2006 Hawaii Warriors Season Review, Game Recaps and Scores.
2007 Recruiting
Class Star of the Class Joshua Leonard
DE, 6-4, 275, Roseville, CA/Sierra College Named first team Junior College All-America
and third team junior college Gridwire All-America in 2006...a two-time
all-conference selection...recorded 17 sacks and named the league's Defensive
MVP in 2006...runs a 4.7 40-yard dash...bench presses 475 pounds...recorded 21
sacks in two seasons at Sierra, including 16 as a freshman...rated a four-star
player by JCFootball.com and Scout.com...an all-city pick and team's Defensive
MVP as a prep senior...chose Hawai'i over Boise State, Nevada, Oregon and
Wyoming.
Potential Instant Impact Players
Christopher Leatigaga
DE, 6-5, 250, Los Altos, CA/Foothill College
Named second team Junior College All-America, and first team all-area, and first
team all-league in 2006...runs a 4.8 40-yard dash...recorded 55 tackles, 12
tackles-for-loss, and seven sacks in 2006played defensive tackle in 2005 and
defensive end in 2006...helped Foothill College to a 10-1 record and Silicon
Valley Bowl victory in 2006...rated a three-star player by Scout.com...chose
Hawai'i over Idaho, San Jose State and Portland State.
Ryan Mouton
CB, 5-10, 185, Brenham, TX/Blinn CC Named first team NJCAA All-America in
2006...voted team's Most Outstanding Defensive Player at Blinn CC...runs a 4.28
40-yard dash...helped Blinn CC to a 12-0 record and JC Gridwire National
Championship in 2006...recorded five interceptions, two returned for
touchdowns...also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns...had five sacks in
national championship game...rated a four-star player by Scout.com...an all-area
selection and Texas Top 100 pick as a senior at Kady High School...chose Hawai'i
over Utah, TCU, Arkansas and Boise State.
Rest of the Class
Austin Hansen OL, 6-4, 285, Yorba Linda, CA/Valencia HS
Levi Legay OL, 6-3, 270, Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i/Kealakehe HS
Matagisila Lefiti OL/DL, 6-1, 290, Santa Ana, CA/Mater Dei HS
Elijah Lesu WR/S, 5-10, 180, Honolulu, O'ahu/Farrington HS
John Manu-Olevao OL, 6-3, 315, Kahuku, O'ahu/Kahuku HS
Vaughn Meatoga DT, 6-2, 280, Honolulu, O'ahu/Kamehameha Schools
Jeremiah Ostrowski WR, 5-9, 170, Honolulu, O'ahu/Puanhou School
Erik Robinson S, 5-11, 195, Corsicana, TX/Navarro CC
Gabe Tuata RB/WR, 5-6, 170, Kealakehe, Hawai`i/Kealakehe HS
Drew Uperesa OL, 6-2, 245, Hauula, O'ahu/Punahou School
Dec. 24
Hawaii Bowl
Hawaii 41 ... Arizona State 24
Colt Brennan set the single season record for touchdown
passes, passing Houston's David Klingler, throwing for five scores as part of a
38-point second half to blow open a tight game. Arizona State held a 10-3
halftime lead helped by a 37-yard touchdown catch from Brandon Smith, and then
Brennan and WR Jason Rivers got hot connecting on a 38-yard score on the first
drive of the second half and finishing with a 79-yard play to put the game out
of reach. Along the way, Brennan connected with Ryan Grice-Mullen for two
scores, including a 36-yard play to close out a 99-yard drive that gave Brennan
the record. ASU got within three on a four-yard Michael Jones touchdown catch,
but an eight play, 80-yard drive finishing with a Davone Bess touchdown put
Hawaii comfortably back up. For the game, Hawaii outgained ASU 680 yards to 391. Player of the game ... Hawaii QB Colt Brennan completed
33 of 42 passes for 559 yards and five touchdowns with an interception, WR Jason
Rivers caught 14 passes for 308 yards and two scores. Stat Leaders: Arizona State - Passing:
Rudy Carpenter, 13-26, 191 yds, 2 TD Rushing: Ryan Torian, 18-160, 1 TD Receiving:
Michael Jones, 5-72, 1 TD Hawaii - Passing: Colt Brennan, 33-42,
559 yds, 5 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Nate Ilaoa, 18-97. Receiving: Jason
Rivers, 15-308, 2 TD Notes & Thoughts ... Can we all stop doubting Colt
Brennan now? While his receivers did a great job of cranking out yards after the
catch against Arizona State, Brennan put the ball in perfect positions. Half the
battle is getting the ball to the right guy on the move in places they can make
plays. ... What was Dirk Koetter doing at the end of the game with time
management? His defense had done nothing to suggest it slow down the Hawaii
attack, even when the momentum was on ASU's side, yet with less than four
minutes to play and down by two scores, he chose to punt the ball. Five plays,
95 yards, 79-yard catch-and-run for a score from Jason Rivers, ball game. ...
