WARRIOR FOOTBALL
Hawaii hits new national heights
The Hawaii football program reached unprecedented heights with the release of yesterday's polls, but coach June Jones will wait until it actually means something to get excited about it.
UH achieved its highest rankings ever in the USA Today/Coaches (15th), Associated Press (16th) and Harris Interactive (16th) polls.
The Warriors improved to 5-0 and 2-0 in the WAC with Saturday's 48-20 victory at Idaho. They were ranked 16th in the UPI poll (coaches) and 17th in the AP rankings in 1981.
Jones is more concerned with getting the Warriors ready for Utah State at Aloha Stadium on Saturday.
"I really don't have anything to say about it other than hopefully we'll be there at the end," Jones said.
While the polls represent opinions some coaches wish they could just discount completely, two of the rankings do come into play in determining UH's postseason fate. Jones' colleagues in the coaches' poll and the mixed bag of voters in the Harris poll help determine the final BCS rankings.
Those two polls are combined with computer rankings for a final number. If Hawaii wins its conference and finishes ranked in the top 12 -- a possibility if it goes unbeaten -- UH receives a bid to one of the five BCS bowl games.
The Warriors could also make it if they finish in the top 16 and ahead of a champion from one of the conferences that receives an automatic bid (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC and Pac-10).
Last year Boise State beat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. This year a mid-major qualifier would probably play in the Sugar Bowl.
The UH players are also supposed to take it one game at a time, but junior slotback Ryan Grice-Mullins was excited to hear that the Warriors had made program history with yesterday's rankings.
"That's a great honor. I'm not going to lie and say it's not. It's definitely cool and all that," he said. "But we've still gotta work. It's only five games and our journey's not over yet.
"We're definitely not going to take any team lightly. From the first week of college football to yesterday, five top teams losing, you can see anything goes," he added. "Now people will really be gunning for us."
HAWAII'S HIGHEST EVER
The Warriors are ranked in the top 15 for the first time ever. Highest rankings:
| No. |
Date |
Poll
|
| 15th |
Sept. 30, 2007 |
Coach
|
| 16th |
Sept. 30, 2007 |
AP
|
| 16th |
Sept 9, 1981 |
UPI
|
| 17th |
Sept. 23, 2007 |
Coach
|
| 18th |
Sept. 9, 1981 |
AP
|
| 18th |
Sept. 16, 2007 |
Coach |
|
Warriors Replay
Five big plays from Hawaii's 48-20 win over Idaho
Chosen* and described by the
Star-Bulletin's Dave Reardon
1. Shaking it off
The Setup: Hawaii 0, Idaho 0, around 10:40 remaining, first quarter, Hawaii ball, third and 11 at Idaho 13.
The Play: SB Ryan Grice-Mullins cuts into the end zone from the right and catches a pass from Colt Brennan for the game's first score.
The Impact: Grice-Mullins caught four passes for 47 yards on the drive, despite coming out for a play after his second reception with a knee bruise after a hard hit from Idaho S Shiloh Keo. Grice-Mullins and fellow SB Davone Bess combined for 19 catches for 253 yards and two TDs.
Grice-Mullins: "Just bruised it a little bit. It looked worse than it was. I just put an extra pad on and went back in."
2. Broken Colt
The Setup: Hawaii 7, Idaho 7, around 6:00 remaining, first quarter, Hawaii ball, second and 10 at Hawaii 39.
The Play: DT Siua Musika sacks Brennan for a 5-yard loss, hurting Brennan's previously sprained right ankle.
The Impact: CB Breyon Williams intercepts Brennan on the next play. It is the first of five interceptions thrown by Brennan in the game. He had never had more than two in a game before. Two are on long passes where Brennan can't get enough push off the hurt ankle.
Brennan: "I tweaked it in the first quarter on the sack. Adrenaline subdued the pain for today."
3. Pick Six I
The Setup: Hawaii 7, Idaho 7, around 11:00 remaining, second quarter, Idaho ball, second and 11 at own 36.
The Play: LB Adam Leonard anticipates a pass by Nathan Enderle and intercepts it. He runs 40 yards for a touchdown -- his second interception return for a touchdown in two games.
The Impact: Two plays after a huge emotional swing with Williams' interception of Brennan, Leonard silences the Idaho crowd and gives Hawaii a lead it will never relinquish. Hawaii scores 31 consecutive points.
