Hill said. "We didn't plan it that way, but we've lost a lot of good experienced players to injuries."
The Fresno State offensive line has been especially hard hit, with possibly three starters out Saturday. Left tackle Logan Mankins, an Outland Trophy candidate, tore the ACL in his right knee in August and is out for the year. Noa Pouono started the first four games at left guard, but suffered a concussion against Louisiana Tech and hasn't played much since that Sept. 20 game. Matt Stevenson, who has started every game at right tackle, is doubtful after spraining a knee last week against Colorado State.
Their probable replacements are left tackle Dartangon Shack, left guard Kawika Edwards and right tackle Chris Denman.
Moving around: UH true freshman left tackle Jeremy Inferrera was replaced on the first team yesterday by second-year freshman Tala Esera, who has played extensively at both tackle positions in the last two games.
It's too early in the week to tell if the move will hold until Saturday, but Esera has improved each game.
"I'm pretty surprised to be playing so much. I just try not to be overwhelmed by it and play good football," Esera said. "Every week my technique is getting better. l'm learning, seeing the defense better.
Esera was recruited from Kahuku High School as a defensive tackle.
"I think I played tight end one game, my senior year," Esera said. "Just threw me in. No coaching whatsoever."
Second-year freshman Daniel Inferrera's chronic hip injury has healed enough where he was able to take reps at right wide receiver yesterday along with Sean Stennis and Michael Miyashiro.
