Brewster breaks loose, just as he envisioned

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Michael Brewster always knew he was capable of rushing for 100-yard games.

Michael Brewster falls forward for yardage while being tackled by Nevada's J.J. Milan in the first period. Brewster finished with 150 yards. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

"I love playing video games, and every time I play, I try to think of what I would be doing on the field," said Brewster, a 5-foot-5, 185-pound senior running back. "This is how I like to play it — the running game is working, the passing game is working, and we win."

Brewster rushed for a career-high 150 yards on just nine carries to help lead the Warriors to a 48-26 victory over Nevada last night at Aloha Stadium.

It was the first 100-yard game of Brewster's collegiate career, and the first 100-yard rushing game by any Hawai'i player in three seasons.

The last UH player to rush for more than 100 yards in head coach June Jones' pass-happy offense was Mike Bass in 2001. Since then, UH had gone 38 games without a 100-yard rusher.

"All the credit to the (offensive) line," Brewster said. "Every time I got downfield, I had linemen running with me, 30, 40 yards down the field. It was great."

The telling sign may have come on Hawai'i's opening play of the game, when quarterback Tim Chang took the snap directly from the center, rather than in shotgun formation. Brewster took a handoff from Chang and raced 18 yards.

"I wouldn't say it was our plan to run this much," Brewster said. "But I think we knew the running game would be important."

Brewster only had 33 yards in the first half, but he ran for 42 yards on UH's first play of the second half, and then 16 yards on the very next play.

"We were mixing it up perfect," Brewster said. "To me, Coach Jones is a genius. When I play video games, I try to do things like how I think he would."

Which means that Brewster is aware that passing is still the strength of the Hawai'i offense.

"I don't mind getting only a few carries a game," he said. "I like watching Timmy sling it, and I like watching Chad (Owens) do his thing. We're a wide-open offense and we all do our part."

Perhaps the only disappointment was Brewster's inability to score a touchdown, although he had his chance.

After catching a shovel pass from Chang late in the third quarter, Brewster ran 22 yards, but then fumbled as he dived into the end zone. Guard Uriah Moenoa recovered the ball for the touchdown.

"I don't know if I got in or not, the main thing is we got the touchdown," Brewster said.

For Moenoa, it was the first touchdown of his career.

"I didn't know until the fourth quarter that they gave it to me officially," Moenoa said. "I thought Brew got in. I just picked up the ball just in case."

In any case, Moenoa and the rest of the offensive line got "a treat" from Jones with all the running plays last night. Hawai'i rushed 24 times for 251 yards.

"Run-blocking is like a treat that we don't get too often," Moenoa said. "It's like when you're little and you get to go to eat at McDonald's once a month."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.