More than any other game this season, the loss to Hawaii showed how desperately
ASU missed having a Derek Hagan like gamebreaker. Give credit to the Sun Devils
for keeping the game close, but the offense brought a knife to a gun fight. ...
Hawaii's offense gets all the publicity, and rightly so, but that defense hits
like a ton of bricks. It doesn't always come up with plays, but it can pop.
Dec. 2
Oregon State 35 ... Hawaii 32
Hawaii mounted a late fourth quarter comeback with a four-yard
Colt Brennan touchdown pass to Ryan Grice-Mullen and a drive deep into Beaver
territory falling short as Brennan bounce passed a fourth down attempt. Oregon
State got the big plays with Gerard Lawson answering a one-yard Nate Ilaoa
touchdown run with a 100-yard kickoff return for a score, Ruben Jackson scoring
on a 30-yard pass, and Sammie Stroughter blowing past the Warrior secondary for
a 80-yard touchdown. Brennan threw two touchdown passes to finish the regular
season one shy of David Klingler's all-time single season mark of 54 scores and
ran for a four-yard touchdown. Player of the game ... Oregon State QB Matt Moore
completed 11 of 17 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns. Stat Leaders: Oregon State - Passing:
Matt Moore, 11-17, 245 yds, 3 TD Rushing: Yvenson Bernard, 20-108, 1 TD Receiving:
Sammie Stroughter, 3-106, 1 TD Hawaii - Passing: Colt Brennan, 37-50,
401 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Nate Ilaoa, 8-48, 1 TD. Receiving: Davone
Bess, 10-116, 1 TD Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ... Hawaii needed to beat Oregon
State at home to give a bit more legitimacy to its season. There was the win
over Purdue, and beating Nevada was nice, but that was about it. The offense
couldn't come up with the big plays the Beavers were able to get,
and while Colt Brennan threw for 401 yards, he wasn't quite as sharp as normal.
There were some bad breaks with Davone Bess slipping in the end zone on one
interception, but it was almost like Brennan was pressing too much. Bess got to
show off his stuff on a national scale with a fantastic game.
Nov. 25
Hawaii 42 ... Purdue 35
Ian Sample caught a 23-yard touchdown pass with 1:27 to play
to complete a wild fourth quarter giving Hawaii the lead for good. Purdue had
one final shot, but its drive stopped before it got started with Curtis Painter
throwing his second interception of the game. Hawaii outgained Purdue 653 yards
to 472 with Colt Brennan throwing for 434 yards and three touchdowns and Painter
throwing for four scores, with a trick play giving Purdue a fifth passing
touchdown. Hawaii held a 17-0 halftime lead helped by two Nate Ilaoa touchdown
runs, and then Purdue woke up scoring 35 points in the second half while the
Warriors always had an answer coming up with 22 points in the fourth. Player of the game ... Hawaii QB Colt Brennan completed
33 of 48 passes for 434 yards and three touchdowns with an interception and ran
six times for 59 yards. Stat Leaders: Purdue - Passing: Curtis
Painter, 29-42, 357 yds, 4 TD, 2 INT Rushing: Jaycen Taylor, 7-46 Receiving:
Dorien Bryant, 8-76 Hawaii - Passing: Colt Brennan, 33-48,
434 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Nate Ilaoa, 12-159, 2 TD. Receiving:
Nate Ilaoa, 7-52 Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ... Well that was fun. Hawaii had
yet to beat a top team with the best win of the season coming against San Jose
State, and while Purdue hardly ranks among the elite, and the defense has been
awful all season long, cranking out 653 yards and getting the win is still
impressive. While Colt Brennan continues to be tremendous, the running of Nate
Ilaoa adds a more effective element to the attack. This win was big; beating
Oregon State next week would be bigger.
