ANALYSIS
Weather, altitude only part of the equation

A week off helped some of UH's offensive starters heal, while defense will face one of WAC's top running backs in Kretschmer

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

The combination of 40-degree temperatures and Reno's altitude (4,553 feet above sea level) could affect the Warriors' passing attack.

In the last meeting in Reno, a 28-20 loss in 2001, the Warriors paid little attention to the conditions. Dismissing suggestions to order oxygen tanks and cool-mist fans, the Warriors were left fatigued in the Sierra Nevada range's September heat.

This time, the Warriors have requested heat-blowing fans and ordered Cutters (heavily padded gloves) for their receivers. To counter the dryness caused by the thin air, UH quarterback Tim Chang might rely on an old-fashioned method to moisten his hands — OK, it's spitting — and this week the Warriors ran extra wind sprints to build endurance.

The additional work couldn't hurt, UH coach June Jones said, while maintaining, "You've got to realize (the altitude is) not a factor. You have to go up there and play. That's it."

UH offense

• LWR—84 Britton Komine 5-10 187 Jr.
• LSB—2 Chad Owens 5-9 174 Jr.
• LT—74 Jeremy Inferrera 6-2 281 Fr.
• LG—64 Samson Satele 6-3 289 Fr.
• C—59 Derek Faavi 6-1 273 So.
• RG—69 Uriah Moenoa 6-2 330 Jr.
• RT—66 Brandon Eaton 6-3 287 So.
• RSB—38 Gerald Welch 5-8 190 Jr.
• RWR—19 Jeremiah Cockheran 6-0 190 Sr.
• QB—14 Tim Chang 6-2, 194 Jr.
• RB—16 West Keli'ikipi 6-1 260 Jr.
• RB—6 Michael Brewster 5-6 180 Jr.

Outlook: Last week's bye enabled Cockheran (sprained right ankle), Komine (partially torn tendon or muscle in left shin) and Eaton (sprained left ankle) to heal. The Warriors would love to exploit the obvious mismatch between their deep-pattern receivers (Cockheran, Owens) and the Wolf Pack's mix-and-match secondary weakened by injuries and a suspension. The wrench in the plans is the hammer — rush end Jorge Cordova, who leads the Western Athletic Conference with 11.5 sacks. Cordova, a converted linebacker, can align on both sides, although he prefers to attack from the quarterback's back side. In such schemes, he faces Inferrera, who is six months removed from his Saint Louis School graduation. Cordova usually uses the swim technique to maneuver past blockers. Most teams use a tight end as a second blocker, but UH's run-and-shoot offense does not employ that position. Instead, Keli'ikipi, who is battling shoulder and hand injuries, will pick up the pass-rusher that breaks into the backfield.

Hawai'i defense

• LE—98 Melila Purcell 6-5 245 So.
• LT—97 Isa'ako Sopoaga 6-3 336 Sr.
• RT—92 Lance Samuseva 6-0 309 Sr.
• RE—1 Travis LaBoy 6-4 254 Sr.
• SLB—46 Keani Alapa 6-1 229 Sr.
• MLB—56 Chad Kalilimoku 5-11 240 Sr.
• WLB—51 Ikaika Curnan 5-11 218 So.
• LCB—3 Kelvin Millhouse 6-1 205 Sr.
• SS—33 Hyrum Peters 5-8 188 Sr.
• FS—17 David Gilmore 6-0 197 Sr.
• RCB—37 Abraham Elimimian 5-10 191 Jr.

Outlook: The Warriors will open in their base 4-3 scheme, then just before the snap, Alapa or Curnan will move up next to the outside of a defensive end to create a five-man front. The remaining two linebackers and Peters will fill the two inside running lanes. The Warriors used this flexible 4-3 defense in 1999 and last year — the two times they went to bowl games under Jones. Left end Houston Ala, who regularly receives some of the highest defensive grades from the coaches, is suffering from a partially torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee. He is wearing a knee brace and is expected to play sparingly today. Gary Wright, a backup cornerback and top special teams player, did not make this trip because of a sprained right ankle.

Hawai'i specialists

• PK—47 Justin Ayat 5-11 205 Jr.
• P—25 Kurt Milne 6-0 204 Fr.
• KR—20 John West 5-10 180 Sr.
• PR—2 Chad Owens 5-9 174 Jr.

Outlook: Ayat believes he has solved the glitch that led to missing his last two field-goal attempts and four of seven PAT kicks. Ayat believed that on his left-right-left approach, he was inadvertently lengthening his last step — his plant foot — throwing off his balance.

Special teams coach Tyson Helton has had no complaints about Milne, who has not been blocked this season.

Nevada offense

• WR—84 Nichiren Flowers 6-3 208 So.
• H—81 Maurice Mann 6-1 185 Sr.
• LT—68 Adam Kiefer 6-5 302 So.
• LG—62 Chris Hines 6-2 299 Jr.
• C—77 Kyle Gosselin 6-5 280 So.
• RG—79 Isaiah Ross 6-3 322 Sr.
• RT—74 Harvey Dahl 6-5 309 Jr.
• TE—83 Anthony Pudwell 6-4 250 So.
• WR—16 Willie Johnson 6-4 211 Jr.
• QB—7 Andy Heiser 6-1 186 Jr.
• RB—23 Chance Kretschmer 6-1 226 Jr.

Outlook: While Nevada's offense can expand to four receivers to take advantage of Heiser's strong arm, everything still revolves around Kretschmer, who led the nation in rushing as a second-year freshman in 2001. He missed most of last season with a knee injury, but has come back stronger (squats 500 pounds) and 26 pounds heavier. Kretschmer has rushed for 1,034 yards and 11 touchdowns despite 93 fewer carries than in 2001. Nevada tries to open holes with chip blocks, in which two linemen double up on a defender and then one of the linemen breaks off to block a second defender. Kretschmer does the rest.

Nevada defense

• E—55 Jorge Cordova 6-2 250 Sr.
• T—56 Derek Kennard Jr. 6-1 285 Sr.
• T—95 Chris Barry 6-3 294 Jr.
• E—91 J.J. Milan 6-5 255 So.
• MLB—10 Daryl Towns 6-1 230 Sr.
• ILB—26 Logan Carter 6-3 215 So.
• WLB—19 Carl LaGrone Jr., 6-3 230 Jr.
• ROV—28 Nick Hawthorne 6-0 197 Fr.
• LCB—24 Randy Landingham 6-0 200 So.
• FS—39 Keone Kauo 5-11 188 Jr.
• RCB—35 Paul Pratt 5-10 175 Fr.

Outlook: The suspension of cornerback Chris Handy (indicted for felony assault) completes a disastrous streak for the secondary. Cornerback Marlon McLaughlin (torn lateral meniscus), safety Ronnie Hardiman (torn anterior cruciate ligament) and cornerback Leondre Lewis (torn medial collateral ligament) are all out.

Nevada must depend on its pass rush, led by Cordova, who had 4.5 sacks in an upset of Washington last month. Kennard often benefits when offenses double-team Cordova. Kennard has 10 sacks.

Nevada specialists

• PK—36 Damon Fine 5-9 147 Jr.
• P—37 Derek Jones 6-3 234 Sr.
• KR—24 Randy Landingham 6-0 200 So.
• KR—81 Maurice Mann 6-1 185 Sr.
• PR—88 Alex Rosenblum 5-8 165 Fr.

Outlook: While Fine has one of the league's strongest kicking legs, he has had few opportunities. Nevada has attempted one field goal in the last five games. Of Jones' 59 punts this season, 21 have been downed inside the 20.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.