Poumele may miss rest of season

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

The injuries continued to mount for the Hawai'i football team.

Poumele

"I'm very concerned," UH head coach June Jones said. "At some point, I didn't even know who all was out there."

The most crushing injury may have been the fractured left arm of starting slotback Se'e Poumele. He is expected to miss the rest of the season.

"Yeah, I think that's it for me," he said. "But I'm going to keep cheering my teammates. We still have a long way to go."

The Hawai'i defense, which was already hampered prior to last night's game, went with several new players last night as a result of injuries.

Defensive end Melila Purcell — the team leader in sacks — left in the second half with a bruised sternum, and was taken to a hospital.

Starting linebacker Tanuvasa Moe, the team's leading tackler prior to last night, left in the first quarter with a strained right hamstring.

Reserve defensive end Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan and back-up linebacker Lincoln Manutai were also helped off the field in the second half with undisclosed injuries.

"I don't know what's going to happen," defensive coordinator George Lumpkin said. "But I'm proud of the guys who had to go in there because they kept fighting."

The Warriors entered last night's game with injuries to several key defensive players, including linebacker Ikaika Curnan, cornerback Kenny Patton and safety Lono Manners.

As a result of all the injuries, several players got significant playing time for the first time this season, including cornerbacks Ray Bass and Turmarian Moreland, safeties Matt Manuma and Keao Monteilh, and linebacker Paul Lutu-Carroll.

"A lot of guys got some good experience tonight and that's only going to help us down the line," Lumpkin said.

Chang passes McNair on all-NCAA list

Hawai'i quarterback Tim Chang passed for 318 yards last night and is 241 yards from breaking former Brigham Young quarterback Ty Detmer's NCAA record for career passing yards.

Chang is now second among all quarterbacks in NCAA history (for all divisions) with 14,791 passing yards. Detmer had 15,031.

Former Alcorn State quarterback Steve McNair — now the starting quarterback for the Tennessee Titans — holds the NCAA 1-AA record with 14,496 yards.

Quarterback Satcher makes Warrior debut

Freshman quarterback Brandon Satcher got his first collegiate action last night in relief of Chang.

He rushed for 34 yards on six carries, and completed his only pass of the game for 23 yards. Most of his production came late in the game, but he also came in as a surprise running quarterback in the first half.

"We had gone through some things in practice, so I was ready," he said. "It was so exciting to finally get on the field."

Because of his appearance last night, Satcher will probably not be allowed to redshirt this season.

"That was always a possibility," he said. "But I'd rather play."

Punt-return TDs put Owens in record book

Senior receiver Chad Owens had an electrifying 71-yard punt return for a touchdown last night. It was his third punt return for a touchdown of the season, tying a UH record. He also set a new school career record with his fourth punt return for a touchdown.

"He's an amazing return guy," Jones said. "I was glad to see him pick it up this week."

In a loss at Texas-El Paso last week, Owens muffed two punts.

NOTES

Black magic: The Warriors wore their special all-black uniforms last night. Head coach June Jones said he likes to use the uniforms only for big games. Hawai'i is 9-3 all-time in the black jerseys.

Battle of the bands: Thirty members of the San Jose State pep band made the trip to Hawai'i. The UH marching band — which performed during the pregame and halftime — was larger than usual because several alumni members played last night.

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