Leonard: "I saw the quarterback looking at him all the way. I buzzed over."
4. Long to Lane
The Setup: Hawaii 14, Idaho 7, 14:07 remaining, second quarter, Hawaii ball, third and 7 at Idaho 41.
The Play: WR Malcolm Lane runs a 7-step choice route. Keying off the safety, he continues on a sideline route and gets behind CB Stanley Franks. Brennan places the ball perfectly and Lane holds on.
The Impact: Lane catches five passes for 70 yards and the one touchdown in place of starter Jason Rivers. Brennan completes 30 of 49 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns.
Lane: "Colt made a couple of bad throws, but I thought he played well, especially coming off the injury."
5. Pick Six II
The Setup: Hawaii 31, Idaho 7, 2:42 remaining, second quarter, Idaho ball on Hawaii 25.
The Play: CB Myron Newberry correctly reads a bubble screen and anticipates Enderle's pass. He goes 76 yards for the touchdown, falling into the end zone. It is his second interception in four plays.
The Impact: Hawaii adds to an insurmountable lead with its second touchdown on a pass interception. Enderle also finishes the game with five interceptions. Hawaii has run back four picks for touchdowns in the last three games.
Newberry: "I was tired, just happy to be there (in the end zone)."
* -- Play No. 3 is this week's bloggers' choice. Readers of UH Sports Extra, the Star-Bulletin's Warrior football blog, vote for the biggest play of each game. UH football beat writer Dave Reardon selects the other four.
|
WAC Standings
|
Conference |
Overall
|
|
W |
L |
Pct |
W |
L |
Pct
|
| Hawaii |
2 |
0 |
1.000 |
5 |
0 |
1.000
|
| Fresno State |
1 |
0 |
1.000 |
2 |
2 |
.500
|
| San Jose State |
1 |
0 |
1.000 |
2 |
3 |
.400
|
| Boise St. |
0 |
0 |
-- |
2 |
1 |
.667
|
| New Mexico St. |
0 |
0 |
-- |
3 |
2 |
.600
|
| Nevada |
0 |
0 |
-- |
2 |
2 |
.500
|
| Idaho |
0 |
1 |
.000 |
1 |
4 |
.200
|
| Utah St. |
0 |
1 |
.000 |
0 |
5 |
.000
|
| Louisiana Tech |
0 |
2 |
.000 |
1 |
3 |
.250 |
Hawaii Statistics
Team Statistics
|
Hawaii |
Opp
|
| FIRST DOWNS |
138 |
92
|
| Rushing |
23 |
32
|
| Passing |
103 |
52
|
| Penalty |
12 |
8
|
| RUSHING YARDAGE |
416 |
578
|
| Yards gained rushing |
511 |
768
|
| Yards lost rushing |
95 |
190
|
| Rushing attempts |
110 |
187
|
| Average per rush |
3.8 |
3.1
|
| Average per game |
83.2 |
115.6
|
| Touchdowns rushing |
8 |
7
|
| PASSING YARDAGE |
2,241 |
977
|
| Att-Comp-Int |
255-177-10 |
197-101-10
|
| Average per pass |
8.8 |
5.1
|
| Average per catch |
12.7 |
9.7
|
| Average per game |
448.2 |
195.4
|
| Touchdowns passing |
22 |
5
|
| TOTAL OFFENSE |
2,657 |
1,555
|
| Total plays |
365 |
378
|
| Average per play |
7.3 |
4.1
|
| Average per game |
531.4 |
311.0
|
| KICK RETURNS: No-Yds |
17-523 |
38-803
|
| PUNT RETURNS: No-Yds |
11-169 |
5-67
|
| INT. RETURNS: No-Yds |
9-287 |
10-138
|
| FUMBLES-LOST |
13-4 |
11-3
|
| PENALTIES-YARDS |
36-360 |
36-330
|
| PUNTS-AVG |
11-43.4 |
34-41.7
|
| TIME OF POSSESSION/GAME |
28:55 |