Nov. 18
Hawaii 54 ... San Jose State 17
Hawaii rolled over San Jose State with 568 yards of total
offense, while the defense got into the act allowing just 192 yards. Colt
Brennan threw five touchdown passes and ran for another, but the Warriors didn't
put the game out of reach until the second half scoring the final 27 points of
the game over the last 19 minutes with two Davone Bess touchdown catches and
scoring grabs from Ryan Grice-Mullen and Nate Ilaoa. James T. Callier ran for
two one-yard scores for the Spartans. Player of the game ... Hawaii QB Colt Brennan completed
28 of 39 passes for 402 yards and five touchdowns with an interception and ran
for a score Stat Leaders: San Jose State - Passing:
Adam Tafralis, 7-15, 110 yds Rushing: Cameron Island, 5-38 Receiving:
Chester Coleman, 2-32 Hawaii - Passing: Colt Brennan, 28-39,
402 yds, 5 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Nate Ilaoa, 12-100, 1 TD. Receiving:
Davone Bess, 6-81, 2 TD Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ... San Jose State
has a strong defense and Hawaii ripped through it like it wasn’t even there.
Yeah, yeah, Colt Brennan had yet another brilliant game, and Nate Ilaoa once
again showed that he belongs on the first team All-WAC team with a great
all-around game, but it was the play of the defense that was truly impressive
shutting down the Spartan offense and never letting it be a game. At home, the
Warriors should be able to beat Purdue and Oregon State as long as there aren’t
many mistakes, like the 12 penalties for 140 yards committed this week.
Nov. 11
Hawaii 61 ... Louisiana Tech 17
Hawaii was in a bit of a battle early on with Zac Champion
connecting with Dennis Morris for a 43-yard touchdown pass to give
Louisiana Tech an early second quarter lead, and then Colt Brennan
and the Warrior offense took over cranking out 52 straight points
with four Brennan touchdown passes along with a one-yard run, while
Davone Bess caught scoring strikes from Brennan and backup Tyler
Graunke. Tech scored with 17 seconds to play on a 41-yard Bryan
Carroll catch. The Warriors finished with 506 passing yards. Player of the game ... Hawaii QB Colt Brennan completed
27 of 40 passes for 406 yards and four touchdowns with an
interception and led the team with 60 yards rushing with a touchdown
on six carries Stat Leaders: Louisiana Tech- Passing:
Zac Champion, 12-31, 135 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing: Patrick Jackson, 13-94 Receiving:
Bryan Carroll, 4-81, 1 TD Hawaii - Passing: Colt Brennan, 27-40,
406 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Colt Brennan, 6-60, 1 TD. Receiving:
Davone Bess, 7-143, 2 TD Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ...
Another week, another monster passing
day. Just when it seemed like Louisiana Tech was going to make it
interesting, Colt Brennan and the Hawaii passing game got on a roll
with everything clicking. All the receivers are making big plays
because Brennan is getting time to work. The offensive line is doing
a great job of being physical up front in both pass protection and
in the running game. On defense, the pass rush gave the Bulldogs
problems all game long.
Nov. 4
Hawaii 63 ... Utah State 10
Hawaii bombed away on Utah State on the way to a 28-3 first
half lead and answered a one-yard Aggie touchdown run with an
outburst of 35 unanswered points. Colt Brennan set the school's
single season passing touchdown record with 39 throwing six scores
with two to Nate Ilaoa and Ryan Grice-Mullen along with a 35-yarder
to Jason Rivers and a 12-yard scoring pass to Davone Bess. Ilaoa
also ran for a three-yard score. Utah State wasn't close to keeping
up the pace with despite 362 yards of total offense. Hawaii gained
572 yards. Player of the game ... Hawaii QB Colt Brennan completed
18 of 29 passes for 413 yards and six touchdowns with an
interception Stat Leaders: Utah State - Passing:
Riley Nelson, 17-29, 225, 1 INT Rushing: Riley Nelson, 15-65 Receiving:
Kevin Robinson, 5-84 Hawaii - Passing: Colt Brennan, 18-29,
413 yds, 6 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Nate Ilaoa, 6-55, 1 TD. Receiving: Nate
Ilaoa, 6-155, 2 TD Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ...
It says something when you can set any
sort of a passing record at Hawaii, and Colt Brennan set the single
season record for touchdown passes in just nine games with four and
a bowl game to play. Accepting the invite to the Hawaii Bowl, the
Warriors should set all sorts of marks for offense and passing
yards. With Louisiana Tech and San Jose State to go before facing
Purdue, Oregon State, and the team from the Pac 10 in the bowl,
Brennan is on pace to finish with over 5,200 passing yards and 60
touchdown passes.
