Chang, defense boost Warriors | The Honolulu Advertiser

Comment, blog & share photos

Chang, defense boost Warriors | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper

Posted on: Sunday, September 28, 2003

Hawai'i 41, Rice 21
Chang, defense boost Warriors

•	Receivers come off bench for break-through games
•	Happy day for Gilmore on defense
•	UH vs. Rice photo gallery
•	FERD LEWIS: Big second half perfect tonic for swooning UH
•	UH 2003 football schedule

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Tim Chang's record-setting night included 42 completions on 70 attempts. He threw for 397 yards and two TDs.

Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

Hawai'i's offense made history last night, but it was its defense that made a statement in a 41-21 football victory over Rice at Aloha Stadium.

An announced crowd of 35,180 watched the Warriors (2-2) snap a two-game losing streak in the Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams. Rice fell to 0-4.

Quarterback Tim Chang threw a WAC-record 70 passes, completing a UH-best 42 passes, for 397 yards and two touchdowns to slotback Gerald Welch.

"I didn't think I threw that much," Chang said. "My arm doesn't feel tired."

Still, it was a reconfigured defense that helped the Warriors overcome key injuries — wideout Jeremiah Cockheran aggravated a sprained right ankle on UH's first series of the third quarter and defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga hobbled off with a partially torn ligament in his right knee — and rebound after the Owls scored three consecutive touchdowns to close to 24-21 at the half.

The Warriors made three interceptions and recovered two fumbles, parlaying three of the turnovers into points. What's more, cornerback Abraham Elimimian, who struggled defensively the entire night, blocked a field-goal attempt from 37 yards that would have tied it at 24 in the third quarter.

"I wasn't in position the whole game," Elimimian said. "I was victimized. When (Rice) was lining up for that field goal, I told the guys, 'I'm going to get it.' I knew I was going to block it."

Teammate Travis LaBoy drew a double team, enabling Elimimian to swoop in from the left side.

"He told us he would do it, and I believe Abe can do whatever he decides to do," LaBoy said. "If he wants that block, he'll get that block."

The Owls would never really threaten again, not against the Warriors' newly installed 4-4 defense. The Warriors, who usually align in a 4-3, had spent parts of the last four weeks working on a special scheme to slow the Owls' run-option offense.

The solution was the 4-4, in which two reserves — linebacker Chad Kapanui and safety David Gilmore — started at outside linebacker. That left Elimimian and cornerback Kelvin Millhouse to play man-to-man on the receivers and Hyrum Peters, usually a strong safety, to become the free safety in charge of both defending deep passes and option runs to the weak side.

Gilmore, who had joined the Warriors as a non-scholarship player, recovered a fumble and made an interception, each leading to Chang-to-Welch touchdowns in the first half.

"I was at the right place at the right time," Gilmore said.

Of the fumble recovery, he said, "I was supposed to check the fullback for the dive. I was looking at him when the ball came out."

Of the interception, he noted: "I got lucky. Fortunately (a Rice player) tipped it."

"Their defense did a a good job," said Rice wideout Marcus Battle, who scored on a 5-yard reverse — at least according to the referees. Television replays showed that Battle's knee was down before he reached the end zone.

"If you watch the replay, when he goes down, only his head is in," UH defensive tackle Lance Samuseva said. "I'm glad our defense overcame that."

Peters, who made eight tackles, said: "I think our defense should have the shutout. We took care of business. It was eye on our man, make tackles and fly around. We did that. We played really well, and we had fun. It's fun making tackles."

Rice was limited to a season-low 56 offensive plays, and it amassed only 14 first downs. Six kickoffs went for touchbacks.

TIMMY CHANG

"I think the D-line stepped up," Samuseva said. "(Defensive line coach Vantz) Singletary said it always starts with the D-line. (Offenses) have to get past us first if they want to get a touchdown. We did our job, and the linebackers and defensive backs did their job."

The effort was not lost on Chang, who worked behind the third starting offensive line in four games and without his two best slotbacks — Nate Ilaoa, who is out for the season after undergoing knee surgery, and Chad Owens, who is serving a two-game suspension for breaking a team rule. Freshman left guard Samson Satele also left the game in the first half to receive an IV after yielding to flu-like symptoms.

Adding to the mix was the Owls' zone defense, in which they tried to double team the receivers on deep routes.

"We had to stay patient," Chang said. "A lot of teams are going to want to take away the deep ball because they don't want to get beat by the deep play. We had to keep taking (short passes) and taking and taking until we got our opportunity."

Two leaping catches by Cockheran opened the way, setting up two touchdowns. "It was a great example of sticking together and working hard," Chang said. "I'm proud of our guys, and I'm proud of the defense. I can't say enough about the guys taking away the ball (from Rice) and keeping us in the game."

The Warriors, who play at Tulsa Saturday, declared themselves healed from consecutive road losses to Southern California and Nevada-Las Vegas.

"We have to look at those as preseason games," Millhouse said. "This is WAC play now. We want to be WAC champions. That's our goal. We're not messing around anymore."

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

• • •

2003 UH FOOTBALL SCHEDULE