LIHU‘E — Coming off a humbling defeat and amidst questions and speculation regarding the team’s future in the Western Athletic Conference, the Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors will be trying to focus on the task at hand as they take on the
LIHU‘E — Coming off a humbling defeat and amidst questions and speculation regarding the team’s future in the Western Athletic Conference, the Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors will be trying to focus on the task at hand as they take on the San Jose State Spartans today, kicking off at 5:30 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.
Hawai‘i (7-3, 5-1 WAC) was knocked from the conference unbeatens in its last game, a 42-7 defeat at the hands of Boise State, putting an end to a six-game win streak.
With a bye week to collect itself, the team now returns to the friendly confines of O‘ahu for a matchup with struggling San Jose State (1-9, 0-5 WAC). The Spartans are coming off of a narrow 38-34 loss to Utah State on Nov. 13 and have lost seven straight.
The Warriors, who are bowl eligible and have already accepted an invitation to the Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl, come off their lowest offensive output of the season. They managed just 196 total yards against Boise State, while the team averages more than 462 yards a game for the year.
UH was averaging more than 41 points per game in WAC play before being shut out for over 58 minutes in Boise.
Those numbers are likely to bounce back today, as San Jose State has given up 33.9 points per game in 2010, 36.6 a game in conference.
Hawai‘i quarterback Bryant Moniz, despite a modest day in Idaho and a bye week to follow, still sits second in the nation in passing yards with 3,374. His 155.6 quarterback rating places him 17th nationally.
Receiver Greg Salas now sits second in receiving yards, gaining 1,246 on 83 catches to this point, eight going for touchdowns.
His running mate on the outside, Kealoha Pilares, sat the Boise State game with a hamstring injury, but remains 12th in the country with 945 yards and is third in Division I with 12 touchdowns.
San Jose State has been a passing team behind senior quarterback Jordan La Secla. He has amassed 1,938 passing yards and thrown for nine scores, with a trio of receivers who can all make plays.
Noel Grigsby is the most explosive of the bunch, averagin 16.8 yards per catch with 620 yards and three touchdowns.
Jalal Beauchman has 42 grabs for 535 yards and three scores, while possession receiver Chandler Jones has 38 catches for 390 yards.
Brandon Rutley (362 yards) and Lamon Muldrow (324 yards) share duties at the running back spot, but the Spartans average just 77.5 yards on the ground, placing them 119th in the country.
Today’s contest is one of two WAC games still on the schedule for UH, as the Warriors sit in second place, a half-game behind Boise State.
The previous three meetings between the Warriors and Spartans have all been close contests decided by a touchdown or less, two needing overtime to decide a winner.
UH just got by SJSU in last year’s meeting, a 17-10 overtime win at Aloha Stadium. Running back Leon Wright-Jackson had the game-winning touchdown.
Lifetime, the teams are tied 16-16-1.