Oct. 28
Hawaii 68 ... Idaho 10
Hawaii rolled for 497 passing yards with Colt Brennan throwing
for five scores in three quarters. The Warriors started off hot with
Ross Dickerson taking the opening kickoff for a touchdown, and got
two Nate Ilaoa scoring runs and two second half touchdown catches
from Ryan Grice-Mullen. Idaho had no hope of keeping up in the
firefight getting a two-yard Wendell Octave touchdown catch in the
first quarter and a 26-yard Tino Amancio field goal early in the
second before the Warriors reeled off 47 straight points. Player of the game ... Hawaii QB Colt Brennan completed
31 of 38 passes for 333 yards and five touchdowns and led the team
with 63 rushing yards on five carries. Stat Leaders: Idaho - Passing: Steve
Wichman, 13-29, 192 yds, 1 TD Rushing: Brian Flowers, 9-37 Receiving:
Luke Smith-Anderson, 5-88 Hawaii - Passing: Colt Brennan, 31-38,
333 yds, 5 TD
Rushing: Colt Brennan, 5-63. Receiving: Ian Sample,
8-90, 1 TD Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ...
Talk about everything humming, no one's
touching this Hawaii offense at home. Idaho has a little bit of an
offense, but it couldn't come close to slowing down anything the UH
passing game was doing. Colt Brennan's numbers have gone from
staggering to mind-boggling spreading the ball around extremely well
and using all his weapons. What's really nice is being able to get
Tyler Graunke some good work. While he's not Brennan, he was sharp
completing nine of 12 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown.
Oct. 21
Hawaii 49 ... New Mexico State 30
The battle of the nation's top two passing games didn't
disappoint with Hawaii throwing for 353 yards and New Mexico State
going for 330 yards, but the Warriors was able to take control in
the fourth quarter with 21 points on two Colt Brennan touchdown
passes and a 20-yard fumble recovery for a score from Ross
Dickerson. After getting up 14-0 on a four-yard Nate Ilaoa scoring
run and a 34-yard Dickerson catch, but the Aggies were able to come
back with three Chase Holbrook touchdown passes highlighted by a
61-yard play to Chris Williams in the third quarter. Melila Purcell
came up with four sacks for Hawaii. Player of the game ... Hawaii QB Colt Brennan completed
22 of 31 passes for 330 yards and five touchdowns and ran six times
for 28 yards. Stat Leaders: New Mexico State - Passing:
Chase Holbrook, 31-45, 323 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing: Chris Nwoko, 12-59, 1 TD Receiving:
Chris Williams, 7-160, 2 TD Hawaii - Passing: Colt Brennan, 22-31,
330 yds, 5 TD
Rushing: Nate Ilaoa, 18-94, 1 TD. Receiving: Ross
Dickerson, 6-125, 2 TD Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ...
Hawaii was able to turn on the jets
when it had to in the offensive shootout against New Mexico State
with Colt Brennan continuing to play as sharp as he has all season
long. The Aggie defense might be one of the worst in America, but
this game showed once again that no one will stop this offense and
all its weapons when it gets on a roll, and no one left on the
schedule has the defense to keep the passing game to under 300
yards.
Oct. 14
Hawaii 68 ... Fresno State 37
Fresno State got a 75-yard Bear Pascoe touchdown catch on the
first drive of the game. And then Colt Brennan went nuts throwing
five touchdown passes with two to Ian Sample and two to Davone Bess,
while Nate Ilaoa ran for three scores on the way to a 62-23 lead
after three quarters. The defense got into the act with a 54-yard
Leonard Peters interception return for a score. Sean Norton threw
three touchdown passes for the Bulldogs including a 20-yarder to
Pascoe. Player of the game ... Hawaii QB Colt Brennan completed
32 of 39 passes for 409 yards and five touchdowns and ran seven
times for a team-leading 43 yards Stat Leaders: Fresno State - Passing:
Sean Norton, 14-24, 225 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing: Lonyae Miller, 16-113, 1 TD Receiving:
Chastin West, 6-74 Hawaii - Passing: Colt Brennan, 32-39,
409 yds, 5 TD
Rushing: Colt Brennan, 7-43. Receiving: Ross
DIckerson, 10-115, 1 TD Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ...
