On paper, the hardest part of Hawaii’s schedule is over.
But the task for the Rainbow Warriors’ run defense won’t get any easier with San Diego State coming to the islands.
“A big physical team, make no bones about it,” Hawaii coach Norm Chow told the media Monday in Honolulu, pointing out the Aztecs ran the ball on 15 consecutive plays during a 21-7 victory last week against Fresno State.
In a dominating home win in its Mountain West Conference opener, San Diego State ran for 305 yards and Donnel Pumphrey and Chase Price each surpassed 100 yards on the ground as the Aztecs held on to the ball for more than 37 minutes and allowed only 89 yards to the Bulldogs.
Hawaii defensive coordinator Tom Mason doesn’t expect the Aztecs (2-3, 1-0 Mountain West) to have many tricks up their sleeve when the teams meet at 6 p.m. Saturday at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. The game will be televised on Oceanic pay-per-view.
“They say we’re going to run it here and you stop us, and we’ve got to be able to stop them,” Mason said. “I think we can. It’s a matter of pride now, that what it’s all about.
“If we can’t stop them, they can run the ball for 300-400 yards on us, and we’re just not a very good football team. But I think we’re going to step up and play. I have confidence these kids will bounce back.”
One week after getting blitzed through the air for 275 yards and three touchdowns in a 55-0 loss at Boise State, the challenge for Hawaii (2-3, 0-1) figures to be similar to the one it faced at Wisconsin, which ran for 345 yards in a 28-0 victory.
San Diego State averages 172 yards a game rushing, while Hawaii is 116th in the nation against the run, allowing 234 yards a game. Pumphrey is his team’s leading rusher and receiver.
“Smash-mouth football is fun, it’s what we all grew up playing as little kids,” linebacker Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea said. “Man up against your man and whoever is going to win is going to win. Their guys against our guys. I have big faith in our guys, and I think we’re going to come out with a win this week.”
He’s not alone. The Rainbow Warriors opened as a two-point underdog but moved to a three-point favorite midweek. San Diego State is the UH’s homecoming opponent for the fifth time and was victorious on the previous four occasions.
Aztecs return man Rashaad Penny poses another threat. The sophomore leads the nation in kick return average (42.1) and has taken two back for touchdowns.
“It’s not about them, it’s about us and our willingness to regroup,” Chow said. “Our willingness to play through hurts and injuries and try to make this thing happen.”
In his fourth season at the helm, the Rainbow Warriors will be staring at their fifth consecutive losing season unless they can win five of their last eight. Saturday’s game is Hawaii’s only home contest sandwiched into a five-game span.
Of course, much of the focus around the program has focused on a complete lack of offense, despite a veteran quarterback in Max Wittek.
Shutout three times this season, Hawaii is last in the league in seven major offensive categories, including points (15.0). After starting the season with three scoring passes in a win against Colorado, Wittek is completing only 46 percent of his passes for the season and he’s thrown more interceptions (six) than touchdowns (five).
Through Chow gave his team a relative clean bill of health, offensive coordinator Don Bailey said UH has never had the same starting group at the skill positions in any of the five games. But that’s just an excuse, he said.
“San Diego State doesn’t care who is playing and who is not,” he said. “Whoever is playing has to play at a consistent, high level, and that is what is expected every week.”
Volleyball
Ranked eighth in the nation, their highest position since 2013, the Rainbow Wahine (14-1, 4-0 Big West) look to build on a nine-match winning streak when they welcome Cal State Northridge (4-12, 3-1) at 7 p.m. Friday at Stan Sheriff Center. At 5 p.m. Sunday, UH renews it’s long-running rivalry with Long Beach State (13-4, 3-1). Both matches will be televised on OCSports.
Hawaii leads the Big West in six categories – hitting percentage, opponent hitting percentage, assists, kills, blocks and service aces – but Long Beach State has what it wants the most. The 49ers eked out two five-set victories against the Wahine last season en route to an undefeated run to the league title.
Long Beach State, second in the Big West in hitting percentage, fell out of the top 25 with a loss to Cal Poly. Northridge, eighth in hitting and blocks, is trying to rebound after a 1-11 start in nonconference play.
Soccer
The road has been treacherous for the UH this season, though home turf wasn’t much help Sunday in a 7-2 loss to Cal Poly. No matter the pitch, Hawaii has been struggling, losing five of its past six against Division I foes, getting outscored 19-5 in the process.
The Wahine (3-8-1, o-2 Big West) head to UC Riverside (6-6, 0-1) on Friday and Cal State Fullerton (8-2-1, 0-1) on Sunday l00king for their first victory as a visitor this season.
