UH defies odds, wins despite many mistakes

Hawaii's toughest opponent five games into the football season? It could be the Warriors themselves.

UH is 3-2 after Saturday's 41-34 victory over Nevada, and 1-1 in the WAC. But the Warriors have a winning record despite giving yardage and the ball away at rates among the worst in the nation.

After Saturday's 12 infractions for 109 yards, Hawaii is 115th among 119 NCAA Division I-A teams in penalties per game with 8.6 for 73.20 yards. Giveaways against Nevada were even at two each, but UH is still 114th in turnover margin at minus 1.40.

Coach June Jones knows those kinds of miscues could cost the Warriors games -- if they haven't already.

"We have to figure out a way to stop doing it. We'll talk about it, like we always do," Jones said.

Hawaii was assessed three personal fouls in the second quarter alone.

"I know it looks like our O-line was aggressive and hitting guys after the play," quarterback Colt Brennan said. "But it was only in retaliation to what Nevada was doing."

Brennan had another spectacular game, with four touchdown passes and one score rushing. But his fumble at his own 3 late in the fourth quarter nearly allowed Nevada to tie or win the game.

"I'm real disappointed in myself for doing that," Brennan said. "I was sitting there grumbling, 'C'mon defense,' and what do I do? I go out there and fumble."

Hawaii's defense held though, as Nevada did not advance the ball even 1 yard in four downs.

Nate Ilaoa also had a great game, with 151 rushing yards and 68 receiving. But Ilaoa lost a fumble, too, at the Nevada 1.

"It was a good play by (Nevada's J.J. Milan to force the fumble) and a horrible play by me," Ilaoa said. "I just got to keep working harder at it."

The Warriors have been so good at moving the ball and stopping opponents in key situations that the mistakes haven't mattered -- at home, where UH is 3-0.

Saturday's game is at Fresno State, with another at New Mexico State the following week.

"This is another road game and we haven't won a road game in a long time," the coach said.

(UH has lost three road games since its last win away from the islands, Oct. 22, 2005, at San Jose State.)

The Bulldogs -- perennial WAC contenders -- are 1-4 and just lost to Utah State.

"That'll probably fire them up for this week," Ilaoa said. "We just have to prepare hard and hopefully put on a good showing in Fresno."

"At Fresno it's always tough, whether they lost or not," nose tackle Mike Lafaele said.

Hawaii lost 70-14 at Fresno State in 2004, but won 31-21 there in 2002.

Satele sprains knee: Starting left guard Hercules Satele left Saturday's game midway through the fourth quarter with a sprained knee.

Jones said late yesterday he had not received an update. Satele was unavailable for comment.

Second-year freshman Laupepe Letuli replaced Satele, who had started every game this year.

Also, slotback Ryan Grice-Mullins said he expects to return to practice this week. He sprained an ankle in the Boise State game Sept. 23.

Still No. 1: Brennan and Davone Bess continue to lead the nation in statistical categories.

Brennan is first with 24.4 points-responsible-for per game, and Bess leads all receivers with 8.20 catches per game.

Ilaoa is 18th in all-purpose yards with 134.0 per game.

Adam Leonard is 27th in total tackles with 9.20 and 22nd with 5.60 solos.

Hawaii is second in total offense with 516.20 yards per game and 98th in total defense with 385.40.

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Warrior Replay

Five big plays from Hawaii's 41-34 win over Nevada

1. Breaking the plane

The Setup: Nevada 7, Hawaii 3; less than 1:30 remaining, first quarter; Hawaii ball, third and 1 at Nevada 17.
The Play: Colt Brennan completes a pass to Ian Sample at the 3, less than a yard from the sideline. Sample is pushed out of bounds by Joe Garcia, but not before Sample extends his arm to get the ball past the goal line. The touchdown is upheld after officials' video review.
The Impact: The Warriors take a 10-7 lead and never trail again, but Nevada hangs tough and the outcome is in question until the final minutes. It doesn't seem it will be that way after the next UH offensive play, as Sample scores again on a 63-yard pass play from Brennan against busted coverage. It is Sample's second consecutive two-TD game.
Sample: "No matter what the defenses run, with our offense we should be able to get open. Then it's just a matter of executing."

2. Big turnover

The Setup: Hawaii 17, Nevada 7; 12:00 remaining, second quarter; Nevada ball, first and 10 at Nevada 43.
The Play: Nevada running back Robert Hubbard bursts through a hole for a good gain into Hawaii territory, but strong safety Jake Patek belts him from the side, jarring the ball loose. Cornerback Kenny Patton recovers for Hawaii.
The Impact: Nevada controls the line of scrimmage and is in the middle of a steady drive that could easily end in a touchdown to put the Wolf Pack right back in the game. Instead, the Warriors take over at their own 39 and use the momentum to mount a drive of their own, ending in a 9-yard TD pass from Brennan to Davone Bess and a 17-point lead.
Nevada coach Chris Ault: "I never anticipated our backs fumbling like they did tonight."

3. Midfield stand

The Setup: Hawaii 34, Nevada 21; less than 14:00 remaining, fourth quarter; Nevada ball, fourth and 1 at 50.
The Play: Adam Leonard -- who on the previous series wrestled the ball away from Hubbard while tackling him -- makes his game-high 10th tackle and knocks the ball loose, stopping Luke Lippincott for no gain and giving Hawaii the ball. Three plays earlier, Karl Noa had stripped the ball from quarterback Jeff Rowe with Amani Purcell recovering, but official replay overrules the turnover, saying Rowe was down before the fumble.
The Impact: After Nevada gives it up on downs, Hawaii takes over and scores four plays later when Brennan rushes 6 yards for a touchdown.
Hawaii coach June Jones: "The (defensive stand) at the 50 was as big as the last one. To me, that was the game right there."

4. Break for Nevada

The Setup: Hawaii 41, Nevada 34; less than 3:00 remaining, fourth quarter; Hawaii ball, second and 8 at Hawaii 7.
The Play: Freshman Malcolm Lane fair-catches a Nevada kickoff at Hawaii's 5. Two plays later, Brennan is flushed out of the pocket and Nevada's Jason DeMars forces him to fumble. Charles Wilson recovers for Nevada at the Hawaii 3.
The Impact: An incredible comeback from 20 points down in the fourth quarter seems in the offing as Nevada now has four downs to cover 3 yards. Brennan, who passes for four touchdowns and rushes for another, could see a great night go for naught because of one mistake.
Brennan: "If I had fumbled the ball and we lost that game, you would not see me in here (the interview room)."

5. Back to the wall

The Setup: Hawaii 41, Nevada 34; 2:00 remaining, fourth quarter; Nevada ball, fourth and goal at Hawaii 3.
The Play: Nevada calls a pass, and as Travis Moore looks for receivers, Amani Purcell bears down on him from the left. Moore tries to hit Mike McCoy in the back-center of the end zone, but McCoy is covered by Leonard Peters and Moore's pass is too high to be caught.
The Impact: Hawaii allows two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and 472 yards for the game. But the defense holds for four downs at its own 3 with the game on the line.
Peters: "Any time the offense gets inside our 20 we always say we've got them right where we want them."

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