On the first play of this football season, Hawaii was penalized for a delay of game.
It turned out to be an exorcism instead of an omen. The Rainbow Warriors would score a touchdown on that drive, as well as a TD every opening series this season.
“It’s nice to play from the lead,” UH coach Nick Rolovich said.
In 2017, the Warriors’ 12 opening drives resulted in nine punts, an interception, a lost fumble and a failed fourth-down play. This season, UH’s four opening drives ended with three scoring passes to John Ursua and one to Cedric Byrd. The Warriors are averaging 8.5 yards per play on their first possession.
Some of the credit goes to well-scripted plays. Each week, the Warriors practice the plays that will be available for the upcoming opponent. On Friday night, the offensive starters are given a script — usually consisting of five plays — that will be called on the opening series.
“It gives us a base to go off, and just get it started,” said quarterback Cole McDonald, who is 16 of 21 for 240 yards on UH’s opening drives. “It’s been working. I feel like we need to stick to the game plan and execute.”
Rolovich, who calls the offensive plays, said he picked up the scripting concept as a UH quarterback under June Jones in 2000 and 2001.
“It probably makes them visualize and go through it a little bit,” Rolovich said. “It helped me when Coach Jones used to give it to us.”
The five scripted plays are outlines. In the run-and-shoot, the routes are based on pre-snap and post-snap reads of the defensive coverage. For each defensive scheme, the Warriors have a counter attack. By scripting plays, the Warriors have a head start in which route options will be available.
“Maybe it’s comfort,” Rolovich said of the Warriors’ early execution, “but at least they can take that play (the night before the game and) go through the different looks they might get and what they’re going to do. It gets them mentally prepared for when they come out.”
Ursua said: “No matter what coverage we see, we already know our responsibilities, and I think that’s why we score so quick.”
UH’s averages for an opening drive are 8.5 plays, 72.5 yards and 3 minutes, 44 seconds. The Warriors are averaging 10.4 yards per scripted play.
The Warriors also are free to scramble the order. Against Rice, the Warriors ran a play that had the potential to net a bigger gain. Instead of going to the next play on the list, they repeated the play. “They ran the same defense, so it worked to our advantage,” Ursua said.
McDonald said the scripted plays help the players “envision success and greatness. It’s big time for people playing on offense. I feel it’s been a real key to our offense. … It just sparks a team, sparks a defense. It gives us an extra boost we need.”
But Rolovich said the Warriors’ opening success is based more on the players than the plays.
“It’s our players going out there with the right mind-set and executing,” Rolovich said. “I wouldn’t say they’re brilliant plays. I’d say they’re really good kids that care about playing well for the state.”
But Rolovich joked: “Maybe we should script the second half.”