UH, NMSU battle for air supremacy

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Leave home early and plan on staying late if you are among the 40,000 expected at Aloha Stadium for tonight's football game between 16th-ranked Hawaii (7-0, 4-0 WAC) and New Mexico State (4-4, 1-2).

New Mexico State (4-4, 1-2 WAC) at No. 16 Hawaii (7-0, 4-0) When: Today, 6:05 p.m. Where: Aloha Stadium TV: Oceanic PPV Ch. 255 Radio: KKEA 1420-AM Internet: htsportsnet.com

It's homecoming, which will add a few minutes to halftime, and it's June Jones vs. Hal Mumme, which means plenty of passing and, hence, a slower-moving game clock.

The 31-point favorite Warriors are shooting for the second 8-0 start in school history, the other being when Jones was a UH quarterback in 1973.

The stakes are higher this time, as Hawaii is trying to keep pace with Boston College for the longest winning streak in the nation (it's now at eight games) as well as make a run toward a BCS bowl game and multi-million-dollar jackpot that goes with it.

New Mexico State's goals are still within reach, too. The Aggies hope to qualify for their first bowl game since 1960.

"It feels good to be in this position, but it will feel even better to be in a bowl game," Mumme said. "We just have to keep working hard."

The matchup features two of the most prolific quarterbacks in the nation in UH's Colt Brennan and NMSU's Chase Holbrook.

Brennan needs two touchdown passes to tie Tim Chang's UH career mark of 117. The NCAA record is 121 by Ty Detmer.

"It's like Colt has a sixth sense about where his receivers are," Aggies safety Derrick Richardson said. "He could be looking at one receiver and throw it in the opposite direction to another."

Holbrook has completed 72.8 percent of his passes.

"Their quarterback is very, very good at what Hal wants him to do," Jones said. "He's a difference maker in their scheme."

It is also homecoming for several Aggies; 10 players on the NMSU roster list Hawaii as home.

UH has won all three meetings, including last year at Las Cruces, N.M., when linebacker Adam Leonard picked up Holbrook's fumble and scored to give Hawaii the late momentum.

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Hawaii coach June Jones and Hal Mumme of New Mexico State are kindred souls when it comes to offensive philosophy. They are friends, and they know each other's tendencies.

New Mexico State (4-4, 1-2 WAC) at No. 16 Hawaii (7-0, 4-0) When: Today, 6:05 p.m. Where: Aloha Stadium TV: Oceanic PPV Ch. 255 Radio: KKEA 1420-AM Internet: htsportsnet.com

"I have picked up quite a few of the little wrinkles they've had, and I know they watch our tapes as we go," Jones said.

The 16th-ranked Warriors (7-0, 4-0 WAC) went up to 31-point favorites yesterday against the Aggies (4-4, 1-2). If things get out of hand, you can always watch KHNL anchor Stephanie Lum learning the finer points of being a team mascot from Vili The Warrior.

When Hawaii has the ball

Just wait until the Warriors offense actually gets going. UH coaches and players said this week that they aren't satisfied with the way they've moved the ball in the first seven games -- despite rolling up 538.6 yards per contest and leading the nation in scoring.

"With the bye I think we'll be a little more consistent," Jones said.

Quarterback Colt Brennan hasn't been as spectacular as last year, but part of that has to do with a sprained ankle that still bothers him sometimes.

The receivers have been outstanding, and all four starters -- Jason Rivers, Davone Bess, Ryan Grice-Mullins and C.J. Hawthorne -- have a chance to reach 1,000 yards for the season.

Kealoha Pilares has grabbed the starting spot at running back, but Leon Wright-Jackson and David Farmer will still get playing time in the one-back scheme. Wright-Jackson did not play in the rain-soaked San Jose State game because Jones saw no sense in putting a new back into the muck.

True freshman corner Davon House had a big game last week for the Aggies in his first start, winning WAC Player of the Week honors with two picks, including one for a 100-yard return. He'll get plenty of opportunities against Hawaii's run-and-shoot.

When New Mexico State has the ball

Chris Williams -- statistically one of the best receivers in the nation the past two seasons -- is out with a broken collarbone. This is a blow to the Aggies, especially since Williams is an electrifying punt returner. But Williams' understudy, Kenneth Buckley, shined last week in the victory over Idaho with six catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns.

Also, the Aggies are like the Warriors; it doesn't matter much if you are fortunate to shut down one receiver because other guys are sure to get open.

"We found some of the balls that Chris would have got, so it was a fun day," receiver Derrick Dubois said after the Aggies beat the Vandals.

Chase Holbrook has completed nearly 73 percent of his passes, eclipsing Brennan's accuracy mark. But he is susceptible to the sack, and the Warriors have been adept at pressuring quarterbacks this season. David Veikune leads UH with five sacks, and Hawaii is sixth in the nation.

Hawaii's depth in the secondary is somewhat suspect, with practice time for backup safeties Desmond Thomas and Dane Porlas limited due to injuries. Also nickel back Ryan Mouton is not 100 percent coming back from a knee sprain.

Special teams

The Aggies kicking game is coached by Roy Gerela, the former Kalani High School star who kicked for the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s. Gerela might be able to out-boot Ryan Jastram right now on kickoffs, as Jastram averages just 49 yards per kickoff. Field position has been terrible for NMSU, with opponents starting on their own 38 after the average Aggies kickoff. Paul Young has made six of 11 field goals, Jared Kaufman averages 40.8 yards per punt, and NMSU's return game is average with Williams out of the equation.

Hawaii kicker Dan Kelly is just 5-for-8 on field goals, but 50-for-50 on PATs. His accuracy has been important, since the Warriors' wins include two overtime victories.

With Mouton gimpy, Malcolm Lane is the main man returning kicks. He's already returned two for touchdowns and averages 46 yards per runback.

KEY MATCHUP

Hawaii back seven vs. NMSU ballcarriers

No need to worry about New Mexico State's running game, right?

Wrong.

"First down they run 50 percent of the time. Second down they run 50 percent of the time," Hawaii defensive coordinator Greg McMackin said. "They keep you off balance."

Especially with star receiver Chris Williams out, the Aggies will mix in the run often to keep pressure off quarterback Chase Holbrook.

Tonny Glynn has emerged as one of the better running backs in the WAC. Last week against Idaho he rushed for 88 yards on 11 carries and scored two touchdowns as the Aggies won 45-31.

"They're running the ball and they've run well against everybody so far," UH coach June Jones said. "We have to limit their big plays. They make a lot of big plays."

While the running game has improved, NMSU's staple remains the passing attack. Some of the major concepts of the Aggies offense are similar to those of the Warriors but there are some key differences.

"Sometimes they get in the same formations (as UH), but they run more formations," McMackin said. "They don't run as many vertical things down the field, they're more crossing and quick and getting the ball off whether you're coming or not, and our guys are more vertical and more of a reading offense."

So, as you often hear from guys trying to slow down UH, preventing yards-after-catch is a priority.

"That's a big thing," McMackin said. "They've got quick guys and we want to be great tacklers. We've done a pretty good job of tackling this year, and that's one of the things we need to do this week is be great tacklers."