CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Reserve running back Jazen Anderson looked for yardage during yesterday's Scout Bowl at Hawaii's football practice.

Scout team enjoys its day in sun

The players get a rare opportunity to hit and compete at full speed

With the Hawaii football team's only bye of the season coming in early September, yesterday's Scout Bowl represented more than just a chance for the Warrior reserves to pound on each other.

Sure, breaking into the starting rotation is probably a long shot for most scouts, but with 12 games still left on the schedule, the annual scrimmage offered an opportunity to impress the coaches in hopes of getting on the field.

"That's the main thing about the Scout Bowl, everybody's trying to get a spot," said freshman defensive lineman Victor Clore. "That's the main thing, get out there and show them what you can do and hopefully you can get a spot on special teams."

"We always find a couple guys who show up," UH coach June Jones said. "It gives everybody an opportunity."

The scrimmage has been held during the team's bye week for the past few years and often includes a few backups in the regular rotation as the scouts get a rare chance to hit at full speed.

The scouts' duties the rest of the season are generally limited to running the upcoming opponent's plays without much contact.

"Coach doesn't want us to touch the offensive players because he doesn't want to get them hurt," freshman linebacker Joshua Rice said. "So it's fun to get back and feel like I'm playing football again."

The defense got the best of the action early in the 40-play scrimmage before running back Jazen Anderson helped get the offense rolling.

Anderson ran for 9 yards on his first carry and took a shovel pass from quarterback Will Brogan for a 14-yard gain. He broke through again late in the period, following his blockers along the right side for a 25-yard run.

But Anderson, the brother of former NFL back Jamal Anderson, knows his running ability is just part of the equation as he tries to get into the mix in the backfield.

"I try to give the coaches a look, show them what I can contribute," he said. "I have to get better at blocking -- the coaches have been working with me a lot as well as the players. When you have to block Melila Purcell or Ikaika Alama-Francis, it's no easy task. You have to rely on technique because brute strength is probably not going to beat those guys."

Quarterback Inoke Funaki connected with freshman Greg Salas for a 30-yard completion down the sideline and later hit Mitch Farney for a 35-yard gain.

Among the highlights for the defense was sophomore safety Kirk Alexander's interception, which he then lateraled to Rice.

Cornerback Keenan Jones and receiver Antwan Mahaley engaged in a personal duel that included several pad-popping collisions as Jones tried to jam the 6-foot-4 Mahaley at the line of scrimmage.

The scrimmage ended with defensive lineman Nathan Russell, a sophomore transfer, storming into the backfield to sack Brogan.

"It was really exciting," the Waianae graduate said. "A couple of times I came really close, and when the opportunity's there you have to seize it."

All the while, the starters -- some of whom were playing in the scrimmage not long ago -- cheered on the younger players from the sideline.

"I remember finally getting my chance in the Scout Bowl game. That was like, what, a year ago?" said Alama-Francis, now a starting defensive end and a second-team All-Western Athletic Conference pick last season. "We got our work in in the beginning (of practice) and we do this every year and it's exciting. Have a little fun, you can't be serious all the time, and the young guys get a little taste of what it's like."