31:24
|
| 3RD-DOWN CONVERSIONS |
27/59 |
23/85
|
| 4TH-DOWN CONVERSIONS |
6/10 |
6/14 |
Rushing
|
|
G |
Att |
Net |
Avg |
TD |
Long
|
| Pilares |
5 |
31 |
192 |
6.2 |
1 |
29
|
| Wright-Jackson |
5 |
23 |
132 |
5.7 |
1 |
47
|
| Brennan |
4 |
28 |
32 |
1.1 |
5 |
10
|
| Funaki |
3 |
5 |
29 |
5.8 |
0 |
14
|
| Laumoli |
3 |
3 |
16 |
5.3 |
0 |
15
|
| Graunke |
4 |
6 |
13 |
2.2 |
1 |
20
|
| Cox |
5 |
3 |
6 |
2.0 |
0 |
6
|
| Farmer |
5 |
3 |
3 |
1.0 |
0 |
2
|
| Chopp |
3 |
3 |
3 |
1.0 |
0 |
5
|
| Thomas |
5 |
1 |
-3 |
-3.0 |
0 |
0
|
| TEAM |
5 |
4 |
-7 |
-1.8 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Total |
5 |
110 |
416 |
3.8 |
8 |
47 |
Passing
|
|
G |
Att |
Comp |
Int |
Yds |
TD |
Long
|
| Brennan |
4 |
182 |
133 |
6 |
1,631 |
15 |
64
|
| Graunke |
3 |
60 |
34 |
4 |
474 |
4 |
81
|
| Funaki |
3 |
13 |
10 |
0 |
136 |
3 |
32
|
| Total |
5 |
255 |
177 |
10 |
2,241 |
22 |
81 |
|
Receiving
|
|
G |
Rec |
Yds |
Avg |
TD |
Long
|
| Bess |
5 |
36 |
410 |
11.4 |
5 |
29
|
| Grice-Mullen |
5 |
34 |
469 |
13.8 |
5 |
64
|
| Rivers |
5 |
27 |
357 |
13.2 |
3 |
47
|
| Hawthorne |
5 |
27 |
327 |
12.1 |
3 |
46 |
|
| Pilares |
5 |
14 |
145 |
10.4 |
1 |
41
|
| Lane |
5 |
11 |
226 |
20.5 |
2 |
81
|
| Wright-Jackson |
5 |
11 |
108 |
9.8 |
0 |
26
|
| Bain |
5 |
4 |
61 |
15.2 |
1 |
32
|
| Washington |
4 |
3 |
51 |
17.0 |
1 |
19
|
| Salas |
4 |
3 |
35 |
11.7 |
1 |
24
|
| Chopp |
3 |
2 |
21 |
10.5 |
0 |
13
|
| Cox |
5 |
2 |
15 |
7.5 |
0 |
10
|
| Farmer |
5 |
1 |
8 |
8.0 |
0 |
8
|
| Medeiros |
1 |
1 |
7 |
7.0 |
0 |
7
|
| Graunke |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1.0 |
0 |
1 |
|
| Total |
5 |
177 |
2,241 |
12.7 |
22 |
81 |
|
Total Offense
|
|
G |
Plays |
Rush |
Pass |
Tot |
Avg
|
| Brennan |
4 |
210 |
32 |
1,631 |
1,663 |
415.8
|
| Graunke |
4 |
66 |
13 |
474 |
487 |
121.8
|
| Pilares |
5 |
31 |
192 |
0 |
192 |
38.4
|
| Funaki |
3 |
18 |
29 |
136 |
165 |
55.0
|
| Wright-Jackson5 |
23 |
132 |
0 |
132 |
26.4
|
| Laumoli |
3 |
3 |
16 |
0 |
16 |
8.0
|
| Cox |
5 |
3 |
6 |
0 |
6 |
1.5 |
|
| Chopp |
3 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
1.5
|
| Farmer |
5 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0.8
|
| Thomas |
5 |
1 |
-3 |
0 |
-3 |
-0.8
|
| TEAM |
5 |
4 |
-7 |
0 |
-7 |
-1.4
|
| Total |
5 |
365 |
416 |
2,241 |
2,657 |
531.4 |
Scoring
|
|
TD |
FG |
1XP |
2XP |
Tot
|
| Kelly |
0 |
4 |
37 |
0 |
49
|
| Bess |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
30
|
| Grice-Mullen |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
30
|
| Brennan |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
30
|
| Rivers |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
18
|
| Lane |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
18
|
| Hawthorne |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
18
|
| Washington |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
12
|
| Mouton |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
12
|
| Leonard, A. |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
