Brennan credits Ilaoa, team for earning national honor

The recognition steadily increases for the UH quarterback

Hawaii junior quarterback Colt Brennan was named the National Offensive Player of the Week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation yesterday.

Brennan -- who leads the nation in total offense, touchdown passes and passing efficiency -- threw for 413 yards and a season-high six touchdown passes in UH's 63-10 victory at Utah State on Saturday.

But Brennan said UH running back Nate Ilaoa should be co-winner of the award.

"It was a collective effort of the entire team, no sacks, the receivers getting open and the defense played great," Brennan said. "Probably Nate should be co-player of the week. He definitely helped me look good."

Two of Brennan's passes were shovel passes at the line of scrimmage to Ilaoa that went for 60 yards each.

Ilaoa finished the day as UH's leading receiver (six catches, 155 yards) and rusher (six carries, 55 yards). He scored three touchdowns as the Warriors rolled up 572 yards.

Hawaii (7-2, 5-1 Western Athletic Conference) leads the nation in total offense, passing yards and scoring. The Warriors have won six in a row and accepted an invitation to the Hawaii Bowl after Saturday's win at Logan, Utah.

Brennan was also recognized by ESPN. He received a symbolic "helmet sticker" for outstanding play from college football analyst Mark May. His performance was also cited as No. 6 in the daily list of 10 outstanding plays of the day in all sports.

Brennan is also receiving more Heisman Trophy consideration, with some voters saying they will consider naming him on their ballots.

As a team, the Warriors received more voting points in both the Associated Press media and USA Today coaches polls, but did not crack the top 25 in either. Nor did they in the BCS Harris Interactive Poll.

More D-line woes: For the second week in a row, Hawaii is coming off a big win with big questions about its defensive line depth.

UH has lost five defensive ends in two weeks to injury. The celebration of the Hawaii Bowl-clinching victory at Utah State on Saturday was tempered by the possible loss of freshmen Rocky Savaiigaea (ankle) and Laupepa Letuli (knee).

"I don't think Laupepa will be available this week," Hawaii coach June Jones said.

But the status of both players was unclear last night.

Nose tackle Kahai LaCount suffered a chest injury, but it was not expected to keep him out of Saturday's home game against Louisiana Tech.

Three other defensive ends -- all backups, but all in the playing rotation -- were lost in the 68-10 win against Idaho the week prior.

Jones plans to reinforce the defense with two more players switching positions today.

Defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville originally thought running back and former nose tackle Siave Seti would move back, but that won't solve the problem at end.

"We really need defensive ends," Glanville said. "Our noses aren't hurt."

The starting trio of left end Mel Purcell, nose tackle Michael Lafaele and right end Ikaika Alama-Francis remains intact. But the Warriors depend on a rotation of linemen to keep everyone fresh.

Lawrence Wilson, Karl Noa and David Veikune are the remaining healthy ends who made the road trip.

Jake Ingram joined the Warriors as a defensive end last year and played well in a fall camp scrimmage but moved to snapper at the end of last season.

Hawaii is a 40-point favorite to beat LaTech and win its seventh consecutive game Saturday. But Glanville is focusing on what the Bulldogs did to the Warriors last year in Ruston, La., when UH was pounded 46-14 and gave up 327 rushing yards.

"We'll have our hands full next week. Of all the teams we played last year, this is the team that whipped us," Glanville said. "We lost some games, but we never got whipped, except that one. LaTech whipped us."

The Bulldogs are 3-6 -- 1-3 in the WAC.

Inside linebacker Solomon Elimimian is confident the Warriors -- who have allowed just one touchdown in each of the last two games -- are a different defensive team than in 2005.

"Same players, better attitude, more maturity. We've all bought into what Coach Glanville is teaching," Elimimian said.

Linebacker Adam Leonard has been one of the steadiest forces on defense. UH's leading tackler has been in on 10 or more stops in six of Hawaii's nine games. He led the Warriors with 11 tackles Saturday.

Streaking: Ian Sample had his streak of five games with a touchdown pass broken Saturday, but four others extended touchdown strings.

Davone Bess made it five games in a row, Jason Rivers four, and Ilaoa and Ryan Grice-Mullins two. Ilaoa, who leads the team with 13 touchdowns, has a four-game scoring streak counting rushing TDs.

Also, cornerback Ryan Keomaka has interceptions in two consecutive games.

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