They aren't the most glamorous jobs. But when they're done right, the results can be spectacular.

Such are the roles filled by some of the lesser-known members of the Hawaii roster who perform vital, if often overlooked, tasks on the Warriors special teams units. They contributed heavily to Hawaii's upset at Fresno State last weekend.

Antwan “;Tua”; Mahaley, Cameron Allen-Jones and Victor Clore are reserve linemen who don't appear in the upper levels of the defensive depth chart. Same goes for linebacker Corey Paredes and safety Spencer Smith.

But they had a hand—or an arm in Mahaley's case—in two of the biggest plays of UH's 32-29 overtime win.

Allen-Jones, Clore, Paredes and running back David Farmer make up the wedge that opened the way for Ryan Mouton's 90-yard tone-setting kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter.

The Warriors might not have had a chance to win the game in overtime if the 6-foot-4 Mahaley—a receiver turned defensive end—hadn't blocked a field-goal attempt in the final minute of regulation.

“;It feels good just to have a spot,”; Allen-Jones said. “;Everybody on this whole team, whether you're on offense, defense or special teams, you've just got to play your role and everything else will come.”;

Special teams will again be critical when the Warriors (2-3, 1-1 Western Athletic Conference) face Louisiana Tech (2-2, 0-1) on homecoming night Saturday at Aloha Stadium.

Hawaii's kickoff-return team was a focal point in practice last week after breakdowns against San Jose State left Mouton open to some heavy hits in the loss to the Spartans.

Associate head coach George Lumpkin concentrated on getting the wedge unit—with Allen-Jones and Clore in the middle flanked by Paredes and Farmer—to form up a correct distance in front of Mouton.

“;Because he's faster than those guys, you want him to run up into the wedge and it's kind of like a cocoon,”; Lumpkin said. “;When he gets in the wedge and they hit, then he should pop through like a butterfly coming out of a cocoon. Then the rest is up to him.”;

With Smith sealing off the backside and the wedge leading the way, Mouton slithered past the rest of the coverage unit for his second career touchdown on a kickoff return.

“;Right before we went out, I just told everybody get on their blocks and do their jobs and meet Ryan in the end zone for that touchdown dance,”; Clore said. “;Sure enough we had the whole kick return team down there jumping around with him.”;

With the coverage team barreling toward them, patience is a key. So is a willingness to absorb some of the biggest collisions in the game.

“;It's not for everybody but it's fun. I enjoy it,”; Clore said. “;I like a little contact. It's like live bullets flying around you, you only have a split-second to decide what you want to do.”;

A split-second was all Mahaley needed to make a lasting impact on last week's game, and perhaps the Warriors' season.

After Fresno State battled back to tie the game, Mahaley ensured the Warriors would have a shot in overtime by blocking a Kevin Goessling kick in the final minute of regulation.

Mahaley is the jumper in the middle of the line. The result was produced by his height and leaping ability, as well as time spent studying tape to set up his target.

“;Just to make sure I know the kicker,”; said Mahaley, who is also a lookout for trick plays, “;If he's left-footed or right-footed, to see if he's accurate in getting it in that specific gap from a distance on the field, and it depends on the hash.”;

Once the Warriors return to practice, many of those special teams players resume their roles in preparing the first offensive and defensive units for the next week's game. But those fleeting moments in the kicking game can lead to expanded duties down the road.

“;When they show what they can do in a game and how much it means to them, then it gets coaches eyes and then they start getting reps on offense and defense,”; UH head coach Greg McMackin said.