Posted on: Saturday, November 20, 2004

UH sees a lot of itself in Idaho's struggles

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Tonight's football opponents — Idaho and Hawai'i — can feel each other's pain.

Each team has spent as much time on HMOs as Xs and Os.

Largely because of injuries, Idaho has played 17 true freshmen this year, and used a tight end and defensive back as running backs.

Eight UH players who started in the season opener are injured and will not be available to play tonight. Two replacement starters — linebacker Brad Kalilimoku and safety Landon Kafentzis — are not listed in the Warriors' 2004 media guide.

Each team also has struggled on the road. The Vandals are 1-6 in away games, allowing an average of 42.9 points. The Warriors, 0-4 on the road, have lost by an average margin of 42 points.

Unfortunately for the Vandals, tonight's game is at Aloha Stadium. "You have to keep in mind Hawai'i is a completely different team at home," Idaho quarterback Michael Harrington said.

The Warriors are 4-1 at Aloha Stadium, where they average 40.0 points and 449.4 yards in total offense. On the road, they average 19.0 points and 334.8 yards.

Here's a closer look:

Idaho Offense

LWR—16 Desmond Belton 6-4 180 Fr.

LT—77 Hank Therien 6-7 322 So.

LG—67 Tony Kiel 6-3 317 Sr.

C—63 Jarrod Schulte 6-3 269 Jr.

RG—50 Jade Tadvick 6-5 320 So.

RT—68 Nate VanderPol 6-6 312 So.

TE—45 Luke Smith-Anderson 6-5 251 So.

WR—Bobby Bernal-Wood 6-2 203 Sr.

RWR—82 Ryan Heacock 6-0 166 Fr.

QB—7 Michael Harrington 6-4 210 Jr.

RB—32 Rolly Lumbala 6-2 241 Fr.

RB—44 Jayson Bird 6-0 220 Fr.

Outlook: With a three-receiver formation and a chorus line of hobbling running backs, the Vandals logical strategy is to ... run?

"I would," UH coach June Jones, a reference to the Warriors' No. 117 ranking as the worst run defense in Division I-A.

In last week's loss to North Texas, tight end Willie Sipoloa finished as the running back. Lumbala (pinched nerve) and Bird (shoulder, knee) left with injuries. Antwaun Sherman was out with a leg injury. Cliff Mason, who started the first two games, quit three weeks ago. Lumbala is expected to start tonight; Sherman won't play at all. Sipoloa was taking handoffs in this week's practices. Justin Wall, a linebacker last season, might get some carries.

The medical problems to running backs come at a time when the offensive line is returning to good health. Therien missed five games because of a high-ankle sprain. Tadvick is recovering from an injured pectoral muscle.

The Vandals use a no-frills offense. The backs follow the tackles on lead runs or counters. The passing attack is mostly control plays — bubble screens, out routes and slants. Bernal-Wood has 87 catches, but has one touchdown and averages 9.2 yards per reception.

Idaho Defense

DE—13 Mike Anderson 6-3 237 Jr.

DT—48 Tim Bertalot 6-1 243 Jr.

NT—69 Siua Musika 6-1 302 Fr.

DE—86 Brandon Kania 6-3 241 Sr.

SLB—27 Nate Nichols 6-2 223 Jr.

MLB—47 Cole Snyder 5-11 230 Jr.

WLB—40 Will Vobora 6-1 195 Fr.

LCB—8 J.R. Ruffin 6-0 167 Sr.

SS—49 Daniel Dykes 6-3 180 Fr.

FS—22 Simeon Stewart 5-8 179 Sr.

RCB—19 Chris Nathan 5-10 174 Sr.

Outlook: The Vandals' defensive fronts read like sections in a rule book: 3-2, 4-1, 4-2, 4-3. Most of the time, the Vandals use a basic four-man front, with Musika holding the point, Bertalot serving as a third defensive end, and Anderson or Kania providing the pass rush. The Vandals can zone dog — a play in which Kania retreats into pass coverage — with an outside linebacker, safety or cornerback blitzing.

Idaho Specialists

PK/P—43 Mike Barrow 5-11 150 So.

KR—8 J.R. Ruffin 6-0 167 Sr.

