Warriors race past Mustangs

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

The University of Hawai'i football team turned to childhood's most important lesson — sharing — to turn away Southern Methodist, 42-10, last night in Aloha Stadium.

Hawai'i defensive tackles Lance Samuseva, left, and Isaac Sopoaga put the wraps on Southern Methodist running back Keylon Kincade. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

"Everything worked out for everybody," said wideout Neal Gossett, whose 51-yard scoring reception opened the way.

Roll the credits for:

• Embattled quarterback Tim Chang, a third-year sophomore who rebounded from the worst game of his career by throwing one touchdown pass and scrambling 19 yards for another score.

"I still like to throw the ball," said Chang, who completed 15 of 29 passes for 246 yards, "but if (the run) is there, it's there, and it was there."

• Slotback Chad Owens, who caught 11 passes for 182 yards.

• Freshman Kenny Patton, making his first start at cornerback, who raced 74 yards for a touchdown after linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa blocked a field-goal attempt.

"The tight end was turned a little bit, and I thought I could get skinny and get in (through the gap)," Tinoisamoa said. "I turned to the side, came free and made the block. Kenny Patton was in the right place at the right time."

"It's awesome," Patton said of his first collegiate touchdown. Patton is the nephew of former Radford High standout Joey Bunch, who still holds the Hawai'i high school record in the 800-meter run. "I guess it's in the genes," Patton said.

• Strong safety Hyrum Peters, who was credited with a 39-yard touchdown run after receiving a pitch from defensive end La'anui Correa.

Correa made a leaping interception of Tate Wallis' pass into the right flat. Correa ran 12 yards, then pitched to Peters, who sprinted the rest of the way.

"I looked back, and I felt the guy on me, and I tried to shake him but I couldn't," Correa said. "Then I saw Hyrum and I pitched it out to him. He was in the right spot, so it worked out for everybody."

UH slotback Chad Owens tries to pull away from an SMU defender after making one of his 11 receptions. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

• And the UH defense, which sacked Wallis five times — SMU relinquished a total of five in their first four games — and limited the Mustangs to 238 yards in total offense, an average of 3.3 yards per play. That figure was inflated by fullback Kris Briggs' 61-yard sprint during garbage time.

"Things didn't go our way at all," SMU cornerback Jonas Rutledge said.

The UH defense's second consecutive strong outing helped it move atop the WAC in scoring defense (21.8 points per game). The Warriors managed to contain the Mustangs with their so-called "Robber" defense, a twist on their base 4-3 alignment.

"It's just having an extra guy involved in the run," UH defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said.

In some situations, strong-side linebacker Matt Wright, who sets up across from the tight end, moves up to become a fifth defensive lineman. Other times, a cornerback or safety will sneak up to cover the run. In any situation, the key is the pocket-crushing play of defensive tackles Lance Samuseva and Isaac Sopoaga. The defensive tackles try to occupy as many blockers as possible, freeing the way for the linebackers to swoop in for tackles.

"It doesn't matter if we don't make the plays," Samuseva said. "If we can keep the linemen off the linebackers, that's like making the plays. We allow the linebackers to flow free."

As a change-up, Lempa tries to alternate defensive ends — Correa and Houston Ala are used in the early downs; Travis Laboy and Kevin Jackson play in passing situations.

Laboy has endured injuries to his left wrist, left shoulder and right foot. But last night, it was his turn to inflict pain. He made three tackles for losses, including a sack. Twice Laboy raced in from SMU's left side to chase down ballcarriers running to the right.

"God didn't bless me with the best of looks, but he gave me some speed," Laboy said. "I try to use it, whenever situations call for it."

Laboy credited the play of the defensive tackles, and they said they received inspiration from linebacker/co-captain Chris Brown, who played despite a painful subluxed left shoulder.

Brown said he barely could raise his left arm yesterday morning. "I couldn't let my teammates down or those guys," he said, pointing to several relatives who came from the Big Island. "I knew I would have to suck it up. I would have played with one arm, one leg. We needed to win."

How they scored

At Aloha Stadium

SOUTHERN METHODIST 0 3 0 7 — 10
HAWAI'I 14 0 21 7 — 42

FIRST QUARTER

Time SMU UH

UH—Neal Gossett 51 pass from Tim Chang (Justin Ayat kick) 6:47 0 7

UH—Mike Bass 7 run (Ayat kick) 4:01 0 14

SECOND QUARTER

SMU—FG Trent Stephenson 21 0:00 3 14

THIRD QUARTER

UH—Chang 19 run (Ayat kick) 13:08 3 21

UH—Kenny Patton 74 blocked field goal return (Ayat kick) 9:06 3 28

UH—John West 8 run (Ayat kick) 3:16 3 35

FOURTH QUARTER

UH—Hyrum Peters 39 lateral return from

Laanui Correa after 12 interception (Ayat kick) 14:08 3 42

SMU— Kris Briggs 6 run (Stephenson kick) 1:37 10 42

Attendance—35,858

Scoring drives

FIRST QUARTER

• HAWAI'I — 2 plays, 59 yards, 13 seconds elapsed time. Neal Gossett 51 pass from Tim Chang. Justin Ayat kick. Big play: Sean Butts' 19-yard interception return to UH 41. Time: 6:47. Score: Hawai'i 7, Southern Methodist 0.

• HAWAI'I — 7 plays, 42 yards, 2:30 elapsed time. Mike Bass 7 run. Ayat kick. Big play: UH fumble recovery at SMU 42. Time: 4:01. Score: Hawai'i 14, Southern Methodist 0.

SECOND QUARTER

• Southern Methodist — 3 plays, 15 yards, 15 seconds elapsed time. FG Trent Stephenson 21. Big play: Mike Bass muffed punt at UH 20. Time: 0:00. Score: Hawai'i 14, Southern Methodist 3.

THIRD QUARTER

• Hawai'i— 7 plays, 78 yards, 1:52 elapsed time. Chang 19 run. Ayat kick. Big play: Chad Owens 5 pass from Chang on fourth-and-1 at SMU 24 to set up TD run. Time: 13:08. Score: Hawai'i 21, Southern Methodist 3.

• Hawai'i — Kenny Patton 74 blocked field goal return. Ayat kick. Big play: Pisa Tinoisamoa blocked field goal. Time: 9:06. Score: Hawai'i 28, Southern Methodist 3.

• Hawai'i — 10 plays, 47 yards, 3:29 elapsed time. John West 8 run. Ayat kick. Big play: Bass 32 run on third-and-15 at UH 48. Time: 3:16. Score: Hawai'i 35, Southern Methodist 3.

FOURTH QUARTER

• Hawai'i — Hyrum Peters 39 lateral return from Laanui Correa after 12 interception. Ayat kick. Time: 14:08. Score: Hawai'i 42, Southern Methodist 3.

• SMU — 5 plays, 72 yards, 2:01 elapsed time, Kris Briggs 6 run. Stephenson kick. Big play: Briggs 61 run to Hawai'i 11. Time: 1:37. Score: Hawai'i 42, Southern Methodist 10.