Hawaii's offense is unstoppable with
Colt Brennan locked in playing to near-perfection against Fresno
State and leading the attack to what was supposed to be a tough road
win. The running of Nate Ilaoa helps, but this is Brennan's show
getting all his top targets involved picking apart the Bulldog
defense. The defense is giving up too many big plays, and that could
be a problem next week at New Mexico State and way down the line
against Purdue and Oregon State. For now, it appears the Warriors
are simply going to outbomb everyone.
Oct. 7
Hawaii 41 ... Nevada 34
In a wild game that had a little bit of everything, including
1.051 yards of total offense, it took a goal line stand by Hawaii to
seal the win. The Wolf Pack recovered a Colt Brennan fumble on the
Hawaii three with just over a minute to play. After a run was
stuffed on first down, three straight Travis Moore passes fell
incomplete and the Warriors held on. Hawaii got out to a 31-14 first
half lead on four Brennan touchdown passes with two to Ian Sample,
but Nevada stayed alive with a three-yard Brandon Fragger touchdown
run and a three-yard Mike McCoy scoring grab. After a six-yard
Brennan touchdown run put the Warriors up by 20, Nevada put in
Travis Moore, who led the offense to two scoring drives with two
touchdown passes to Anthony Pudewell before the final chances. Player of the game ... Hawaii QB Colt Brennan completed
36 of 47 passes for 419 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 14
yards and a score. Stat Leaders: Nevada - Passing:
Jeff Rowe, 20-26, 243 yds, 2 TD Rushing: Brandon Fragger, 10-54, 1 TD Receiving:
Jack Darlington, 8-135, 1 TD Hawaii - Passing: Colt Brennan, 36-47,
419 yds, 4 TD
Rushing: Nate Ilaoa, 14-151. Receiving: Davone
Bess, 10-139, 1 TD Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ...
Hawaii now knows what happens when the offense lets
up a bit and gets sloppy. With the Nevada game seemingly well in
hand, the Warriors couldn't close out and needed a late big play
from Leonard Peters and the defense to survive. the 12 penalties for
109 yards didn't help and the lack of a pass rush until the final
drive didn't help. This was a great win that should solidify the
Warriors as the WAC's number two team behind Boise State as long as
there's not a slip at Fresno State next week.
Sept. 30
Hawaii 44 ... Eastern Illinois 9
Hawaii rolled up 571 yards with 529 through the air as Colt
Brennan threw five touchdown passes with Nate Ilaoa and Ian Sample each scoring
twice. EIU managed to stay in the game early with a nine-yard Norrish Smith
touchdown run, but the Warrior offense was way too potent with Brennan leading
the way to 34 first half points. Hawaii converted seven of ten third down
chances. Player of the game ... Colt Brennan completed 30 of 41
passes for 409 yards and five touchdowns with an interception Stat Leaders: Eastern Illinois - Passing:
Cole Stinson, 6-13, 42 yds, 2 TD Rushing: Vincent Webb, 11-117 Receiving:
Brian Berdis, 3-28 Hawaii - Passing: Colt Brennan, 30-41,
409 yds, 5 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Nate Ilaoa, 9-46, 1 TD. Receiving: Davone
Bess, 7-58 Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ...
Hawaii's offense is finely tuned with Colt Brennan
coming off a nearly flawless performance in the win over Eastern Illinois and
Nate Ilaoa providing a little bit with the run. Now the Warriors have to get on
a roll in WAC play with Nevada and at Fresno State coming up next. Win those
two, and the number two spot in the WAC behind Boise State is theirs. Don't be
stunned if the Warriors win out and finish 11-2; no one left on the schedule can
stop this attack.
Sept. 23
Boise State 41 ... Hawaii 34
The game lived up to the offensive hype with 991 yards of
total yards and 50 first downs between the two teams. Boise State got out to a
34-14 lead early in the third quarter helped by two Jared Zabransky touchdown
passes and two Ian Johnson scoring runs. Hawaii exploded with two Colt Brennan
touchdown passes to Davone Bess and an eight yard scoring strike to Jason Rivers
to get within seven, but the Broncos were able to run out the clock sealed by a
16-yard run from Johnson on fourth and one. Boise State rumbled on the ground
got 242 yards and Hawaii passed for 388 Player of the game ... Boise State RB Ian Johnson ran
29 times for 178 yards and two touchdowns and caught a pass to ten yards Stat Leaders: Boise State- Passing:
Jared Zabrasnsky, 17-29, 273 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing: Ian Johnson, 29-178, 2 TD Receiving:
Drisan James, 5-66 Hawaii - Passing: Colt Brennan, 25-36,
388 yds, 5 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Nate Ilaoa, 12-68. Receiving: Davone Bess,
6-104, 2 TD Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ...
