The Rainbow Warriors’ season started with a lot of promise, but then recently it has slid.
The University of Hawaii’s football team is hoping to end a three-game losing streak this weekend as UH hosts conference rival Utah State. Kickoff is set for 5:59 p.m. Saturday at Aloha Stadium.
As of Thursday, Hawaii (6-4, 3-2 MW) is a 19.5-point underdog against the Utah State Aggies, which is ranked No. 18 on the Associated Press Top 25.
Since defeating Wyoming at home in a nail-biter, Hawaii’s season has taken a bit of a nosedive.
In the three-game skid, Hawaii lost at BYU, 49-23, lost at home to Nevada, 40-22, and then fell last weekend at Fresno State, 50-20. Fresno State is now ranked No. 20 on the AP Top 25 and No. 23 on the College Football Playoff Rankings.
Both Fresno State and Utah State were previously unranked. To now have two teams ranked is a good showing from the Mountain West Conference.
Rainbow Warriors quarterback Cole McDonald continues to rack up the numbers. So far in the season, McDonald has a 62.4 completion percentage and has totaled 2,832 yards passing for 30 touchdowns to just four interceptions.
Receiver John Ursua is making his mark on the 2018 season as well. So far, he’s racked up 76 receptions for 1,083 yards and 14 TDs.
Those are fantastic numbers.
However, the current skid appears to hinge on UH’s defense. Giving up north of 40 points does not help UH’s cause.
In the last three games, UH has allowed 1,517 of total yards. UH totaled 1,056.
Last week at Fresno State, the Bulldogs gained 562 total yards to UH’s 374.
On Saturday, UH will face another offense that seems to be rolling.
Last week, Utah State (7-1, 4-0 MW) defeated New Mexico, 61-19. During the season, the Aggies have had games for 60, 73, 42, 45 and 59 points.
Utah State’s only loss came in Week 1 in a 38-31 loss to a then-ranked No. 11 Michigan State.
Aggies quarterback Jordan Love this season has a 64.5 completion percentage and has thrown for 2,058 yards for 18 TDs to four interceptions. Rusher Darwin Thompson has totaled 561 yards and has ran for 10 TDs.
Other than giving up 31 points to Michigan State, the Aggies have given up 32 to in a win against Air Force and 28 in a win against UNLV. In all the other games, the Aggies have kept their opponents to under 20 points.
So if Hawaii is to right the ship this week, it seems McDonald, Ursua and UH’s offense will have to beat Utah State in a shootout. But it will not bode well for UH if it finds itself in a hole early on.
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Nick Celario can be reached at ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
Do what you need to do in a sinking ship, abandon it, each man for himself!
They could win 3 in a row. Utah state, UNLV, and San Diego State. Come away with 9-4 record. Not bad. Hawai’i Bowl.
Hey, if your team is going to lose against a power house Utah, then make the most of it by throwing the game by the defense of UH so that it “shaves” the Las Vegas point spread so we can win more money in the process.
Hey UH defense linemen, go and “massage” the game so that Utah gets more points ahead of the prediction and meet us after the game at this bar ****** ***** for your cut! ha ha. Each man for himself