ASSOCIATED PRESS Hawaii slotback Ryan Grice-Mullins landed on top of Idaho defensive back Shiloh Keo as he caught a touchdown pass during Saturday's win at Idaho.

No rest for Brennan this week

Hawaii football coach June Jones said there are no plans to rest starting quarterback Colt Brennan and the most famous sprained ankle in the state this Saturday against Utah State at Aloha Stadium.

So barring a major setback, Brennan starts?

"Exactly," Jones answered.

Brennan threw a career-high (by three) five interceptions after rolling the ankle again in the first quarter at Idaho last Saturday, but also passed for three touchdowns and rushed for another in UH's 48-20 victory on the road. The Warriors improved to 5-0 -- Hawaii's best start since 1981.

Jones had said he planned to start Brennan two weeks ago against Charleston Southern, but decided to go with backup Tyler Graunke, instead.

It hasn't mattered much who starts at quarterback recently, since 16th-ranked UH has out-scored its opponents 271-94. But Jones wants to make sure Brennan isn't rusty as the Warriors' schedule gets tougher in the second half of the season. He also said Brennan will have to put up with some discomfort, probably all season.

"He's going to have to deal with it," Jones said. "He made a lot of great plays (Saturday)."

The season is getting to the point where almost everyone is playing with some kind of injury -- slotback Ryan Grice-Mullins bruised a knee on the first drive, but stayed in and scored a touchdown, cornerback Ryan Mouton also bruised a knee (completing the set, after doing so on the other one last week), and defensive end John Fonoti suffered some type of rib injury.

"After last year you can't keep me out no longer than I have to be," said Grice-Mullins, who missed just one play. Grice-Mullins missed several games with a high ankle sprain in 2006.

He said at least two of Brennan's interceptions were not the quarterback's fault.

"Definitely the one I goofed up," Grice-Mullins said. "I bobbled it and the guy caught it. Sometimes things like that happen.

"He played a pretty good game. Just short on a couple balls. He showed a lot of guts just by playing and scrambling the way he did. Two of the interceptions would've been easy touchdowns if he got it out there. Colt makes those 100 out of 100. Now he knows how to adjust for it."

Despite the five interceptions Saturday, Brennan is ninth in the nation in passing efficiency and has completed 73 percent of his passes. He is second in the country in total offense with 415.8 yards per game.

Defensively, the Warriors moved up to 31st in yards allowed per game with 311.0. They are also tied for fifth with 10 interceptions.

UH got five interceptions and five sacks Saturday as the Warriors defense controlled the game. Defensive coordinator Greg McMackin's unit was playing with a grudge after McMackin told them about negative comments made by ESPN analyst Craig James.

"Our response was to play our best football," defensive tackle Keala Watson said. "I think we proved our point."