|
| Pilares |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
12
|
| Bain |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6
|
| Wright-Jackson |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6
|
| Graunke |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6
|
| Newberry |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6
|
| Salas |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6
|
| Total |
37 |
4 |
37 |
0 |
271 |
Punting
|
|
No. |
Yds |
Avg |
Long
|
| Grasso |
11 |
477 |
43.4 |
51
|
| Total |
11 |
477 |
43.4 |
51 |
Punt Returns
|
|
No. |
Yds |
Avg |
TD |
Long
|
| Bess |
7 |
67 |
9.6 |
0 |
17
|
| Washington |
4 |
102 |
25.5 |
1 |
80 |
|
| Total |
11 |
169 |
15.4 |
1 |
80 |
|
Kick Returns
|
|
No. |
Yds |
Avg |
TD |
Long
|
| Mouton |
10 |
313 |
31.3 |
1 |
90
|
| Satele |
3 |
41 |
13.7 |
0 |
21
|
| Washington |
2 |
49 |
24.5 |
0 |
28
|
| Lane |
2 |
120 |
60.0 |
1 |
94
|
| Total |
17 |
523 |
30.8 |
2 |
94 |
Tackles
|
|
G |
UT |
AT |
Tot
|
| Elimimian |
5 |
30 |
23 |
53
|
| Leonard, A. |
5 |
19 |
20 |
39
|
| Patek |
5 |
16 |
14 |
30 |
|
| Kalilimoku |
5 |
17 |
6 |
23
|
| Newberry |
5 |
12 |
9 |
21
|
| Noa |
5 |
10 |
10 |
20
|
| Thomas |
5 |
15 |
4 |
19
|
| Lewis |
5 |
11 |
5 |
16
|
| Lafaele |
5 |
6 |
7 |
13
|
| Veikune |
5 |
9 |
4 |
13
|
| Paepule |
5 |
11 |
1 |
12
|
| Maka |
5 |
10 |
1 |
11
|
| Galdeira |
5 |
7 |
3 |
10
|
| Monteilh |
5 |
5 |
5 |
10
|
| Fonoti |
3 |
6 |
3 |
9
|
| Lau |
5 |
8 |
0 |
8
|
| Purcell |
5 |
5 |
3 |
8
|
| Saole |
5 |
6 |
2 |
8
|
| Laeli |
5 |
2 |
6 |
8
|
| Mouton |
5 |
5 |
2 |
7
|
| Leonard, J. |
5 |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|
| Allen-Jones |
4 |
6 |
0 |
6
|
| Porlas |
5 |
3 |
2 |
5
|
| Kelly |
5 |
3 |
1 |
4
|
| Satele |
5 |
3 |
1 |
4
|
| Davis |
4 |
4 |
0 |
4
|
| Kiesel-Kauhane |
5 |
3 |
1 |
4
|
| Jones |
4 |
3 |
0 |
3
|
| Hawthorne |
5 |
2 |
1 |
3
|
| Keomaka |
2 |
2 |
0 |
2
|
| Grice-Mullen |
5 |
2 |
0 |
2
|
| Watson |
5 |
1 |
1 |
2
|
| Seti |
5 |
0 |
2 |
2
|
| Laumoli |
3 |
2 |
0 |
2
|
| Rice |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1
|
| Nauahi |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1
|
| Washington |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1
|
| Grasso |
5 |
1 |
0 |
1
|
| AhSoon |
5 |
1 |
0 |
1
|
| Savaiigaea |
5 |
1 |
0 |
1
|
| Brennan |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1
|
| Roberts |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
| Total |
5 |
255 |
140 |
395 |
Misc.
Sacks (No.-Yds.): Veikune 3-9, Noa 2.5-13, Leonard, J. 2-8, Purcell 2-14, Elimimian 1-11, Leonard, A. 1-19, Fonoti 1-7, Lau 1-13, Keomaka 1-5, Kalilimoku 0.5-2, Lafaele 0.5-4, Laeli 0.5-4, Jones 0.5-0. Total: 16-109.
Interceptions (No.-Yds.): Leonard, A. 2-76, Newberry 2-98, Lewis 2-33, Mouton 1-40, Thomas 1-27, Monteilh 1-13. Total: 9-287.
Fumbles (Forced-Recovered): Patek 1-1, Monteilh 1-0, Lafaele 0-1, Lewis 0-1, Savaiigaea 1-0, Monteilh 1-0. Total: 3-3.
Blocked kicks: Jones.