How can Hawaii get off to a hotter start? It took too
long to get going against Alabama, and lost, and it didn't get rolling against
Boise State until it was too late. The passing game is as good as ever, and Nate
Ilaoa is running extremely well. Now all the parts have to start clicking in the
first quarter to win games against Nevada and Fresno State in the coming weeks.
Colt Brennan is a superstar who's going to put up ungodly numbers by the time
he's done. He has a perfect command of the offense.
Sept 16
Hawaii 42 ... UNLV 13
The Warriors had little trouble putting away a struggling UNLV
team getting up 42-0 midway through the third quarter thanks to two Colt Brennan
touchdown passes, a one-yard Brennan scoring run, and two short touchdowns from
Nate Ilaoa. The defense got in the act with a Leonard Peters 33-yard
interception return for a touchdown. UNLV got a touchdown pass from Shane
Steichen, who filled in for an ineffective Rocky Hinds, and a one-yard run from
David Peoples, but the outcome had long been decided. Player of the game ... Hawaii WR Davone Bess caught ten
passes for 124 yards and a touchdown Stat Leaders: Hawaii- Passing: Colt
Brennan, 24-35, 296 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing: Nate Ilaoa, 9-104, 2 TD. Receiving:
Davone Bess, 10-124, 1 TD UNLV - Passing: Rocky Hinds, 13-27, 166
yds, 1 INT
Rushing: David Peeples, 13-39, 1 TD. Receiving:
Casey Flair, 4-87 Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ... 214
rushing yards? Hawaii is always going to get its passing yards, but it showed
tremendous balance against UNLV with 369 yards through the air and
fantastic day on the ground with Nate Ilaoa and Reagan
Mauia each running effectively. The defense came through with a brilliant effort
stuffing anything the Rebels wanted to do on the ground. 11 penalties for 92
yards is a concern going into the road trip to Boise State. The Warriors are
going to have to be perfect to come away with a win.
Sept. 2
Alabama 25 ... Hawaii 17
Alabama survived a late scare as Hawaii's comeback attempt was
halted by a Lionel Mitchell interception in the end zone with no time left on
the clock. After a rough first half, Hawaii and QB Colt Brennan got red-hot
throwing two touchdown passes including a 31-yard strike to Ryan Grice-Mullen to
put the pressure on the Tide. Alabama had a nightmare of a time running the
ball, but QB John Parker Wilson had a great first game throwing a touchdown pass
to Keith Brown. Leigh Tiffin kicked three field goals for the Tide. Player of the game ... In a losing cause, Hawaii QB
Colt Brennan completed 30 of 44 passes for 350 yards and two touchdowns with one
interception. Stat Leaders: Hawaii- Passing: Colt
Brennan, 30-44, 350 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing: Nate Ilaoa, 4-27. Receiving:
Davone Bess, 8-74 Alabama - Passing: John Parker Wilson,
16-29, 253, yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Jimmy Johns, 8-58. Receiving: Keith Brown,
6-132, 1 TD Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ... A loss is
a loss, but Hawaii has to be happy with how its run defense played against
Alabama and how the offense was able to pick things up in the second half in a
hostile SEC environment. Colt Brennan proved he can throw the ball on anyone,
including one of the nation's better defenses, and coming so close, after years
of having a nightmare of a time on the road, shows that this is a different team
that might be in for big things. To hang with the better teams, the penalties
have to stop. UH committed 11 for 82 yards.
Why
doesn't anyone want to admit that high-octane passing offenses can
work?
Football coaches have it ingrained since birth that you must run the
ball, you must be physical, and you must win games on defense
and offensive balance. While in a perfect situation you have all the
offensive talent in the world and can do whatever you want, like USC
and Texas did last year, but programs that aren't full of future NFL
superstars, like Texas Tech and Hawaii, have to do what they can to
move the ball.
Coaches have been sold on the spread formation because it's mostly a
running attack, but for consistent yards and points, no one has
beaten what the Red Raiders and Warriors have done over the last
several years. Of course, the two teams run different variations of
a run and shoot, but yards are yards and points are points. Hawaii
threw up 476 yards and close to 31 points per game last year while
averaging over 35 points per game over the last 65 outings; who
cares how they got there?
