Pilares not sure he will play against Fresno State

Depending on whom you ask, freshman running back Kealoha Pilares might or might not play in the University of Hawaii football team's game against Fresno State this Saturday.

Pilares, who initially hurt the MCL in his right knee in the Warriors' 42-35 overtime win at San Jose State on Oct. 12, recently re-aggravated the injury and took it easy at the team's morning practice yesterday.

The former Damien standout and leading rusher for the 14th-ranked Warriors (8-0, 5-0 Western Athletic Conference) wore a leg brace as he rode around on a bicycle at the UH practice field while his teammates ran sprints.

Pilares himself expressed reservations about his ability to go against the WAC rival Bulldogs (6-3, 5-1 WAC), despite the Warriors' having two byes over the past three weeks to help rest injuries.

"They want me to take care of it for the last three games, (at Nevada and at home against Boise State and Washington)," Pilares said. "Rest it up."

On the other hand, coach June Jones said he expected Pilares to play when asked at yesterday's weekly Honolulu Quarterback Club luncheon.

So far this season, Pilares has 294 rushing yards on 50 carries for a 5.9 yards-per-carry average, with four touchdowns. Leon Wright-Jackson and David Farmer, the team's other running backs with starts this season, saw full action at yesterday's practice.

The game against Fresno State kicks off a four-games-in-four-weeks span of national TV coverage on ESPN to close out the regular season for the Warriors.