WARRIORS NOTEBOOK
'Dumb' errors proving costly

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

•	Hawai'i vs. Fresno State What: WAC football, Hawai'i (2-3, 1-1) vs. Fresno State (3-3, 1-0) When: 6:05 p.m. Saturday Where: Aloha Stadium Tickets: $25 sidelines, $22 south end zone, $17 north end zone, $12 north end zone (seniors and ages 4 through high school), $3 UH students (Super Rooter). Radio: KKEA, 1420AM TV: live on Oceanic PPV channels 255 and 256, or delayed at 10 p.m. on KFVE.

Jones said the Warriors did not complete passes to wide-open receivers, missed blocks on basic assignments and played the wrong defensive coverage on two key plays in the fourth quarter. He said a missed extra-point kick was so low "I could block it."

In the past few years, Jones noted, the Warriors have overcome "the dumb mistakes we've made. We haven't been able to overcome them this year. For whatever reason, we haven't."

Jones said they are waiting for a take-charge player to emerge. When Tulsa seized the momentum in the second half, Jones said, "we didn't seem to respond. Somebody has to take control and make big plays. We've had big players make big plays in years past. That's basically what happens."

Jones said he recently reviewed a videotape of UH's victory over Fresno State two years ago, noting former Warrior receiver "Ashley Lelie kind of just took it over. That's what you have to do."

Two of the team's expected big-play threats — defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga and wideout Jeremiah Cockheran — might not be ready for Saturday's game against Fresno State. Sopoaga, who has a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee, did not participate in conditioning drills yesterday morning. Jones said Cockheran, who has a sprained right ankle, "doesn't look like he'll play, either. They're kind of in the same boat."

Cockheran, one of three starting receivers who did not play against Tulsa, is effective on deep routes. Sean Stennis, a second-year freshman, started in place of Cockheran at right wideout. Stennis was the intended receiver when Tim Chang's underthrown pass was intercepted in the second quarter, leading to a Hurricane touchdown.

Chang also underthrew wideout Britton Komine on third down at the Tulsa 8 in the second quarter.

"We didn't do a very good job of getting open, then when we were open, we didn't hit guys," Jones said. "We had chances for four or five touchdown passes. And for whatever reason — it was a combination of everybody — we just didn't make plays when we had chances. You can't do that."

Although the Warriors were effective on 20 designed running plays, Jones said the run-and-shoot offense is at its best when the ball is in the air. Chang and Jason Whieldon combined to complete 21 of 35 passes for 240 yards.

"I knew we had to run to keep their pass rush at bay, and we did that," Jones said. "But we proved that doesn't win games for us. We've got to throw it 70 times, and we didn't throw it enough. If you throw it 70 times, then you have 10 chances instead of four for touchdowns."

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