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Turnovers don’t
equal wins
HOUSTON » Win the turnover battle, win the football game.
Try telling that one to the 2004 Hawaii Warriors.
After two games, UH is up 5-0 in the takeaway-giveaway department. But the Warriors are 0-2 after last night's 41-29 loss at Rice.
"The percentages are obviously way, way the other way," UH coach June Jones said. "But, hey, you still got to outscore the other team."
Rice fumbled six times last night, and the Warriors recovered twice.
Safety Leonard Peters forced one of the fumbles, and was in the general vicinity of several others, including a wild one that bounced nearly into his hands. But Rice's Clint Hatfield recovered for a 13-yard gain to the UH 6. Two plays later, Owls quarterback Greg Henderson scored on an 8-yard run to give Rice the lead it would keep, 34-29, with 5:16 left in the game.
"It was kind of difficult to see the ball. I didn't see it until it hit my chest and by that time is was bouncing somewhere else. I wish I could've got that one," Peters said. "I had three fumbles that didn't go my way. It's one of those games where you just have to look at the film and learn from it."
Ken Hatfield, who has been coaching more than 25 years, said he can't remember a game when a team fumbled six times and won.
"I can't remember doing that. I hope I don't have to again," he said. "You can't put the ball on the ground that much."
UH capitalized on both Rice fumbles it did recover. Defensive end Mel Purcell forced one that cornerback Kenny Patton recovered late in the third quarter, and five plays later Tim Chang threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Michael Brewster to make it Rice 28, Hawaii 26.
On the Owls' next possession, linebacker Ikaika Curnan pounced on a loose ball with 12:56 left in the game. Justin Ayat kicked a 25-yard field goal to give UH its first lead since the first quarter, 29-28.
Even that signified a missed opportunity, Jones said.
"We had a chance to score a touchdown down there and we didn't make the play and had to kick a field goal," he said. "If we score a touchdown there it might make the whole game a different deal."
Hold the Rice: Now that Rice is leaving the Western Athletic Conference for Conference USA, don't look for the Warriors to be playing the Owls again any time soon.
Jones said he's glad to be done with Rice because of the Owls' low blocking techniques, which he considers dangerous. He said defensive tackle Lui Fuga's knee sprain was re-injured last night because of such blocking.
"I'm glad we don't have to play them. I don't like the cutting, the whacking, all that kind of stuff," Jones said. "I'm just not into that. That's their choice to play football that way. It's legal, but I would never do that.
"Ken Hatfield's a great coach, he does a nice job," Jones continued. "He got his team ready to play the game and they won the game. I've got nothing against any of that."
Injury report: Jones said he is thankful the Warriors have a bye coming up because of injuries.
"We got beat up again, we got a lot of guys hurt," he said.
Among the injuries:
Curnan hyperextended an elbow, but re-entered the game. So did Fuga, after aggravating the knee sprain.
Linebacker Tanuvasa Moe also injured an elbow and center Derek Faavi left late in the game with a sprained foot (right guard Uriah Moenoa moved to center and Phil Kauffman played right guard the rest of the way).
At this point, all are expected to be ready for the Tulsa game in two weeks.
Also, slotback Se 'e Poumele did not play after re-injuring a nerve in his leg Thursday.
Bench boost: UH second-team wideouts Ross Dickerson and Ian Sample weren't perfect, but both gave the Warriors a lift when they needed it.
Dickerson caught six passes for 64 yards and a touchdown, and Sample caught his first four as a Warrior, for 50 yards.
The two entered the game in the second quarter when Rice had a 21-7 lead, and helped spur a drive in which Chang completed all five passes, including the touchdown to Dickerson. Sample caught two for 22 on the drive.
"I made some mistakes, but I tried to apply what I learned in practice," Sample said. "The defense wasn't anything we haven't gone against in practice."
The nominees are: UH submitted Chang and linebacker Chad Kapanui for WAC offensive and defensive player of the week. Chang completed 34 of 50 passes for 363 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He needs 6 yards to pass Philip Rivers' 13,484 passing yards for second on the all-time list. Kapanui had a career-high 11 tackles and forced a fumble.