KR—22 Simeon Stewart 5-8 179 Sr.

PR—49 Daniel Dykes 6-3 180 Fr.

Outlook: The Vandals have converted four of 12 field-goal attempts, perhaps explaining why they have run offensive plays 21 times on fourth down.

Hawai'i Offense

LWR—84 Jason Rivers 6-1 189 So.

LSB—2 Chad Owens 5-9 177 Sr.

LT—70 Tala Esera 6-3 291 So.

LG—65 Hercules Satele 6-2 279 Fr.

C—64 Samson Satele 6-2 278 So.

RG—66 Brandon Eaton 6-2 291 Jr.

RT—74 Jeremy Inferrera 6-2 284 So.

RSB—38 Gerald Welch 5-7 216 Sr.

RWR—9 Britton Komine 5-10 180 Sr.

QB—14 Tim Chang 6-2 204 Sr.

RB—6 Michael Brewster 5-5 185 Sr.

RB—16 West Keli'ikipi 6-0 266 Sr.

Outlook: The Warriors have had year-long struggles completing deep passes. They have gone 19 consecutive attempts, dating to the third quarter of the Oct. 23 San Jose State game, without completing a pass in which the ball was in flight for at least 20 yards from the line of scrimmage. For the season, they are 14 of 75 (.187) in deep-pass accuracy. With limited worries about deep plays, defenses have been able to widen their alignments, taking away screens and routes to the flats. Last week, Fresno State knocked down two passes. The Warriors have tried to get deep with criss-cross plays. On one, Rivers runs a slant, drawing a cornerback and safety, and Owens sprints long. A diving deflection by a Fresno defender kept Owens from catching a deep pass last week.

UH's offensive line undergoes another realignment. With Derek Fa'avi (deeply bruised right knee) and Uriah Moenoa (knee, hamstring) injured and unavailable at center, Samson Satele slides over to make his first start at a position he had not played since his sophomore year in high school. His cousin, Hercules Satele, makes his first college start.

Hawai'i Defense

LE—98 Melila Purcell III 6-4 266 Jr.

LT—99 Lui Fuga 6-1 294 Sr.

RT—96 Matt Faga 6-2 317 Sr.

RE—30 Kila Kamakawiwo'ole 6-3 241 Jr.

SLB—58 C.J. Allen-Jones 6-2 204 Fr.

MLB—55 Watson Ho'ohuli 5-11 222 Sr.

WLB—43 Brad Kalilimoku 5-11 201 Fr.

LCB—10 Turmarian Moreland 6-0 194 Jr.

LCB—12 Ray Bass 5-11 175 Fr.

LS—42 Leonard Peters 6-1 184 Jr.

RS—8 Landon Kafentzis 6-0 194 Jr.

RCB—24 Kenny Patton 6-0 187 So.

Outlook: After allowing 503 rushing yards to Fresno State last week, the Warriors expect the three remaining regular-season opponents to go with a ground attack. Against FSU, the Warriors missed a season-high 25 tackles, allowing the Bulldogs an additional 233 yards. "We're not wrapping up and driving," Fuga said. "It's bad technique on our part."

Although the Warriors have been criticized for not tackling in practice, Fuga said, "This is the same practice habit we've done for six years, and we never had a problem before. For some reason, we're not playing hard football and wrapping up."

Cornerback Abraham Elimimian, UH's best cover defender and nickelback, has a badly strained right hamstring. His streak of 32 consecutive starts will end. Moreland, who has recovered from a hamstring injury, is Elimimian's likely replacement.

Hawai'i Specialists

PK—47 Justin Ayat 6-0 195 Sr.

P—25 Kurt Milne 6-0 196 So.

KR—21 Jason Ferguson 5-5 157 Fr.

PR—2 Chad Owens 5-9 177 Sr.

Outlook: Despite the injury risk, the Warriors will continue to use offensive and defensive starters on special teams. Last week, running back Keli'ikipi suffered a slight concussion on the opening kickoff. On the ensuing drive, Keli'ikipi fumbled at the end of a screen play. Chad Kapanui, the team's best blocker on punt returns, has a pulled muscle. His availability is in question.

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

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