Warriors take air out of Hurricane
| • | Hawai'i's 'Poi Pounders' wall off Tulsa defenders |
| • | Injury jinx strikes Warriors once again |
| • | Ferd Lewis: UH takes the run out of shoot |
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
In 60 minutes of what could have been classified as college hazing, the University of Hawai'i football team humbled Tulsa, 37-14, last night at Aloha Stadium.
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In the proccess, much-maligned quarterback Tim Chang threw for 403 yards and four touchdowns in three quarters to become the Warriors' career leader in passing (6,267 yards) and total offense (6,216).
Quarterback Tim Chang, a third-year sophomore playing in his 20th game, became Hawai'i's career leader in passing yards (6,267) and total offense (6,216).
Chang, a third-year sophomore, needed only 20 games to surpass Dan Robinson's passing totals and Garrett Gabriel's total yards. Robinson played in 25 games, Gabriel in 34.
When told of the records, a surprised Chang said, "This caught me off guard. When I signed (as a St. Louis School senior in 2000), I thought I'd come in and play my role at UH, try to get wins and see how it goes from there. I never thought this would happen.
"But I couldn't have done it without my O-line and receivers. Besides, individual awards are second to what our team has planned. We want to win a championship."
After the game, UH coach June Jones recalled his prediction that Chang would rewrite the Warrior record book. "Check your notes," Jones told reporters. "He's very instinctive in what we do. I knew by the number of throws, whoever lines up there is going to be the guy."
Then Jones made another prediction. "I don't want to put pressure on him, but I think he's going to break the NCAA record and not just the University of Hawai'i record."
Despite playing with painful boils on his right knee, Chang easily picked apart the Hurricane's shifting defense — completing 34 of 49 passes with no interceptions. Chang never had a moment of panic as the Warriors, for the second consecutive game, did not allow a sack. He was hurried once, but that came seven seconds after receiving the shotgun snap.
"(Chang) said he felt pretty good," said UH right guard Vince Manuwai, a candidate for the Outland Trophy as the nation's top lineman. "He said he was camping behind us."
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Manuwai praised Chang's courage, noting the Warriors' run-and-shoot offense does not have a tight end as an extra blocker.
Junior receiver Jeremiah Cockheran scores his first touchdown as a Warrior on this 22-yard reception.
"You have to be a real man to play quarterback in our offense," Manuwai said. "Timmy has the toughest job. He has to read the defense and make the right call. I always tell him he's the leader because he's the one with the ball. I know how hard he works and how much he goes through. I told him, 'We respect you and we'll never turn away from you.' Whenever we make a touchdown pass, I always look for him and give him a hug. I gave him four hugs tonight."
In the locker room, Jones said, "I kind of said before the game, 'We're going to throw the ball,' and we did."
On UH's first series, Jones noted Tulsa had changed defensive schemes, moving inside linebacker Michael Dulaney to defensive end. The strategy, it appeared, was to try to collapse UH's pass pocket with 303-pound defensive tackle Sam Ryburn, a tactic that would allow the defensive ends to swoop into the backfield. Sometimes, Manuwai did not even have a defender in front of him.
"Tulsa came out with something different, but obviously (the UH blockers) are comfortable with our system, and they did a great job of adjusting," said Mike Cavanaugh, who coaches the UH line.
Jones said the Hurricane's defensive front was a deterrent to rushing — a situation he hardly minded.
Of the Warriors' 40 offensive plays in the first half, 39 were passes, a streak interrupted by backup quarterback Shawn Withy-Allen's 4-yard keeper. It took 58 plays before a UH running back carried the ball.
Chang threw two scoring passes to slotback Clifton Herbert, and one each to Jeremiah Cockheran and Josh Galeai.
"Anytime you have a game like that it's a blessing," Chang said. "We want to throw as much as we can, but at the same time, we want to give the running backs love. But for a quarterback, it's a dream. I'm glad I'm in the system. I'm glad things worked out the way they did."
Tulsa coach Keith Burns said a manpower shortage in the secondary made it difficult to counter the Warriors' passing attack. Cornerback CJ Scott suffered a season-ending knee injury in Tuesday's practice, and cornerback Jermaine Hope suffered a subluxed shoulder in the second quarter.
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"It's nobody's fault," Burns said. "It's a lack of depth."
University of Hawai'i defensive lineman Isaac Sopoaga points to the bench during the Warriors' win over Tulsa.
Without a significant pass rush, Tulsa helplessly watched the UH receivers zig-zag free.
"That's what they do," Burns said of the Warriors' offense. "They make no apologies about that. I think June Jones is a great coach and as great a play-caller as I've ever gone against."
Little went right for Tulsa, which fell to 0-7 overall and 0-3 in the Western Athletic Conference, extending the longest current losing streak in Division I-A to 17 games. Tulsa has not won since the 2001 season opener against Division I-AA Indiana State.
"They're a good football team," Tulsa quarterback Tyler Gooch said of the Warriors. "We couldn't get anything going. My hat's off to them. they're a great football team."
The Warriors improved to 5-2 and 4-1 in the WAC, and need two more victories to earn a berth in the Hawai'i Bowl on Christmas Day.
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