Warriors rally around Withy-Allen

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

EL PASO, Texas — For a "Night at the Improv," the University of Hawai'i football team stole the show.

UH defensive end Travis Laboy pressures UTEP quarterback Jon Schaper, who threw an interception on this play. Associated Press

"This was sweet," UH linebacker Chris Brown said of his team's first victory in El Paso since 1992. It was the Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

For the most part, the Warriors' offense wilted in the 88-degree mugginess, and for the first time this season, UH coach June Jones lifted starting quarterback Tim Chang for erratic play.

"I wasn't doing the job out there," said Chang, who completed 9 of 27 passes for 85 yards. "When I was in there, I wasn't moving the ball, I wasn't getting the job done."

In the second quarter, Jones turned to Withy-Allen, a fifth-year senior who had never thrown a collegiate pass. Withy-Allen was elevated to the top backup earlier this week when Jason Whieldon took a leave of absence.

Withy-Allen's first pass was incomplete, but then he teamed with slotback Nate Ilaoa for a 25-yard, catch-and-juke touchdown play, giving the Warriors a 14-0 lead. Later, Withy-Allen added a 3-yard scoring run.

"It's been a long time coming," said Withy-Allen, a 1998 graduate of Kalaheo High. "The first pass, Coach (Jones) called a fade. I thought it was going to be a fairy-tale touchdown. I thought, 'OK, I could say my first pass was a touchdown.' It didn't work out that way, but I'll take a second pass for a touchdown any day."

Withy-Allen, who also was the Warriors' leading rusher with 67 yards, finished off a third-quarter drive that was set up by a 70-yard pass on a fake punt. With the Miners doubling up on the gunners — the two UH players who sprint toward the punt returner — Kapanui, who was aligned as the upback 5 yards in front of punter Mat McBriar, demanded the snap. Kapanui then threw to Kilinahe Noa, who huffed and puffed his way before being tackled at the UTEP 3.

"They made me look good," said Jones, who gives Kapanui the green light to call audibles.

Withy-Allen also threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Britton Komine in the fourth quarter.

That was more than enough for a UH defense that contained the Miners' run-option offense. The Miners, who entered averaging a WAC-high 204 rushing yards per game, were limited to 114. Seven of the Miners' first 10 drives trespassed into Warrior territory, yet only resulted in two Keith Robinson field goals.

"We just didn't produce on offense," UTEP running back Howard Jackson said. "We made too many mistakes. We just can't do that. I don't know what happened — mental breakdowns, I guess, little things here and there."

Hawai'i slotback Clifton Herbert (21) can't pull down this pass as Texas-El Paso's Robert Rodriguez closes in. Associated Press

The trouble was, Lempa was fearful that UTEP spies would detect the new schemes during the Warriors' two practices at Jefferson High in downtown El Paso. The Warriors worked on fundamentals during those two practices, then implemented the new schemes during a pregame meeting at the Sun Bowl.

"It's a great defense, but we didn't really practice it because we thought people would pick it off," UH cornerback Abraham Elimimian said. The Miners "were surprised when we ran it."

In one scheme, UH dropped its two cornerbacks into the secondary and moved the safeties into the tackle box. In another, Elimimian moved up to the perimeter to try to contain the option runner. Twice, Elimimian hunted down Jackson before he could turn the corner.

"I had to cover the pass, I had to cover the run, I had to do a little bit of everything," Elimimian said. "I did what I could for the team."

UH's Brown said: "We knew the only way we were going to beat those guys was to shut down their run. We knew what they were going to do. They weren't going to pass. We knew they would run. It was like, 'OK, you guys are gonna run, let's come out and play.' It was like a fight."

The Miners had admittedly simplified the offense because of their inexperience. There are 11 seniors on the UTEP roster, and this is sophomore quarterback Jon Schaper's first season as a full-time starter. With the running game running in place, Schaper, who appeared to tip off his passes with his long-winding motion, reduced his range by often rolling out of the pocket, to his right.

Instead of using their usual package of five or six defensive backs on passing plays, the Warriors summoned their best pass rushers — defensive ends Kevin Jackson and Travis Laboy — to chase Schaper.

The Miners relinquished three sacks — they allowed four in the previous three games — and were intercepted four times. Schaper was picked off three times, including twice by UH strong safety Hyrum Peters.

"We knew he couldn't throw," Peters said.

Of the interceptions, Peters said, "I pretty much did my job and the ball came to me. That was it. He threw it to me. I was in my zone, and the ball came straight to me. It wasn't like I read it and broke for it. I played my zone, and that was it."

The Warriors also were able to make emergency moves. Linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, whose return of an intercepted pass for an apparent touchdown in the first quarter was nullified by a penalty, missed part of the first half because of leg cramps. Brown suffered a subluxed left shoulder in the second quarter, but returned for the second half. Elimimian pulled his right hamstring while breaking up a pass.

"We had a lot of people in there," Lempa said. "We kept rolling in guys, and they did a great job."