Today's game big for UH, Fresno State

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

After the Fresno State football team arrived by charter Wednesday afternoon, a school official checked the airplane to make sure playbooks were not left behind, as they were during the Bulldogs' previous visit in 1999.

University of Hawai'i coach June Jones, left, will start senior Nick Rolovich at quarterback for the fourth consecutive game when the Warriors take on 18th-ranked Fresno State today at Aloha Stadium. Advertiser library photo • Oct. 6, 2001

Although yesterday's practice at Aloha Stadium was open to the media and supporters, the Bulldogs wore plain black jerseys, supposedly to disguise their identities from niele stadium workers.

One thing that is not a secret is the importance of today's game between 18th-ranked Fresno State and host Hawai'i. The outcome will have bowl and league ramifications.

Here's a closer look:

FSU's passing offense

WR—2 Bernard Berrian (6-2, 190, Jr.)
WR—17 Rodney Wright (5-9, 175, Sr.)
WR—18 Charles Smith (5-9, 175, Sr.)
TE—81 Alec Greco (6-3, 230, So.)
QB—8 David Carr (6-3, 225, Sr.)

The buzz: The Bulldogs rely on organized chaos, motioning and shifting receivers to try and create mismatches in the secondary. Berrian and Wright usually align wide, with Marque Davis in the slot. But the 6-foot Davis is recovering from a sprained ankle, and the shorter Smith will start. While most of the pass routes are at least 15 yards, the Bulldogs' quick-screen plays also are productive, mostly because Berrian and Wright are fast and furious. Berrian catches everything with his hands (instead of cradling passes), making him an even bigger target when he extends for high throws. While Greco is a dependable receiver, the Bulldogs miss Jeremy Johnson, who is out with a season-ending injury. Johnson was considered a big wide receiver who happened to line up at tight end. Carr makes the offense go. He can throw deep and run with power.

FSU's rushing offense

LT—74 Logan Mankins (6-4, 290, Fr.)
LG—72 Rodney Michael (6-4, 300, Jr.)
C—55 Mike Stovall (6-2, 290, Sr.)
RG—67 Fitu Tu'ua (6-5, 310, So.)
RT—75 Joe Schey (6-6, 315, Jr.)
RB—1 Paris Gaines (6-1, 225, Sr.)

The buzz: It all begins with Stovall, whom opposing coaches dubbed, "The Screen Eraser." While watching videotapes of Bulldog games, coaches noticed that Stovall would block a linebacker off the television screen. The Bulldogs usually zone block, rarely pull and sometimes trap (with Michael taking on a defensive tackle). Gaines is a power runner who accelerates once he passes the line of scrimmage. The majority of his runs are between the tackles, although last week he attacked the perimeters on toss sweeps. For added punch, the Bulldogs sometimes bring in a second tight end.

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Game facts • WHAT: College football, Hawai'i vs. Fresno State. • WHEN: Today, 4:05 p.m. • WHERE: Aloha Stadium. • TICKETS: $19 sideline, $15 South end zone, $15 North end zone adult, $11 North end zone senior citizen (65-older), $11 North end zone students, $3 UH Super Rooter. • PARKING: $3. • GATES OPEN: 12:30 p.m. parking lot, 1 p.m. turnstile. • TV: ESPN (live). • RADIO: KCCN (1420), 2:30 p.m. • WEATHER: High near 80 degrees, chance of showers.

DE—93 Clarence Denning (6-3, 250, So.)
NT—94 Grant Harrington (5-11, 260, Sr.)
DT—98 Alan Harper (6-2, 285, Sr.)
DE—90 Nick Burley (6-4, 250, Jr.)
OLB—44 Maurice Rodriguez (6-2, 240, Sr.)
MLB—31 Marc Dailey (6-1, 230, So.)
OLB—40 Sam Williams (6-5, 245, Jr.)

The buzz: Harrington is listed as the nose guard, but Harper controls the middle, lining up in the "1" spot between the center and guard. Harper always works in tandem with Burley. If Harper is shaded to the left, Burley will align at left end. Harper prefers to attack the gaps using a rip move, in which he swings an arm in an uppercut — disengaging from a block — before powering past an offensive guard. Another strategy is for Burley to drop back to defend the flats, with Harper looping into the backfield. Defensive end Jake Probst (knee sprain) did not make the trip, creating a domino effect in which Denning will make his first start, outside linebacker Justin Johnson will back up Denning, and Williams will start in place of Johnson. Nose tackle Jason Stewart will miss his second consecutive game because of a concussion.

FSU's secondary

CB—19 Devon Banks (5-11, 190, Sr.)
FS—5 Bryce McGill (5-11, 205, So.)
SS—33 Vernon Fox (5-10, 200, Sr.)
CB—4 Tierre Sams (5-9, 175, Sr.)