Ask yourself this; if someone told you right now that your team was
going to average close to 500 yards and 35 points per game, you'd
take it in a heartbeat, right? For about 110 teams, of course they
would. That's what Hawaii's attack is going to do this year.
While Hawaii's offense
might be a fantastic system that allows mediocre talents put up big
numbers (witness the collective national yawn when Timmy Chang set the
NCAA career passing record a few years ago), this year's attack has
real, live, NFL potential at the top skill positions which means the
June Jones attack should be its most devastating yet.
Colt
Brennan is a big, fast quarterback with a live arm and stunning command
of the offense considering he has only been in the system for a year.
Davone Bess, who wasn't heavily recruited, has NFL written all over him
after his freshman year. Ryan Grice-Mullen, Ross Dickerson, Chad Mock,
and the return of Jason Rivers, round out the best receiving corps the
program has ever enjoyed. In other words, system, meet talent.
Of
course, defense is always going to be an issue with the Warriors, but
defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville has a boatload of speed to play
around with. This isn't going to be a killer group, but it doesn't have
to be to win. The return of star safety Leonard Peters after missing all
of last year hurt, and the hope for Meilia Purcell to be 100% after
playing dinged up last year, should provide a big boost.
So as
you might expect, the offense is great, the defense is iffy, and there
will be plenty of firefights that will make late night Warrior games
appointment television for true college football fans. And yes you
purists, it's OK to accept that throwing the ball 50 times a game is
acceptable. It'll lead to wins this year.
The Schedule:
This has never been a road team, so throw any hopes of a
WAC title out the door with away dates at Boise State and Fresno State.
Interestingly enough, the conference season will, for all intents and
purposes, be over by mid-October after playing the Broncos, Bulldogs and
Nevada Wolf Pack in the first three league games. The second half of the
slate gets significantly easier with the distinct possibility of a five
game winning streak before home dates with Purdue and Oregon State.
Best
Offensive Player: Sophomore WR Davone Bess. He might not be huge
at 5-10 and 187 pounds, but he's an elite playmaker with hands,
precise route running ability, and toughness. He's a sure thing
go-to receiver who'll demand double coverage way too often for most
defensive coordinators to be happy about.
Best
Defensive Player: Senior FS Leonard Peters. Back from a knee
injury suffered in the season opener against USC, Peters should be
back to his All-America caliber self at free safety. He made 120
tackles with 77 solo stops in 2004 and should be the sheriff of the
secondary once again.
Key
player to a successful season: Junior CB
A.J. Martinez and several JUCO transfers. The pass defense was iffy
at best last year and will be a huge question mark coming into the
season. Safety shouldn't be an issue, but there are major concerns
at corner where untested A.J. Martinez and JUCO transfers C.J.
Hawthorne, Myron Newberry and Chris Camacho have got to improve the
nation's 93rd ranked pass D.
The
season will be a success if ... the
Warriors go back to a bowl game. With this much firepower and the
WAC schedule opening up the way it does after a brutal opening three
games, a seven win regular season is a must with an eye on nine.
Key
game:
Oct. 7 vs. Nevada. The Warriors aren't going to
beat Boise State and Fresno State, but a split on the road would be
a dream come true. A home win over Nevada in what should be one of
the season's better shootouts will be a must to stay alive for a top
three finish in the conference race.
2005
Fun Stats:
- Second half scoring: Opponents 268 - Hawaii 155
- Penalties: Hawaii 101 for 872 yards - Opponents 89 for 874 yards
- Fourth down conversions: Opponents 15 of 22 (68%) - Hawaii 6 of 19
(32%)
The Last Time Hawaii…
…played in a bowl game…2004 (Hawaii Bowl vs. UAB)
…missed a bowl game…2005
…pitched a shutout…2005 (Idaho)
…was shutout…1998 (SMU)
…scored 50 points…2005 (Utah State)
…went undefeated…1934
…won a conference title…1999 (share, WAC)
…had a 3,000-yard passer…2005 (Colt Brennan)
…had a 1,000-yard rusher…1992 (Travis Sims)
…had a 1,000-yard receiver…2005 (Ryan Grice-Mullen and Davone Bess)
…had a first-round draft choice…2002 (WR Ashlie Lelie)
