Injuries
put the hurt
on Warriors
Hawaii's injured list continues
to grow, with the defensive
secondary the hardest-hit unit
If the Hawaii football team is to qualify for a bowl game, the Warriors need to win five of their final seven games.
That becomes less likely with every new injury.
The hurt list continues to grow, and UH (2-3, 2-2 Western Athletic Conference) will likely be without two defensive starters and possibly four for Saturday's game vs. San Jose State at Aloha Stadium.
The secondary is the hardest-hit. Starting cornerbacks Abraham Elimimian and Kenny Patton are hobbled by strained hamstrings, and starting safety Lono Manners is out for the season with a broken ankle suffered in UH's 51-20 loss at Texas-El Paso on Saturday.
Elimimian (who left the UTEP game in the second half after intercepting three passes) and Patton might be able to play against the Spartans (2-3, 1-1), coach June Jones said yesterday.
"We'll wait and see on Abraham and Kenny," he said. "Neither would be able to practice today or tomorrow likely."
Elimimian leads the nation in interceptions per game with 1.0. He has five in five games.
Also, starting middle linebacker Ikaika Curnan will probably miss a second consecutive game with a high-ankle sprain, but starting outside linebacker Tanuvasa Moe should be able to play; he missed much of the second half Saturday with cramps, Jones said.
The first backups are Cameron Hollingsworth and Omega Hogan at cornerback, Lamar Broadway at safety and Watson Ho'ohuli at linebacker. Several other players will continue to see action.
"(The secondary is) kind of scrambled. Hopefully Abraham and Kenny will be ready," Jones said. "We're going to prepare as if they're not, adjust our thoughts a little bit on what we're going to do on the back end."
Jones said he hopes Ray Bass and Turmarian Moreland can overcome nagging injuries and contribute at cornerback, and Landon Kafentzis and Matt Manuma will probably see more time at safety. Jones also said true freshman cornerback Keao Monteilh will be looked at as a free safety.
Broadway was the starter to open the season, but Manners took over the position three games ago. After replacing the injured Manners in the UTEP game, Broadway was in on eight tackles.
"Lamar continued to work hard. He did some good things in the game and some things he needs to get better at," Jones said.
Hollingsworth was buried so low on the depth chart at cornerback after last spring that he wasn't even invited to fall preseason camp. But the third-year junior emerged as the top cornerback reserve three weeks ago. He made his first career interception and six tackles in place of Patton at UTEP.
On offense, second-team receiver Ian Sample will miss several games with a shoulder injury. Senior Rene Melson, who has yet to make a Division I reception, moves into his spot on the depth chart.
Quarterback Tim Chang will likely play despite aggravating a left (non-throwing) shoulder injury when he got hit late Saturday by UTEP defensive tackle Ibok Ibok.
"Timmy ran today and was moving his arm. I'm sure he'll be sore, but I would anticipate he would play," Jones said. "He probably won't practice one or two days."
Chang has 14,473 career passing yards and is poised to break the NCAA record of 15,031 held by Ty Detmer.
Jones said qualifying for a third consecutive Hawaii Bowl remains a reachable team goal.
"We're going to get healthy and get together," he said. "These type of things kind of do bring you together. As long as you don't divide from within. And we won't divide from within because that's something that doesn't happen around here."
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