Hawai’i opens the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) season with its first-ever trip to Moscow, Idaho this weekend in search of the first win of the season against the Vandals. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (4 p.m. Hawai’i Time) Saturday
Hawai’i opens the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) season with its first-ever trip to Moscow, Idaho this weekend in search of the first win of the season against the Vandals. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (4 p.m. Hawai’i Time) Saturday at the Kibbie Dome (16,000).
The Warriors are coming off losses against two of the best teams in the country in No. 1 USC and at No. 22 Michigan State. Idaho looks forward to their home opener after suffering losses at Washington State, UNLV and Washington.
Hawai’i is 4-1 all-time versus the Vandals. This will be the sixth meeting between the teams, the first in the Gem State. Last season, the Warriors put on a defensive exhibition, recording a season high 10 sacks and shutting out the Vandal offense in the second half, en route to a 52-21 victory.
In his seventh season as head coach for the Warriors, June Jones moves to 48-32 and looks to add to his 28-19 record in WAC play.
The Vandals, who were picked to finish ninth in the WAC preseason polls, return a youthful squad with 28 underclassmen. Head Coach Nick Holt returns in just his second season and owns a 3-12 record.
Last week, the Vandals struggled, gaining a mere 186 yards of total offense, including -4 rushing, against the Huskies.
After utilizing dual quarterbacks in the season opener, Holt has settled on junior Steven Wichman. The Sept. 12 WAC Offensive Player of the Week has thrown for 720 yards and four touchdowns in three games this season. Junior wide receiver Daniel Smith is Wichman’s main target. Smith leads the Vandals with 22 catches for 314 yards and two touchdowns. He is also second in the WAC and 17th nationally averaging 104.7 receiving yards per game. The Vandal defense is anchored by senior linebacker Cole Snyder who averages 14.0 per game, second in the WAC and third nationally. Snyder leads the Vandals with 42 tackles in three games, including four for-a-loss (-19) and one sack (-5).
After returning home from 14-42 defeat to Michigan State, the Warriors spent their bye week healing a few nagging injuries. Safety Leonard Peters (knee) and nose tackle Renolds Fruean (ankle) will both miss this week’s trip, while a slew of players including defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis (foot), quarterback Colt Brennan (shoulder), guard Samson Satele (shoulder), receiver Ryan Grice-Mullen (shoulder), and cornerback Kenny Patton (knee/shoulder) will be ready to go. Jones decided on sophomore Colt Brennan as the starting quarter-back. Brennan, who looks to build on his 70 percent completion rate (44-of-63) through his first two games, has thrown for 469 yards and three touchdowns this season.
Three Warrior receivers have reached the 100-yard mark after two games. Veteran Ross Dickerson leads the pack with 141 yards, averaging 70.5 yards per game (sixth in the WAC, 56th nationally), on seven catches. Rookie Grice-Mullen (119 yards) and senior Ian Sample (111 yards) have caught the majority of tosses (22 combined). Perhaps the biggest story on offense is the running game after senior Nate Ilaoa gained 76 yards on nine carries in his first start at Michigan State. The mark was the highest since Michael Brewster gained 101 yards at Fresno State on Nov. 12, 2004 (seven games ago). Ilaoa, who is also effective at slot receiver, is likely to see time (if no start) again this week at running back. Linebacker Brad Kalilimoku has taken a leading role on the Warrior defense. The true sophomore leads the team with 13 tackles, including 3.5 for-a-loss (-5). Three others are also in double-digits in Patton (11), linebacker Tanuvasa Moe (11) and Alama-Francis (10). Patton has the team’s only interception, while Alama-Francis leads the Warriors with two sacks (-10).
UH Wahine open WAC play against Boise State
The No. 9 University of Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team (5-5) will now get to WAC play, hosting Boise State tonight, before facing Loyola Marymount tomorrow, and Saturday, Sept. 24. All matches will start at 7 p.m.