The buzz: The Bulldogs are deep enough to have three all-WAC players at the two safety positions. Anthony Limbrick, who missed the rest of the 2000 season after breaking a thumb in the opener, has not been able to displace Bryce McGill, an aggressive playmaker. Fox is considered to be the quarterback of the defense. Without nickel cornerback Kendall Edwards, who is serving a one-game suspension for knocking out a Boise State punt returner last week, Dee Meza will be used when the Bulldogs go to five defensive backs.

FSU's specialists

PK—32 Asen Asparuhov (6-5, 215, Jr.)
P—48 Jason Simpson (6-1, 185, Jr.)

The buzz: Two years ago, Asparuhov became the Accidental Recruit. While scouting another player from Grossmont Junior College on videotape, the coaches noticed Asparuhov, who only was used on kickoffs. FSU coach Pat Hill was impressed with Asparuhov's leg strength, and soon he was invited to play for the Bulldogs. This season, Asparuhov has converted 75 percent of his field-goal attempts, including five kicks from beyond 40 yards.

UH's passing offense

LWR—18 Justin Colbert (5-7. 160, Jr.)
LSB—85 Channon Harris (5-8, 151, Sr.)
RSB—2 Craig Stutzmann (5-11, 194, Sr.)
RWR—8 Ashley Lelie (6-3, 187, Jr.)
QB—12 Nick Rolovich (6-2, 200, Sr.)

The buzz: In the three weeks that Rolovich has started at quarterback, the offensive menu has expanded. Instead of wideouts running streaks and slotbacks running short curl routes, often Stutzmann is aligned as a wideout. That frees Lelie to go in motion in search of a mismatch, or lining up in the slot, where his quickness (4.27 seconds over 40 yards) and size gives him an advantage when guarded by a safety. Last week, Lelie ran his first slant pattern, a catch-and-sprint that resulted in a touchdown.

UH's rushing offense

LT—53 Lui Fuata (6-2, 313, Jr.)
LG—76 Manly Kanoa III (6-4, 320, Sr.)
C—66 Brian Smith (6-2, 284, Sr.)
RG—65 Vince Manuwai (6-2 285, Jr.)
RT—69 Uriah Moenoa (6-4, 331, Fr.)
RB—1 Mike Bass (5-6, 158, Fr.)
RB—24 Thero Mitchell (5-10, 215, Jr.)

The buzz: The offensive linemen have amassed 46 pancake blocks, a remarkable total considering the tough criteria and the Warriors' 159 rushing attempts in six games. Straight-on knockdowns count as pancakes, cut blocks do not. Guards Manuwai (14) and Kanoa (8) have 22 of the pancakes, an indication of the number of times the Warriors use trap blocks to clear running room for Bass. Manuwai and Kanoa often are used on sweeps to the opposite side.

UH's defensive front

LE—58 Laanui Correa (6-4, 267, Jr.)
LT—70 Mike Iosua (6-3, 272, Sr.)
RT—92 Lance Samuseva (5-11, 285, So.)
RE—1 Travis Laboy (6-5, 253, So.)
SLB—44 Matt Wright (6-1, 222, Jr.)
MLB—54 Chris Brown (6-2, 258, Jr.)
WLB—10 Pisa Tinoisamoa (6-0, 217, Jr.)

The buzz: The coaches insist that continuity — this will be the third consecutive week with this lineup — has led to improved play. But, really, it started with Samuseva starting at the space-eating position and Iosua playing despite a sprained right shoulder. Samuseva has controlled the line with power moves and, at 5-11, is able to gain leverage on taller blockers. Iosua's first-step quickness has drawn double teams, and even Correa is playing better in recent weeks. Tinoisamoa, who serves as a second inside linebacker, has been able to track ballcarriers when opponents use two tight ends.

UH's secondary

LCB—17 Kelvin Millhouse (6-1, 198, So.)
FS—2 Robert Grant (6-1, 191, Sr.)
SS—3 Jacob Espiau (5-10, 196, Sr.)
RCB—37 Abraham Elimimian (5-10, 180, Fr.)
NB—33 Hyrum Peters (5-8, 190, So.)

The buzz: If Nate Jackson does not play because of severe abrasions suffered in a motorcycle accident, Grant should be an adequate replacement at safety. But there is concern about Peters, who has not played nickelback since last season. The coaches considered moving Elimimian, who played nickelback earlier in the year, but decided it was better to leave him at the corner. UH uses five defensive backs — in a nickel or "Okie" scheme — about 50 percent of the time.

UH Specialists

PK—47 Justin Ayat (5-11, 203, Fr.)
P—49 Mat McBriar (6-1, 202, So.)

The buzz: Ayat, a self-taught kicker, found a way to practice on his own. His father designed a tripod-shaped contraption that holds the ball in place while he practices kicking field goals. Last week, he converted a field goal from 55 yards.